Daniel 5:24 — Word Study
WLCבֵּאדַ֙יִן֙ מִן־ קֳדָמ֔וֹהִי שְׁלִ֖יַחַ פַּסָּ֣א דִֽי־ יְדָ֑א וּכְתָבָ֥א דְנָ֖ה רְשִֽׁים׃
BSAThereforeʼĕdayin [at that time, then] He sentshᵉlach [dispatched, caused to go] the handyad that wroterᵉsham [inscribed, recorded] thedên inscriptionkᵉthâb [written decree, message]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בֵּאדַ֙יִן֙ | then | Preposition, adverb |
| מִן־ | from | Preposition |
| קֳדָמ֔וֹהִי | before him | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| שְׁלִ֖יַחַ | it was sent out | Verb plural, third person masculine singular |
| פַּסָּ֣א | palm the | Noun common both singular determined, particle |
| דִֽי־ | of | Conjunction |
| יְדָ֑א | hand the | Noun common both singular determined, particle |
| וּכְתָבָ֥א | and writing the | Conjunction, noun common both singular determined, particle |
| דְנָ֖ה | this | Particle |
| רְשִֽׁים׃ | it was inscribed | Verb plural, third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Therefore He sent the hand that wrote the inscription. |
| KJV | Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. |
| ASV | Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed. |
| YLT | 'Then from before Him sent is the extremity of the hand, and the writing is noted down; |
| WEB | Then the part of the hand was sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed. |
| BBE | Then the part of the hand was sent out from before him, and this writing was recorded. |
Where they part company is רְשִֽׁים׃ — see How Translations Differ.
One main verb, with two phrases describing what was sent and what was written. This structure highlights the action and its significance.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Daniel 5:24
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Writing on the Wallgenerated
Daniel 5:24 describes the moment when a hand writes a mysterious inscription during a feast, serving as a warning to King Belshazzar for his arrogance against God. This event is pivotal, as it leads to the interpretation of the inscription, revealing God's judgment on the king's reign. The context highlights a theme of divine authority and the consequences of human pride, as seen in the preceding verses where Belshazzar fails to honor God.
Cross References
The Key Word — רְשִֽׁים׃, re.Shimgenerated
The verb רְשַׁם (*rsham*) means 'to inscribe' or 'to sign.' It conveys the act of writing something down, often with significance, such as a decree or message. In this verse, it indicates that the inscription has been formally recorded, emphasizing the weight of the message being delivered.
The parsing shows it as a third person masculine singular verb, indicating that the action of inscribing is performed by the hand that was sent. This construction highlights the authority behind the message, as it comes from a divine source.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term sent for the verb שְׁלִ֖יַחַ, aligning with the KJV and ASV. All translations convey the action of dispatching the hand.
Where translations differ is in the rendering of רְשִֽׁים׃. The ASV, NETB, RVA, and WEB choose inscribed, while the BBE opts for recorded. This variation reflects different nuances of the act of writing.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb שְׁלִ֖יַחַ (*it was sent out*) governs the sentence, indicating the action taken. The structure includes a noun phrase as the subject and a series of prepositional phrases that clarify the context of the action.
The positioning of the verb at the start emphasizes the sending action, while subsequent phrases provide details about what was sent and what was written, creating a clear sequence of events.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint does not provide a direct Greek equivalent for this verse, but the translation process reflects the significance of the inscription as a divine message. The absence of a direct match suggests a focus on the meaning rather than a word-for-word correspondence.
This choice indicates an interpretation that may emphasize the broader implications of the writing rather than the specific wording used in the Hebrew text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Daniel 5:24 states that God sent a hand to write a message during a feast, warning King Belshazzar of his wrongdoings. This moment is crucial as it leads to the interpretation of the writing, which reveals God's judgment on the king's actions.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The inscription serves as a divine warning to King Belshazzar, indicating that his reign has been weighed and found lacking, leading to its end.
The hand symbolizes divine authority, indicating that the message comes directly from God, underscoring the seriousness of the warning.
The writing represents God's judgment against pride and blasphemy, serving as a reminder of divine sovereignty over earthly rulers.
This event highlights the contrast between human arrogance and divine authority, a recurring theme in the book of Daniel, where God's sovereignty prevails over earthly powers.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can I learn from King Belshazzar's actions and their consequences?
- How does this verse illustrate the theme of divine judgment in the book of Daniel?
- In what ways can I be mindful of humility in my own life, as opposed to the pride shown by Belshazzar?
