Daniel 3:4

3:4 Then the herald ¹  made a loud ²  proclamation: “To you, O peoples, nations, and language groups, the following command is given: ³ 

Daniel 5:8

5:8 So all the king’s wise men came in, but they were unable to read the writing or to make known its ⁴  interpretation to the king.

Daniel 5:15

5:15 Now the wise men and ⁵  astrologers were brought before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation. But they were unable to disclose the interpretation of the message.

Daniel 5:17

Daniel Interprets the Handwriting on the Wall

5:17 But Daniel replied to the king, “Keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else! However, I will read the writing for the king and make known its ⁶  interpretation.

Daniel 5:7

5:7 The king called out loudly ⁷  to summon ⁸  the astrologers, wise men, and diviners. The king proclaimed ⁹  to the wise men of Babylon that anyone who could read this inscription and disclose its interpretation would be clothed in purple ¹⁰  and have a golden collar ¹¹  placed on his neck and be third ruler in the kingdom.

Daniel 4:14

4:14 He called out loudly ¹²  as follows: ¹³ 

‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches!

Strip off its foliage

and scatter its fruit!

Let the animals flee from under it

and the birds from its branches!

Daniel 5:12

5:12 Thus there was found in this man Daniel, whom the king renamed Belteshazzar, an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, and skill to interpret ¹⁴  dreams, solve riddles, and decipher knotty problems. ¹⁵  Now summon ¹⁶  Daniel, and he will disclose the interpretation.”

Daniel 5:16

5:16 However, I have heard ¹⁷  that you are able to provide interpretations and to decipher knotty problems. Now if you are able to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, you will wear purple and have a golden collar around your neck and be third ¹⁸  ruler in the kingdom.”

¹ tn According to BDB 1097 s.v. כָּרוֹז the Aramaic word used here is a Greek loanword, but other scholars have argued instead for a Persian derivation (HALOT 1902 s.v. *כָּרוֹז).

² tn Aram “in strength.”

³ tn Aram “they are saying.”

⁴ tc Read וּפִשְׁרֵהּ (ufishreh) with the Qere rather than וּפִשְׁרָא (ufishra’) of the Kethib.

⁷ tn The Aramaic text does not have “and.” The term “astrologers” is either an appositive for “wise men” (cf. KJV, NKJV, ASV, RSV, NRSV), or the construction is to be understood as asyndetic (so the translation above).

¹⁰ tn Or “the.”

¹³ tn Aram “in strength.”

¹⁴ tn Aram “cause to enter.”

¹⁵ tn Aram “answered and said.”

¹⁶ sn Purple was a color associated with royalty in the ancient world.

¹⁷ tn The term translated “golden collar” here probably refers to something more substantial than merely a gold chain (cf. NIV, NCV, NRSV, NLT) or necklace (cf. NASB).

¹⁶ tn Aram “in strength.”

¹⁷ tn Aram “and thus he was saying.”

¹⁹ tc The translation reads מִפְשַׁר (mifshar) rather than the MT מְפַשַּׁר (mÿfashar) and later in the verse reads וּמִשְׁרֵא (mishre’) rather than the MT וּמְשָׁרֵא (mÿshare’). The Masoretes have understood these Aramaic forms to be participles, but they are more likely to be vocalized as infinitives. As such, they have an epexegetical function in the syntax of their clause.

²⁰ tn Aram “to loose knots.”

²¹ tn Aram “let [Daniel] be summoned.”

²² tn The Aramaic text has also the words “about you.”

²³ tn Or perhaps “one of three rulers,” in the sense of becoming part of a triumvir. So also v. 29.