What does Daniel 5:20 mean?

Belshazzar's blasphemous, drunken party (Daniel 5:1–4) was interrupted by a terrifying event (Daniel 5:5). This led to Daniel being summoned to explain the disembodied fingers writing on the wall (Daniel 5:16). Daniel begins by dismissing the king's offer of reward (Daniel 5:17) and launching into a history lesson. This is no accident: Daniel is contrasting Belshazzar with a prior king, Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 1:1–7). Nebuchadnezzar was incredibly powerful, but God humbled him (Daniel 4:24–37).

As promised in a prophetic dream, Nebuchadnezzar was confronted with God's judgment (Daniel 4:28–33). Immediately, God's punishment fell, and soon Nebuchadnezzar's ego was completely deflated. The Bible states that God hates "haughty eyes" (Proverbs 6:16–17) and warns that pride and arrogance lead to self-destruction (Proverbs 16:18). The apostle James writes that "God opposes the proud" (James 4:6). He counsels: "Submit yourselves therefore to God" (James 4:7). Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way that it is wise to discard pride and submit to God.

Belshazzar, however, did not learn the same lesson. Showing incredible grit, Daniel is setting up a scathing criticism of the current king, contrasting Belshazzar's foolishness with the example of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 5:22–23).