Bible Strands
Daniel 5:13
So Daniel was brought before the king, who asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative places Daniel in the royal court after being summoned by the king’s advisors. The Babylonian monarch initiates the encounter by asking a direct question to verify Daniel’s identity and his father’s role in bringing him from Judah.
The words — The Hebrew verb הֻעַל (hu.'Al) literally means "he was brought," highlighting Daniel's passive movement into the king's presence. The name דָּֽנִיֵּ֔אל (da.ni.Yel) anchors the king's inquiry, marking the prophet as the specific focus of the royal examination.
The thread — The king's identification of Daniel as an exile from Judah parallels Daniel 6:13 and Daniel 2:25, where his captive status and divine gifting are repeatedly confirmed. The reference to Daniel's father's reign also links to Daniel 5:11, which recalls the prophet's established reputation under Nebuchadnezzar.
Why it lands — The text states that a captive prophet is brought before a pagan king to address a crisis the court cannot solve. It asks the reader to acknowledge that divine wisdom operates within human power structures and that marginalized individuals are positioned by God to fulfill necessary purposes.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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?
Cross-references
- Daniel 6:13 Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times a day.”
- Daniel 5:11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king,
- Daniel 2:25 Arioch hastily brought Daniel before the king and said to him, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who will tell the king the interpretation.”
- Ezra 4:1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,
- Ezra 6:16 Then the people of Israel—the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles—celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.
- Ezra 6:19 On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles kept the Passover.
- Ezra 10:16 So the exiles did as proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, each of them identified by name, to represent their families. On the first day of the tenth month they launched the investigation,
- John 7:3 So Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing.
- Ezra 10:7 And a proclamation was issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem.
- Daniel 1:21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.