Daniel 5:23

Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The speaker addresses Belshazzar during the banquet where the sacred vessels from the temple have been brought for a feast with his nobles, wives, and concubines. The address occurs immediately after noting that Belshazzar knew the prior history but refused to humble his heart.

The words — הִתְרוֹמַ֡מְתָּ (hit.ro.Mam.ta) means "you have lifted yourself up," and מָרֵֽא־ שְׁמַיָּא (ma.re'- she.mai.Ya') translates literally as "lord of the heavens."

The thread — The theme of God holding human breath and ways appears in Job 12:10 and Daniel 4:37, while the warning against exalting oneself against the Lord connects to Isaiah 2:12.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that God controls every breath and action, making idolatry and self-exaltation fundamentally illogical rather than merely impious.

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

וְעַ֣לve./'Aland/ against מָרֵֽא־ma.re'-[the] lord of שְׁמַיָּ֣א׀she.mai.Ya/'heavens/ the הִתְרוֹמַ֡מְתָּhit.ro.Mam.tayou have lifted yourself up וּלְמָֽאנַיָּ֨אu./le./ma.nai.Ya/'and/ <obj.>/ vessels/ the דִֽי־di-of בַיְתֵ֜הּvay.Te/hhouse/ his הַיְתִ֣יוhay.Tivthey have brought קָֽדָמָ֗ךְka.da.ma.yi/khbefore/ you וְאַ֨נְתְּve./'an.tahand/ you וְרַבְרְבָנָ֜ךְve./rav.re.va.na.yi/khand/ nobles/ your שֵֽׁגְלָתָ֣ךְshe.ge.la.Ta/khwives/ your וּלְחֵנָתָךְ֮u./le.che.na.to/Khand/ concubines/ your חַמְרָא֮cham.Ra/'<the>/ wine שָׁתַ֣יִןsha.Ta.yin[are] drinkingבְּהוֹן֒be./hOnwith/ themוְלֵֽאלָהֵ֣יve./le./la.Heiand/ <obj.>/ [the] gods of כַסְפָּֽא־khas.pa-/'<the>/ silver וְ֠דַהֲבָאVe./da.ha.va/'and/ <the>/ gold נְחָשָׁ֨אne.cha.Sha/'<the>/ bronze פַרְזְלָ֜אfar.ze.La/'<the>/ iron אָעָ֣א'a.'A/'<the>/ wood וְאַבְנָ֗אve./'av.Na/'and/ <the>/ stone דִּ֠יdiwho לָֽא־la'-not חָזַ֧יִןcha.Za.yin[are] seeing וְלָא־ve./la'-and/ not שָׁמְעִ֛יןsha.me.'In[are] hearing וְלָ֥אve./La'and/ not יָדְעִ֖יןya.de.'In[are] knowing שַׁבַּ֑חְתָּsha.Bach.tayou have praised וְלֵֽאלָהָ֞אve./le./la.Ha/'and/ <obj.>/ God/ the דִּֽי־di-who נִשְׁמְתָ֥ךְnish.me.Ta/khbreath/ your בִּידֵ֛הּbi./De/h[is] in/ hand/ his וְכָל־ve./kholand/ all אֹרְחָתָ֥ךְ'o.re.cha.Ta/khways/ yourלֵ֖הּle/h[are] to/ himלָ֥אla'not הַדַּֽרְתָּ׃ha.Dar.tayou have glorified

King James Version

But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

Cross-references

Job 12:10 The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.
Daniel 4:37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.
Isaiah 2:12 For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled—
Isaiah 37:23 Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!
Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.
Job 31:4 Does He not see my ways and count my every step?
Psalms 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
Proverbs 20:24 A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
Jeremiah 50:29 Summon the archers against Babylon, all who string the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.
2 Kings 14:10 You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Glory in that and stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”