Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were bewildered.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his face was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed.
- KJV Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.
- NKJV Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were astonished.
- NASB Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were perplexed.
- NLT So the king grew even more alarmed, and his face turned pale. His nobles, too, were shaken.
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 grows even more terrified and his nobles are bewildered. The unsolved sign deepens the dread hanging over the feast.
Overview
With no one able to interpret the message, the king's alarm intensifies and his court is left in confusion. The festive atmosphere has wholly given way to fear, underscoring the weight of God's word even when its meaning is still hidden. The scene leaves the powerful of Babylon paralyzed, awaiting a word they cannot supply for themselves.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Dan 5:6his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together.
- Dan 2:1In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit, and sleep escaped him.
- Jer 6:24We have heard the report; our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.
- 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.”
- Isa 13:6–8Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
- Ps 18:14He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.
- Dan 10:8So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless.
- Job 18:11–14Terrors frighten him on every side and harass his every step.
- Ps 48:6Trembling seized them there, anguish like a woman in labor.
- Jer 30:6Ask now, and see: Can a male give birth? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor and every face turned pale?
- Matt 2:3When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
- Rev 6:15Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
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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 5:9 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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