his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then the king’s face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck one against another.
- KJV Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.
- NKJV Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other.
- NASB Then the king’s face became pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his hip joints loosened and his knees began knocking together.
- NLT and his face turned pale with fright. His knees knocked together in fear and his legs gave way beneath him.
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 is seized with terror, trembling and weak with fear at the sign. The proud king is instantly reduced to dread before God's hand.
Overview
The man who moments earlier mocked the God of Israel now collapses inwardly with fear. His changed face and shaking limbs show how quickly human pride crumbles when confronted by divine reality. The fear of the Lord that should have governed his worship now overtakes him as terror, illustrating that those who will not bow willingly will one day tremble unavoidably.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Nah 2:10She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and laid waste! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, and every face grows pale!
- Ezek 7:17Every hand will go limp, and every knee will turn to water.
- Dan 7:28Thus ends the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face turned pale. But I kept the matter to myself.”
- Ps 69:23May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.
- Ezek 21:7And when they ask, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you are to say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt, and every hand will go limp. Every spirit will faint, and every knee will turn to water.’ Yes, it is coming and it will surely happen, declares the Lord GOD.”
- Dan 4:5I had a dream, and it frightened me; while in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me.
- Isa 13:7–8Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt.
- Dan 5:9–10Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were bewildered.
- Dan 4:19For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” “My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!
- Isa 5:27None of them grows weary or stumbles; no one slumbers or sleeps. No belt is loose and no sandal strap is broken.
- Job 20:19–27For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.
- Dan 2:1In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit, and sleep escaped him.
- Job 15:20–27A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.
- Ps 73:18–20Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
- Heb 12:12Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.
- Isa 21:2–4A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.”
- Dan 3:19At this, Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual,
- Isa 35:3Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
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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 5:6 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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