collapse all  

Text -- Daniel 5:26 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
5:26 This is the interpretation of the words: As for mene– God has numbered your kingdom’s days and brought it to an end.
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Wicked | Symbols and Similitudes | Mene | MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN | Heathen | Government | Daniel | Belshazzar | Babylon | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , Maclaren , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable , Guzik

collapse all
Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Dan 5:26 - -- MENE MENE, it is numbered, it is numbered; the words are doubled for the greater confirmation. It relates to the number of the seventy years for the o...

MENE MENE, it is numbered, it is numbered; the words are doubled for the greater confirmation. It relates to the number of the seventy years for the overthrow of the Babylonish empire.

JFB: Dan 5:26 - -- God hath fixed the number of years of thine empire, and that number is now complete.

God hath fixed the number of years of thine empire, and that number is now complete.

TSK: Dan 5:26 - -- God : Dan 9:2; Job 14:14; Isa. 13:1-14:32, Isa 21:1-10, Isa 47:1-15; Jer 25:11, Jer 25:12; Jer 27:7, 50:1-51:64; Act 15:18

God : Dan 9:2; Job 14:14; Isa. 13:1-14:32, Isa 21:1-10, Isa 47:1-15; Jer 25:11, Jer 25:12; Jer 27:7, 50:1-51:64; Act 15:18

collapse all
Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Dan 5:26 - -- This is the interpretation of the thing - It may seem not to have been difficult to interpret the meaning of the communication, when one was ab...

This is the interpretation of the thing - It may seem not to have been difficult to interpret the meaning of the communication, when one was able to read the words, or when the sense of the words was understood. But, if the words are placed together, and considered in their abstract form, the whole communication would be so enigmatical that the interpretation would not be likely to occur to anyone without a Divine guidance. This will appear more clearly by arranging the words together, as has been done by Hales:

MENE, number,

MENE, number,TEKEL, weight,(PERES) (division)UPHARSIN, division.
Or, as it is explained more accurately by Berholdt and Gesenius:

Mene, Numbered,Mene, Numbered,Tekel, Weighted,Upharsin. Divided.
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 - מנא me nê' . This word is a passive participle from מנה me nâh - "to number, to review."- Gesenius, "Lex."The verb is also written מנא me nâ' - 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. The idea seems to be taken from the fact, that the duration of a man’ s life cannot usually be known, and in the general uncertainty we can form no correct estimate of it, but when he is old, or when he is dangerously sick, we feel that we can with some degree of probability number his days, since he cannot now live long. Such is the idea here, as explained by Daniel. All uncertainty about the duration of the kingdom was now removed, for, since the evil had come, an exact estimate of its whole duration - of the number of the years of its continuance - could be made. In the Greek of Theodotion there is no attempt to translate this word, and it is retained in Greek letters - Μανὴ Manē . So also in the Codex Chisianus and in the Latin Vulgate.

God hath numbered thy kingdom - The word which is used here, and rendered "numbered"- מנה me nâh - is the verb of which the previous word is the participle. Daniel applies it to the "kingdom"or "reign"of the monarch, as being a thing of more importance than the life of the king himself. It is evident, if, according to the common interpretation of Dan 5:30, Belshazzar was slain that very night, it "might"have been applied to the king himself, meaning that his days were numbered, and that he was about to die. But this interpretation (see Notes) is not absolutely certain, and perhaps the fact that Daniel did not so apply the word may be properly regarded as one circumstance showing that such an interpretation is not necessary, though probably it is the correct one.

And finished it - This is not the meaning of the word "Mene,"but is the explanation by Daniel of the thing intended. The word in its interpretation fairly implied that; or that might be understood from it. The fact that the "kingdom"in its duration was "numbered,"properly expressed the idea that it was now to come to an end. It did actually then come to an end by being merged in that of the Medes and Persians.

Poole: Dan 5:26 - -- Mene, Mene He hath numbered, or, It is numbered, it is numbered. These words are doubled for the greater confirmation, to note that the number of his...

Mene, Mene He hath numbered, or, It is numbered, it is numbered. These words are doubled for the greater confirmation, to note that the number of his sins and of his days, both of life and reign, are full. It relates to the number of the seventy years’ captivity now completed, or to the seventy years for the overthrow of the Babylonish empire, or the translation of it to the Medes and Persians, foretold Isa 13 Isa 14 Jer 1 , and in the dream, Dan 2:32 .

Gill: Dan 5:26 - -- This is the interpretation of the thing,.... Or, "word" z; for they might all seem as one word; or this is the sense of the whole: MENE; as for thi...

