Daniel 5:26

"“This is the writing that was inscribed: ‘MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.’"

Key Reflection

Daniel 5:26 records the writing that was inscribed on the wall at Belshazzar's feast, proclaiming judgment. For the original audience, these Aramaic words would have been significant as they were well-versed in the language and could immediately recognize their meaning. "Mene" meant number, "Tekel" signified weight, and "Upharsin" was a play on letters indicating division—each pointing to Belshazzar's numbered days, weighed life, and divided kingdom. This cryptic message from God directly challenged the king’s hubris and foreshadowed his downfall.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Or, as it is explained more accurately by Berholdt and Gesenius: From this arrangement it will be at once seen that the interpretation proposed by Daniel was not one that would have been likely to have occurred to anyone. Mene -מנאmenê'. This word is a passive participle fromמנהmenâh- “to number, to review.” - Gesenius, “Lex.” The verb is also writtenמנאmenâ'- Buxtorf, “Lex.” It would be literally translated “numbered,” and would apply to that of which an estimate was taken by counting. We use now an expression which would convey a similar idea, when we say of one that “his days are numbered;” that is, he has not long to live, or is about to die.

More from Daniel 5

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Go deeper with Bible.talk - your AI Bible study companion