What does Daniel 5:5 mean?

This incident is the origin of expressions such as "I can read the writing on the wall" or "the writing is on the wall." These refer to signs of a negative outcome or impending disaster. The man who sees these letters will learn that they predict a dire fate (Daniel 5:25–28), which comes to pass that same night (Daniel 5:30).

In modern speech, the word "immediately" usually means "happening with no delay before." The ancient words from which the Bible was translated also use it this way, but the concept can also mean "suddenly." In this case, the Babylonian king is holding a drunken party (Daniel 5:1). As part of the fun, guests desecrate sacred Israelite vessels (Exodus 30:22–29) which had been captured years before (Daniel 1:1–2). They use these for idolatry as well as entertainment (Daniel 5:3–4). Clearly, the carousing and blasphemy took place over some time. This supernatural sign, as the guests are wallowing in sin, happens without warning or foreshadowing.

Archaeologists have unearthed large banquet halls in Babylon, which had plastered walls. This would have been an ideal surface onto which letters could be carved. This verse notes that the writing occurs directly "opposite" a lampstand: where the wall is most brightly illuminated. Further, Scripture makes a point of noting that it was only the fingers which were seen: this makes the supernatural event clear, leaving no doubt that this is more than a prank.

Some Bible teachers believe this lampstand was the seven-branched lampstand that had been in the temple at Jerusalem. That is not impossible, but such a detail is not given, nor it is necessary for the purposes of Daniel's record.