- How do I respond to messages or warnings in my life that may come from unexpected sources?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Daniel 5:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThen was the part of the hand sent from him,.... That is, from God: being thus reproached and blasphemed, at that very instant, and for that reason, because the vessels of his sanctuary were
Read John Gill on Daniel 5 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThen was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. Then - when thou liftest thyself against the Lord. The part of the hand - the fore part, the fingers. Was ... sent from him - i:e., from God.
Read Robert Jamieson on Daniel 5 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIt is called part of the hand, because the hand appeared parted from the rest of the body.
Read Matthew Poole on Daniel 5 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsDaniel 5:24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.Ver. 24. Then was the part of the hand.] Completa peccati mensura, non differtur poena, when sin is once ripe, punishment is ready. The bottle of wickedness, when once full with those bitter waters, will soon sink to the bottom.
Read John Trapp on Daniel 5 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(24) Then.—Not only “at that time,” but also “because of this.” Daniel here expressly designates the writing as something proceeding from God.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Daniel 5 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 24. Then was the part of the hand sent] This was the filling up of the cup of thy iniquity; this last act made thee ripe for destruction.
Read AdamClarke on Daniel 5 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges24. Then was the palm (Daniel 5:5) of the hand sent forth from before him; and this writing was inscribed] Daniel 5:5. Then is here equivalent, virtually, to hence, therefore.
Read Cambridge on Daniel 5 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThen was the part of the hand sent from him - To wit, the fingers. See Daniel 5:5.
Read Albert Barnes on Daniel 5 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Therefore He sent the hand that wrote the inscription.
Then the part of the hand was sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.
Therefore He sent the hand that wrote the inscription.
Therefore the palm of a hand was sent from him, and this writing was inscribed.
Tyndale line
Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.
Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.
Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
Then was the palme of the hand sent from him, and hath written this writing.
Strictly literal
then from before him was sent the part of the hand, and this writing hath been written.
'Then from before Him sent is the extremity of the hand, and the writing is noted down;
Then from before Him is the extremity of the hand sent, and the writing is noted down;
Thereupon was sent from before him the part of the hand, and this writing was noted down.
Then God sent out a hand from his presence and this writing was done.
From the Latin
Wherefore he hath sent the part of the hand which hath written this that is set down.
Simplified
That's why he sent the hand to write this message.
Then the part of the hand was sent out from before him, and this writing was recorded.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint generally agree on the content of Daniel 5:24, with nine out of ten words matched. The Septuagint's phrasing may differ, but the essential message remains consistent.
בֵּאדַ֙יִן֙ מִן־ קֳדָמ֔וֹהִי שְׁלִ֖יַחַ פַּסָּ֣א דִֽי־ יְדָ֑א וּכְתָבָ֥א דְנָ֖ה רְשִֽׁים׃
9 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Daniel 5:24
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word אֱדַ֫יִן (*edayin*) is an Aramaic adverb meaning 'then' or 'thereupon.' It indicates a point in time, often used to refer to a sequence of events. The entries suggest it is derived from the word for 'then' in Hebrew, אָז (*az*).
אֱדַ֫יִן 57 adv. then, thereupon
base
H116 אֱדַ֫יִן
116 'edayin ed-ah'-yin
(Aramaic) of uncertain derivation; then (of time):--now,
that time, then.
אֱדַ֫יִן (e.da.yin) — then.
then, afterwards, thereupon, from that time
Aramaic of az (אָז "then" H0227A)
Adj | Adv — Preposition · adverbAR/D
מִן (min) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' and it covers a range of uses including source, reason, and comparison. It can indicate physical origin, temporal aspects, or causation. The entries agree on its various applications, with no significant disagreement noted.
מִן prep. from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more then
base
H4481 מִן
4481 min min
(Aramaic) corresponding to 4480:--according, after, +
because, + before, by, for, from, X him, X more than, (out)
of, part, since, X these, to, upon, + when.
see HEBREW for 04480
מִן־ (min) — from.
1) from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than
1a) from, out of (of place)
1b) from, by, as a result of, by reason of, at, according to, (of source)
1c) from (of time)
1d) beyond, more than (in comparisons)
AR — PrepositionAR
קֳדָם (qodam) primarily means 'before' or 'in front of.' It is used in various contexts, including indicating position or time. The entries indicate its Aramaic roots and its connection to another Hebrew word, קָדַם (H6924). Daniel 7:13 is specifically noted for its use.
