What is the meaning of Daniel 5:13?

So Daniel was brought before the king

• After the mysterious handwriting terrifies Belshazzar (Daniel 5:5–9), Daniel is urgently summoned. Just as earlier in Nebuchadnezzar’s reign (Daniel 2:25), God’s servant is positioned before earthly power at precisely the right moment (Proverbs 21:1).

• The text underscores God’s sovereignty: even in exile, Daniel’s steps are ordered (Psalm 37:23), echoing how Joseph stood before Pharaoh (Genesis 41:14-16).

• Daniel comes willingly; his obedience models 1 Peter 3:15—ready to give an answer when called.

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who asked him

• The king moves straight to interrogation—evidence of his desperation after his wise men failed (Daniel 5:8).

• Dialogue is a hallmark of biblical revelation: God often uses questions to uncover truth (Isaiah 1:18; Matthew 16:13). Here Belshazzar’s question sets the stage for Daniel to proclaim God’s verdict.

• The contrast is vivid: a trembling monarch versus a calm prophet who knows “the people who know their God will display strength” (Daniel 11:32b).

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"Are you Daniel"

• Belshazzar verifies identity, highlighting Daniel’s enduring reputation despite decades out of royal spotlight (cf. Daniel 4:8).

• Name matters: “Daniel” means “God is my Judge,” a hint that judgment is about to fall on Babylon (Daniel 5:24-28).

• Like believers today (Philippians 2:15), Daniel’s consistent witness makes him recognizable even in a hostile culture.

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"one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?"

• Belshazzar stresses Daniel’s outsider status, perhaps to remind him of perceived inferiority (2 Kings 24:14-16). Yet this “exile” now holds the divine answer the empire lacks—a reversal reminiscent of Esther 4:14.

• “My father” (likely “ancestor,” referring to Nebuchadnezzar) recalls past conquests, but also past revelations Nebuchadnezzar received (Daniel 4:37). The king has historical evidence of God’s work yet has ignored it (Psalm 78:10-11).

• Daniel’s exile fulfills prophetic warning (Jeremiah 25:11) while showing God’s faithfulness: even in judgment He preserves a remnant to testify (Isaiah 10:20-21).

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summary

Daniel 5:13 presents a dramatic courtroom scene: the faithful prophet, once carried away as a captive, now stands before a trembling king who desperately needs the wisdom of God. Every phrase reminds us that:

• God directs events so His servants speak at critical moments.

• Earthly power must bow to divine revelation.

• A believer’s consistent testimony remains compelling across decades.

Ultimately, Daniel’s presence exposes Babylon’s pride and prepares the way for God’s written verdict on the wall—proof that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of men, then and now.