This is the interpretation of the thing,.... Or, "word" z; for they might all seem as one word; or this is the sense of the whole:

MENE; as for this word, it signifies,

God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it; God had fixed the number of years, how long that monarchy should last, which he was now at the head of, and which was foretold, Jer 25:1, and also the number of years that he should reign over it; and both these numbers were now completed; for that very night Belshazzar was slain, and the kingdom translated to another people: and a dreadful thing it is to be numbered to the sword, famine, and pestilence, or any sore judgment of God for sin, as sometimes men are; so more especially to be appointed to everlasting wrath, and to be numbered among transgressors, among the devils and damned in hell.

expand all
Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Dan 5:26 The Aramaic term מְנֵא (mÿne’) is a noun referring to a measure of weight. The linkage here to the verb ̶...

expand all
Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Dan 5:1-31 - --1 Belshazzar's impious feast.5 A hand-writing unknown to the magicians, troubles the king.10 At the commendation of the queen Daniel is brought.17 He,...

Maclaren: Dan 5:17-31 - --Mene, Tekel, Peres 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 w...

MHCC: Dan 5:18-31 - --Daniel reads Belshazzar's doom. He had not taken warning by the judgments upon Nebuchadnezzar. And he had insulted God. Sinners are pleased with gods ...

Matthew Henry: Dan 5:10-29 - -- Here is, I. The information given to the king, by the queen-mother, concerning Daniel, how fit he was to be consulted in this difficult case. It is ...

Keil-Delitzsch: Dan 5:13-28 - -- Daniel is summoned, reminds the king of his sin, and reads and interprets the writing. The counsel of the queen was followed, and without delay Da...

Constable: Dan 2:1--7:28 - --II. The Times of the Gentiles: God's program for the world chs. 2--7 Daniel wrote 2:4b-7:28 in the Aramaic langu...

Constable: Dan 5:1-31 - --D. Belshazzar's feast ch. 5 Belshazzar came to power some nine years after Nebuchadnezzar had died.165 ...

Constable: Dan 5:1-31 - --E. Darius' pride and Daniel's preservation ch. 6 Even though this chapter is one of the most popular in ...

Constable: Dan 5:25-28 - --6. Daniel's interpretation of the writing 5:25-28 Scholars have wearied themselves trying to fig...

Guzik: Dan 5:1-31 - --Daniel 5 - The Writing On the Wall A. A disturbing message from God. 1. (1-4) Belshazzar's great, blasphemous feast. Belshazzar the king made a gr...

expand all
Introduction / Outline

JFB: Daniel (Book Introduction) DANIEL, that is, "God is my judge"; probably of the blood royal (compare Dan 1:3, with 1Ch 3:1, where a son of David is named so). Jerusalem may have ...

JFB: Daniel (Outline) THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY BEGINS; DANIEL'S EDUCATION AT BABYLON, &C. (Dan. 1:1-21) NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM: DANIEL'S INTERPRETATION OF IT, AND ADVANCEM...

TSK: Daniel 5 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Dan 5:1, Belshazzar’s impious feast; Dan 5:5, A hand-writing unknown to the magicians, troubles the king; Dan 5:10, At the commendation...

Poole: Daniel (Book Introduction) BOOK OF DANIEL THE ARGUMENT IN Daniel and his prophecy, observe these things for the better understanding of this book, and the mind of God in it...

Poole: Daniel 5 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 5 Belshazzar’ s impious feast, Dan 5:1-4 . The hand-writing on the wall, which the magicians could not explain, troubleth him, Dan 5:5...

MHCC: Daniel (Book Introduction) Daniel was of noble birth, if not one of the royal family of Judah. He was carried captive to Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiachin, B. C. 606, whe...

MHCC: Daniel 5 (Chapter Introduction) (Dan 5:1-9) Belshazzar's impious feast; the hand-writing on the wall. (Dan 5:10-17) Daniel is sent for to interpret it. (Dan 5:18-31) Daniel warns t...

Matthew Henry: Daniel (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Book of the Prophet Daniel The book of Ezekiel left the affairs of Jerusalem under a doleful aspect...

Matthew Henry: Daniel 5 (Chapter Introduction) The destruction of the kingdom of Babylon had been long and often foretold when it was at a distance; in this chapter we have it accomplished, and ...

Constable: Daniel (Book Introduction) Introduction Background In 605 B.C. Prince Nebuchadnezzar led the Babylonian army of h...

Constable: Daniel (Outline) Outline I. The character of Daniel ch. 1 A. Historical background 1:1-2 ...

Constable: Daniel Daniel Bibliography Albright, William F. From Stone Age to Christianity. 2nd ed. New York: Doubleday Press, Anc...

Haydock: Daniel (Book Introduction) THE PROPHECY OF DANIEL. INTRODUCTION. DANIEL, whose name signifies "the judgment of God," was of the royal blood of the kings of Juda, and one o...

Gill: Daniel (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL This book is called, in the Vulgate Latin version, "the Prophecy of Daniel"; and in the Syriac and Arabic versions "the Prop...

Gill: Daniel 5 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL 5 This chapter gives an account of a feast made by King Belshazzar, attended with drunkenness, idolatry, and profanation of ...

Advanced Commentary (Dictionaries, Hymns, Arts, Sermon Illustration, Question and Answers, etc)


TIP #26: Strengthen your daily devotional life with NET Bible Daily Reading Plan. [ALL]
created in 0.07 seconds
powered by
bible.org - YLSA