Daniel 5:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end;

NIV: Here is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

NASB: This is the interpretation of the message: ‘MENE’—God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it.

CSB: This is the interpretation of the message: 'Mene' means that God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end.

NLT: This is what these words mean: Mene means ‘numbered’ — God has numbered the days of your reign and has brought it to an end.

KJV: This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

NKJV: This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it;

Daniel is giving a more detailed explanation of the mysterious writing (Daniel 5:25) which appeared on the wall during Belshazzar's party (Daniel 1:1–5). Before the interpretation, Daniel made a point of criticizing Belshazzar for being foolish and profane (Daniel 5:17–23). The words—possibly written in some cipher or foreign script (Daniel 5:8)—are either Aramaic or words closely resembling it: mene, mene, tekel, and parsin.

The term mene refers to counting and measuring, especially in the sense of numbering something. That the term is repeated suggests exhaustive investigation. The word can also imply "reckoning," which fits with the theme of God's judgment. Another possible reason for the repetition is to use the idea of "counting" in more than one way: that God is aware of the number of days allotted to Babylon, and also that He has "counted" as those days were exhausted.

A century before the Babylonian kingdom fell, God had said, "Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him. All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson, until the time of his own land comes. Then many nations and great kings shall make him their slave" (Jeremiah 27:6–7). God has numbered the days of every nation, and He is fully capable of ending one and bringing another to prominence. No human being can guarantee themselves any length of life: only God knows what the future holds. It is wise, therefore, to live every day in obedience to will (James 4:13¬–15).

Daniel 5:17–28 reveals Daniel's humility, his loyalty to the Most High God, and his courage. Daniel read and interpreted the handwriting. God is judging Babylon: the empire will be defeated and split among the Medes and Persians. Though Daniel said he wanted no payment, his interpretation prompts the rewards from Belshazzar, which were likely as short-lived as he was (Daniel 5:29–30).

After Nebuchadnezzar's humiliation, a succeeding ruler, Belshazzar, fails to learn the proper lesson. During a drunken party, he brings out Jewish objects to use in idolatry. The celebration is interrupted by disembodied fingers leaving strange markings on the wall. Daniel is summoned when no one else can read or interpret these. After boldly rebuking Belshazzar's immorality, Daniel explains the event as a prophecy of doom. That same night, Belshazzar dies, and the kingdom eventually comes under a new leader.

The first four chapters of Daniel occur under the rule of Babylon's king, Nebuchadnezzar. This chapter falls between his reign and when the Medo-Persians conquered in 539 BC. This chapter focuses on Belshazzar, who may have ruled Babylon concurrently with his father Nabonidus. This was probably from 553 BC until his death in 539 BC, when the city was captured. After this, Daniel serves under Darius and / or Cyrus.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.