Daniel 5:17

In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Daniel addresses King Belshazzar immediately after the monarch promises him royal garments, a gold chain, and the third highest government position.

The words — The Aramaic term מַתְּנָתָ/ךְ (ma.te.na.to/Kh) literally means "your gifts," while עָנֵ֣ה ('a.Neh) conveys the act of replying. Daniel deploys these terms to formally reject the king's compensation before stating his actual duty.

The thread — This refusal of royal payment parallels Elisha’s rejection of Naaman’s gifts in 2 Kings 5:16, Abraham’s vow to take nothing in Genesis 14:23, and Elisha’s dismissal of the king of Israel in 2 Kings 3:13.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to separate prophetic obligation from political reward, treating the interpretation of divine writing as a fixed duty rather than a negotiable service.

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

בֵּאדַ֜יִןbe./Da.yin<in>/ then עָנֵ֣ה'a.Neh[was] replying דָנִיֵּ֗אלda.ni.YelDaniel וְאָמַר֙ve./'a.Marand/ [say] saying קֳדָ֣םko.Dambefore מַלְכָּ֔אmal.Ka/'king/ the מַתְּנָתָךְ֙ma.te.na.to/Khgifts/ yourלָ֣ךְla/khfor/ yourselfלֶֽהֶוְיָ֔ןle.hev.Yanlet them be וּנְבָ֥זְבְּיָתָ֖ךְu./ne.Va.ze.be.ya.Ta/khand/ rewards/ your לְאָחֳרָ֣ןle./'o.cho.Ranto/ another הַ֑בHavgive!בְּרַ֗םbe.Ramnevertheless כְּתָבָא֙ke.ta.Va/'writing/ the אֶקְרֵ֣א'ek.Re'I will read aloud לְמַלְכָּ֔אle./mal.Ka/'to/ king/ the וּפִשְׁרָ֖אu./fish.Ra/'and/ interpretation/ the אֲהוֹדְעִנֵּֽהּ׃'a.hod.'i.Ne/hI will make known to/ him

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

2 Kings 5:16 But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused.
Genesis 14:23 that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’
2 Kings 3:13 Elisha, however, said to the king of Israel, “What have we to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and of your mother!” “No,” replied the king of Israel, “for it is the LORD who has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”
2 Kings 5:26 But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants?
Psalms 119:46 I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, and I will not be ashamed.
Daniel 2:6 But if you tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and its interpretation.”
Daniel 5:29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
Acts 8:20 But Peter replied, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!

People named

Daniel