The Handwriting on the Wall
Daniel 5:8
In 11 translations
- BSB
- So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for him.
- KJV
- Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
- WEB
- Then all the king’s wise men came in; but they could not read the writing, and couldn’t make known to the king the interpretation. Then all the king’s wise men came in; but they could not read the writing and couldn’t make known to the king the interpretation.
- ASV
- Then came in all the king’s wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation.
- LSV
- Then all the wise men of the king are coming up, and they are not able to read the writing, and to make known the interpretation to the king;
- YLT
- Then coming up are all the wise men of the king, and they are not able to read the writing, and the interpretation to make known to the king;
- DBY
- Then came in all the king's wise men, but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation.
- DRC
- Then came in all the king’s wise men, but they could neither read the writing, nor declare the interpretation to the king.
- GNV
- Then came all the Kings wise men, but they could neither reade the writing, nor shewe the King the interpretation.
- JPS
- Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation.
- LXXE
- Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known the interpretation to the king.
Word by word Hebrew · tap a word
Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Hebrew has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.
Where the editions differ
Editions are published forms of the Hebrew and Greek texts. Meet the editions and sources →
- Written (Ketiv): וּפִשְׁרָא (“and interpretation the”). Read aloud (Qere): וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ (“and interpretation its”) — the form shown in the word-by-word reader.
Spelling, punctuation and minor wording (3)
- Leningrad Codex reads עָֽלִּ֔לין; read aloud (Qere) reads עָֽלִּ֔ין (“[were] going in”).
- Written (Ketiv): עָלֲלִין. Read aloud (Qere): עָֽלִּ֔ין (“[were] going in”) — the form shown in the word-by-word reader.
- Leningrad Codex reads וּפִשְׁרֵ֖אּ; read aloud (Qere) reads וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ (“and interpretation its”).
Edition differences: STEP Bible, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0). Names and codes expanded; consecutive words grouped. Comparisons follow the editions used by the source; see version details.
Original-language editions
- WLC
- אֱדַ֨יִן֙ עללין כֹּ֖ל חַכִּימֵ֣י מַלְכָּ֑א וְלָֽא־כָהֲלִ֤ין כְּתָבָא֙ לְמִקְרֵ֔א ופשרא לְהוֹדָעָ֥ה לְמַלְכָּֽא׃Read aloud as (qere): עָֽלִּ֔יןRead aloud as (qere): וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ
- LXX-Br
- Καὶ εἰσεπορεύοντο πάντες οἱ σοφοὶ τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ οὐκ ἠδύναντο τὴν γραφὴν ἀναγνῶναι, οὐδὲ τὴν σύγκρισιν γνωρίσαι τῷ βασιλεῖ.
Who and where
◆ Prophecies of Daniel
People, places and events the Theographic dataset links to this verse.
In the reference works topics that cite this verse
BelshazzarWise MenAramaic; Aramaic LanguageDaniel, Book ofLanguages of the Old TestamentBible, TheText of the Old TestamentWomenWicked (People)
From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).
Cross-references most cited first
- Daniel 2:27Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires.
- Daniel 4:7When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me.
- Genesis 41:8In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
- Isaiah 47:12–15So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror! You are wearied by your many…
- Isaiah 47:9These two things will overtake you in a moment, in a single day: loss of children, and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells.
- Daniel 5:15Now the wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this inscription and interpret it for me, but they could not give its interpretation.
From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).