What is the meaning of Daniel 5:11? There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him “There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him.” (Daniel 5:11a) • Spoken by the queen mother, this line introduces Daniel as the one person able to interpret the mysterious handwriting. • “Spirit of the holy gods” is how a pagan court describes what Scripture elsewhere calls the Spirit of God (Genesis 41:38; Daniel 4:8-9). The world may mislabel, yet it still recognizes supernatural enabling. • The verse affirms that genuine spiritual gifting is noticeable—even to unbelievers—because God makes His presence evident (Exodus 31:3; Acts 6:10). • Belshazzar’s court had exhausted its own wisdom (Daniel 5:7-8); now it must turn to the man indwelt by God’s Spirit. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods “In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods.” (Daniel 5:11b) • Daniel’s reputation spans decades. Earlier, Nebuchadnezzar “found them ten times better” than all others (Daniel 1:17-20; 2:47). • “Insight, intelligence, and wisdom” summarize the spiritual gifts God gave Daniel—revelation, discernment, and practical understanding (Proverbs 2:6; James 1:5). • The queen’s memory underscores a sobering truth: spiritual faithfulness endures, even when new leaders forget (Psalm 37:6; Hebrews 6:10). • This reminder invites Belshazzar to humble himself as Nebuchadnezzar eventually did (Daniel 4:34-37). Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners “Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners.” (Daniel 5:11c) • Daniel had been promoted to lead the very groups whose wisdom just failed (Daniel 2:48). His authority is a matter of historical record in Babylon. • God often elevates His servants over worldly systems to display His supremacy (Genesis 41:40-41; Esther 10:3). • The pagan disciplines listed remind us that human superstition cannot match divine revelation (Isaiah 44:25; 1 Corinthians 3:19). • Belshazzar hears that Daniel once outranked the experts he has just consulted—another implicit call to humility (Proverbs 15:33). Your own father, the king “Your father, the king” (Daniel 5:11d) repeats for emphasis, stressing lineage and responsibility. • In ancient Near Eastern language, “father” can mean predecessor or ancestor (2 Kings 14:3). The point: Daniel’s credibility is tied to a previous ruler honored by God. • Belshazzar’s failure is stark: he shares Nebuchadnezzar’s throne but not his ultimate lesson—“the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind” (Daniel 4:17). • By recalling familial history, the queen presses Belshazzar to learn from it (Deuteronomy 4:9; Psalm 78:5-8). summary Daniel 5:11 testifies that God places Spirit-filled servants in strategic positions and makes their gifting evident even to unbelievers. Decades of faithful service gave Daniel a reputation for wisdom surpassing all human expertise. The queen’s reminder exposes Belshazzar’s neglect of divine revelation and points the way to the only interpreter of the handwriting: the man indwelt by the Spirit of the holy God. |
    |