What does Daniel 5:26 mean?
"This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it." - Daniel 5:26
"This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it."
The verse Daniel 5:26 takes place during the famous story of Belshazzar's feast in the book of Daniel. In this story, Belshazzar, the wicked king of Babylon, throws a great feast and uses the sacred vessels that had been taken from the temple in Jerusalem. In the midst of this feast, a mysterious hand appears and writes a message on the wall, causing great fear and confusion among the king and his guests. The king calls for Daniel to interpret the writing, and this verse is part of the interpretation that Daniel provides.
The verse itself contains a message from God to Belshazzar, announcing the imminent fall of his kingdom. The words "MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it" convey the idea that God has evaluated Belshazzar's kingdom and found it lacking, and that its destruction is at hand.
A key theme in this verse is the sovereignty and judgment of God. The image of God numbering or evaluating Belshazzar's kingdom suggests that God is ultimately in control of history and that he holds human rulers accountable for their actions. Belshazzar's kingdom, which had been weighed in the balance and found wanting, serves as a powerful example of the consequences of pride, arrogance, and disobedience in the eyes of God.
Another important theme in this verse is the idea of divine judgment and justice. Belshazzar had desecrated the sacred vessels of the temple and had feasted in a drunken and blasphemous manner, showing contempt for the God of Israel. The appearance of the hand and the writing on the wall can be seen as a direct response from God, a just and appropriate judgment on Belshazzar's actions. The words "finished it" suggest that Belshazzar's kingdom is coming to an end as a result of his sins and that he will be held accountable for his actions.
The symbolism in this verse is rich and profound. The use of the word "MENE" refers to the act of counting or measuring, suggesting that God has carefully evaluated and assessed Belshazzar's kingdom. This use of symbolic language reinforces the idea that God's judgment is just and measured, and that God's actions are deliberate and purposeful.
The image of the kingdom being "finished" conveys a sense of finality and completion. This suggests that Belshazzar's kingdom has reached its end and that there is no way to escape the judgment that is about to befall it. The use of this word emphasizes the inevitability and irrevocability of God's judgment, and serves as a powerful warning to all who would defy or disobey God.
In conclusion, Daniel 5:26 is a powerful and profound verse that conveys important themes of divine sovereignty, judgment, and justice. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of pride and disobedience and the reality of God's judgment. The verse also contains rich symbolism that reinforces these themes and emphasizes the seriousness and finality of God's actions. As such, it continues to be a relevant and challenging message for readers today.
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Daniel 5:26 Artwork
Daniel 5:26 - "This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it."
"This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it." - Daniel 5:26
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Daniel 5:5
Daniel 5:13 - "Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?"
Daniel 2:26 - "The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?"
Daniel 10:5
Daniel 7:5
Daniel 7:5
Daniel 5:4
Daniel 5:3
Daniel 7:5
Daniel 10:5
Daniel 12:5 - "¶ Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river."
Daniel 7:26 - "But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end."
Daniel 5:12 - "Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation."
Daniel 6:5 - "Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God."
Daniel 5:30 - "¶ In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain."
Daniel 6:26 - "I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end."
Daniel 5:25 - "¶ And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN."
Daniel 8:26 - "And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days."
Daniel 5:29 - "Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom."
Daniel 5:24 - "Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written."
Daniel 5:28 - "PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians."
Daniel 5:27 - "TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting."
Daniel 5:27 - "TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting."
Daniel 5:27 - "TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting."
Daniel 5:17 - "¶ Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation."
Daniel 11:26 - "Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain."
Daniel 5:31 - "And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old."