[קֳדָם] 42 prep. before
base
H6925 קֳדָם, קְדָם
6925 qodam kod-awm'
(Aramaic) or qdam (Aramaic) (Daniel 7:l3) {ked-awm'};
corresponding to 6924; before:--before, X from, X I
(thought), X me, + of, X it pleased, presence.
see HEBREW for 0l3
see HEBREW for 06924
קֳדָם (qo.dam) — before.
1) before, in front of
1a) before
1b) from before
ANcmpc/Sp3ms — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixANcmpc/Sp3ms
שְׁלַח (shlach) primarily means 'to send.' It can refer to the act of sending or being sent, with a focus on the P'al stem, which indicates a simple action. The word is connected to the Aramaic form and has a relationship with the Hebrew root found in H7971.
H7972 שְׁלַח
7972 shlach shel-akh'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 7971:--put, send.
see HEBREW for 07971
שְׁלַח (she.lach) — to send.
1) to send
1a) (P'al)
1a1) to send, send out
1a2) to be sent
Adj — Verb plural · third person masculine singularAVQp3ms
פַּס (pas) refers to the palm of the hand, indicating a part of the body that is spread out. The entries consistently define it as such, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
פַּס n.m. palm of hand
base
H6447 פַּס
6447 pac pas
(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to 6461; the palm (of the
hand, as being spread out):--participle
see HEBREW for 06461
פַּס (pas) — palm.
palm of the hand
ANcbsd/Ta — Noun common both singular determined · particleANcbsd/Ta
דִּי (diy) is an Aramaic word meaning 'that,' functioning as a relative conjunction and a preposition in various contexts. It can indicate relationships such as 'who,' 'which,' or 'because,' and is used in adverbial phrases. The entries highlight its role in connecting clauses and marking possession.
דִּי part. of relation, who, which, that, used also as mark of gen. and conj. that, because
base
H1768 דִּי
1768 diy dee
(Aramaic) apparently for 1668; that, used as relative
conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial
phrases; also as preposition of:--X as, but, for(-asmuch +), +
now, of, seeing, than, that, therefore, until, + what
(-soever), when, which, whom, whose.
see HEBREW for 01668
דִּי (di) — that.
part of relation
1) who, which, that
mark of genitive
2) that of, which belongs to, that
conj
3) that, because
AC — ConjunctionAC
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
יַד (yad) means 'hand' and can also refer to 'power' in a figurative sense. It is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, emphasizing both the physical and metaphorical aspects of strength and capability.
יַד n.f. hand
hand
power
base
H3028 יַד hand . hand
. power
3028 yad yad
(Aramaic) corresponding to 3027:--hand, power.
see HEBREW for 03027
יַד (yad) — hand.
1) hand
2) power (fig.)
Adj | Art — Noun common both singular determined · particleANcbsd/Ta
(yadh, "hand"; kaph, "the hollow hand," "palm"; yamin, "the right hand"; semo'l, "the left hand"; cheir, "hand"; dexia, "the right hand"; aristera, "the left hand" (only Lu 23:33; 2Co 6:7), or euphemistically (for evil omens come from the left hand; compare Latin sinister, German linkisch, etc.); euonumos, literally, "having a good name"): The Hebrew words are used in a large variety of idiomatic expressions, part of which have passed into the Greek (through the Sepuagint) and into modern European languages (through the translations of the Bible; see Oxford Hebrew Lexicon, under the word "yadh"). We group what has to be said about the word under the following heads:
1. The Human Hand: Various Uses:
Hand
Called by Galen “the instrument of instruments.” It is the symbol of human action (Ps. 9:16; Job 9:30; Isa. 1:15; 1 Tim. 2:8). Washing the hands was a symbol of innocence (Ps. 26:6; 73:13; Matt. 27:24), also of sanctification (1 Cor. 6:11; Isa. 51:16; Ps. 24:3, 4). In Ps. 77:2 the correct rendering is, as in the Revised Version, “My hand was stretched…
Often put of strength, power; so to be "in the hand" of any one, is to be in his power. Joining hands, or striking hands, is a very common method of pledging one’s self to a contract or bargain; just as persons among us often shake hands in token of an agreement. To "lift the hand," means to make oath. "At the right hand of God," is the place of honor, power, and happiness, Ps 16:11 45:9 110:1 Mt 26:64 Col 3:1. The right hand meant towards the south, the Jews being wont to speak as if facing the east. The "laying on of hands," signified consecration to office, and the bestowal of a blessing or of divine gifts, Ge 48:14 Nu…
כְּתָב (kethav) refers to writing or an inscription. It encompasses various forms of written communication, including decrees and requirements. The term is linked to the Aramaic word for prescribing or writing. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
כְּתָב n.m. writing
base
H3792 כְּתָב
3792 kthab keth-awb'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 3791:--prescribing, writing(-ten).
see HEBREW for 03791
כְּתָב (ke.tav) — inscription.
