Daniel 5:13
in Daniel 5So Daniel was brought before the king, who asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, who art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?
KJV
Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
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This verse in Daniel 5
Commentary
5 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Then was Daniel brought in before the king - From this it is clear that he lived in Babylon, though in comparative obscurity. It would seem to be not improbable that he was still known to the queen-mother, who, perhaps, kept up an acquaintance with him on account of his former services. Art thou that Daniel - This is a clear proof that Belshazzar was not acquainted personally with him. See the note at Dan 5:
This site's exposition
the children of the captivity of Judah
on Daniel 5:13-16
Belshazzar's first words to Daniel identify him by exile status before anything else, art thou that Daniel of the children of the captivity of Judah, a reminder the bench reads as unintentionally exposing the king's own contempt even as he asks for help. The offer repeats verse 7's reward word for word, scarlet, the chain, and third ruler, and Henry observes that Belshazzar still imagines Daniel can be bought, having learned nothing from what his own wise men's failure should have taught him about what kind of knowledge is actually on offer here. The repetition across the two summons keeps the reward question live for the chapter's evidence note at verse 29.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Then accordingly after the king heard the things concerning him he commanded Daniel to be brought and he said to him, "Are you Daniel who is from the sons of the captivity of Judea, whom my father Nebuchadnezzar brought? I have heard concerning you that you are able to interpret questions. And so now if you are able to read this writing and to make known its interpretation to me you shall be clothed in purple and a golden necklace shall be upon your neck and you shall be the third position in my kingdom." [Daniel 5:13-16]
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He was now nearly ninety years of age, so that his years, and honours, and former preferments, might have entitled him to a free admission into the king's presence; yet he was willing to be conducted in, as a stranger, by the master of the ceremonies.
Then was Daniel brought in before the king,....
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
All because, etc. because a superior spirit, knowledge and understanding are within him, and the talent to tell riddles.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 2 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
24 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בֵּאדַ֙יִן֙ | bedayin | <in> then | H116 → | 57 times |
| דָּֽנִיֵּ֔אל | daniyel | Daniel | H1841 → | 57 times |
| הֻעַ֖ל | hual | he was brought | H5954 → | 14 times |
| קֳדָ֣ם | kodam | before | H6925 → | 42 times |
| מַלְכָּ֑א | malka' | king the | H4430 → | 180 times |
| עָנֵ֨ה | ʾaneh | [was] replying | H6032 → | 30 times |
| מַלְכָּ֜א | malka' | king the | H4430 → | 180 times |
| וְאָמַ֣ר | veamar | and [was] saying | H560 → | 71 times |
| לְדָנִיֵּ֗אל | ledaniyel | to Daniel | H1841 → | 57 times |
| אַנְתְּ | ʾantah | you | H607 → | 15 times |
| ה֤וּא | hu' | he | H1932 → | 22 times |
| דָנִיֵּאל֙ | daniyel | [are] Daniel | H1841 → | 57 times |
| דִּֽי־ | di- | who | H1768 → | 345 times |
| מִן־ | min- | [is] one of | H4481 → | 109 times |
| בְּנֵ֤י | benei | [the] sons of | H1247 → | 19 times |
| גָלוּתָא֙ | galuta' | exile the | H1547 → | 4 times |
| דִּ֣י | di | of | H1768 → | 345 times |
| יְה֔וּד | yehud | Judah | H3061 → | 7 times |
| דִּ֥י | di | whom | H1768 → | 345 times |
| הַיְתִ֛י | hayti | he brought | H858 → | 16 times |
| מַלְכָּ֥א | malka' | king the | H4430 → | 180 times |
| אַ֖בִי | ʾavi | father my | H2 → | 9 times |
| מִן־ | min- | from | H4481 → | 109 times |
| יְהֽוּד׃ | yehud | Judah | H3061 → | 7 times |
בֵּאדַ֙יִן֙<in> then
bedayinH116 →57 times
דָּֽנִיֵּ֔אלDaniel
daniyelH1841 →57 times
הֻעַ֖לhe was brought
hualH5954 →14 times
קֳדָ֣םbefore
kodamH6925 →42 times
מַלְכָּ֑אking the
malka'H4430 →180 times
עָנֵ֨ה[was] replying
ʾanehH6032 →30 times
מַלְכָּ֜אking the
malka'H4430 →180 times
וְאָמַ֣רand [was] saying
veamarH560 →71 times
לְדָנִיֵּ֗אלto Daniel
ledaniyelH1841 →57 times
אַנְתְּyou
ʾantahH607 →15 times
ה֤וּאhe
hu'H1932 →22 times
דָנִיֵּאל֙[are] Daniel
daniyelH1841 →57 times
דִּֽי־who
di-H1768 →345 times
מִן־[is] one of
min-H4481 →109 times
בְּנֵ֤י[the] sons of
beneiH1247 →19 times
גָלוּתָא֙exile the
galuta'H1547 →4 times
דִּ֣יof
diH1768 →345 times
יְה֔וּדJudah
yehudH3061 →7 times
דִּ֥יwhom
diH1768 →345 times
הַיְתִ֛יhe brought
haytiH858 →16 times
מַלְכָּ֥אking the
malka'H4430 →180 times
אַ֖בִיfather my
ʾaviH2 →9 times
מִן־from
min-H4481 →109 times
יְהֽוּד׃Judah
yehudH3061 →7 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ezra 6:16Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.
it leads to
- 2 Chronicles 7:5
And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
- 1 Kings 8:63
And Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the house of the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 7:5
Through
Daniel 2:25Arioch hastily brought Daniel before the king and said to him, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who will tell the king the interpretation.”
it leads to
- Daniel 1:6
Among these young men were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Daniel 1:6
Through
Daniel 5:11There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that…
it leads to
- Daniel 4:8–9
But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream:
- Daniel 4:18
This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because…
- Daniel 2:47–48
The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”
- Daniel 5:14
I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom.
- Daniel 4:8–9
Through
Daniel 6:13Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times…
it leads to
- Daniel 3:12
But there are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who have ignored you, O king, and have refused to serve your gods or worship the golden statue…
- Daniel 3:12
Where this verse is studied
About Daniel

Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonPatriarchsJudahJacob's fourth son who pledges himself for Benjamin; the tribe that carries the scepter to Shiloh (49:10) and the line to Christ (…
- PersonBabylonian Exile (6th century BCE)DanielExilic prophet and Judean court official serving under Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius the Mede, and Cyrus; traditionally named…
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Carl Friedrich Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Daniel; Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on Daniel 3.17.1; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
