I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods within you and that you are filled with insight, understanding, and wisdom.
Parallel translations
- WEB I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
- KJV I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.
- BSB I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom.
- NKJV I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
- NASB Now I have heard about you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight, and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Belshazzar tells Daniel he has heard that the spirit of God is in him, giving him light, understanding, and excellent wisdom. The king acknowledges Daniel's reputation for God-given insight.
Overview
The king repeats the testimony about Daniel's wisdom, unwittingly confessing that true understanding comes from God. Though Belshazzar speaks in the language of his idolatry, his words affirm what the narrative has shown throughout: the Lord grants insight to His faithful servant. The reputation of God's man precedes him even into hostile courts.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Dan 5:11–12There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, your father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
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Christ at the center
Daniel sees the stone cut without hands that shatters the kingdoms, and 'one like a son of man' given everlasting dominion — titles and visions Jesus claims as his own.
How Daniel 5:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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