1) a writing
1a) writing, inscription
1b) written decree, written requirement
Adj | N-ms | Art — Conjunction · noun common both singular determined · particleAC/Ncbsd/Ta
rit'-ing:
I. GENERAL
1. Definition
2. Inward Writing
3. Outward Writing
II. THE SYMBOLS
1. Object Writing
2. Image Writing
3. Picture Writing
4. Mnemonic Writing
5. Phonetic Writing
III. METHODS
IV. INSTRUMENTS
V. MATERIALS
1. Clay
2. Stone
3. Lead
4. Bronze
5. Gold and Silver
6. Wood
7. Bones and Skins
8. Vellum
9. Papyrus
10. Paper
11. Ink
VI. FORMS
1. The Roll
2. The Codex
VII. WRITING
1. Writers
2. The Writing Art
VIII. HISTORY OF BIBLICAL HANDWRITING
1. Mythological Origins
2. Earliest Use
3. Biblical History
LITERATURE
I. General.
1. Definition:
Writing is the art of recording thought, and recording is the making of permanent symbols. Concept, expression and record are three states of the same work or word. Earliest mankind expressed itself by gesture or voice and recorded in memory, but at a very early stage man began to feel the need of objective aids to memory and the need of transmitting a message to a distance or…
Writing
The art of writing must have been known in the time of the early Pharaohs. Moses is commanded “to write for a memorial in a book” (Ex. 17:14) a record of the attack of Amalek. Frequent mention is afterwards made of writing (28:11, 21, 29, 36; 31:18; 32:15, 16; 34:1, 28; 39:6, 14, 30). The origin of this art is unknown, but there is reason to conclude that in the age of Moses it was well known. The inspired books of Moses are the most ancient extant writings, although there are written monuments as old as about B.C. 2000. The words expressive of “writing,” “book,” and “ink,” are common to all the branches or dialects of the Semitic language, and hence it has been concluded that this art must have been known to the earliest Semites before they separated into their various tribes, and nations, and families.
There is no account in the Bible of the origin of writing. That the Egyptians in the time of Joseph were acquainted with writing of a certain kind there is evidence to prove, but there is nothing to show that up to this period the knowledge extended to the Hebrew family. At the same time there is no evidence against it. Writing is first distinctly mentioned in (Exodus 17:14) and the connection clearly implies that it was not then employed for the first time but was so familiar as to be used for historic records. It is not absolutely necessary to infer from this that the art of writing was an accomplishment possessed by every Hebrew citizen. If we examine the instances in which writing is mentioned in connection with individuals, we shall find that in all cases the writers were men of superior position. In (Isaiah 29:11,12) there is…
See BOOK.
דְּנָה (denah) is an Aramaic word meaning 'this' and is used as a demonstrative pronoun. It can also imply 'therefore' or 'on account of this.' The entries indicate that it is an orthographical variation of another word, דָּן (dan), but do not provide specific Old Testament references.
דְּנָה 57 demonstr.pr.comm. this
base
H1836 דְּנָה, דֵּן
1836 den dane
(Aramaic) an orthographical variation of 1791; this:--
(afore-)time, + after this manner, here (-after),
one...another, such, there(-fore), these, this (matter), +
thus, where(-fore), which.
see HEBREW for 01791
דְּנָה (de.nah) — this.
demons pron
1) this, on account of this
adv
2) therefore
Adj — ParticleATm
רְשַׁם (rsham) means to inscribe or sign, often implying the act of writing one's name. It can also refer to something being inscribed or signed. The word is derived from a related term, רָשַׁם (rsham), which has a similar meaning.
רְשַׁם vb. inscribe, sign
Pe. inscribe (prob. with one’s name, i.e.) sign
Pe‛îl
be inscribed, written
be signed
base
H7560 רְשַׁם
7560 rsham resh-am'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 7559:--sign, write.
see HEBREW for 07559
רְשַׁם (re.sham) — to sign.
1) to inscribe, sign
1a) (P'al) to inscribe, sign
1b) (P'al)
1b1) to be inscribed, be written
1b2) to be signed
Adj — Verb plural · third person masculine singularAVQp3ms