What does "Peres" mean in the context of Daniel 5:28? Text “PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.” — Daniel 5:28 Connection With The Inscription Mene, Tekel, Parsin The cryptic words (5:25) form a three-part accounting tally: • Mene — “numbered” • Tekel — “weighed” • Parsin/Peres — “divided” Together they declare that God has numbered Belshazzar’s days, weighed him and found him wanting, and now divides his rule. The shift from the plural Parsin (v. 25) to the singular Peres (v. 28) sharpens the verdict: the division is already decided. Aramean Wordplay: “Divided” And “Persia” Peres sounds almost identical to Paras (פָּרַס) — the Aramaic for “Persia.” Thus the message carries a double entendre: 1. Your kingdom is “divided.” 2. It is handed to the “Persians.” The phonetic pun is typical of Semitic prophetic oracles (cf. Micah 1:10-15). Grammatical Notes Peres appears in the perfect passive (“has been divided”), conveying an irreversible decree. In Daniel’s court dialect (Imperial Aramaic), consonantal resonance between פרס (“divide”) and פרס (“Persian”) would be unmistakable to native ears. Historical Fulfillment Chronicles such as the Nabonidus Chronicle and the Cyrus Cylinder corroborate that Babylon fell overnight to the Medo-Persian coalition (17 Tishri 539 BC). Herodotus, Xenophon, and the cuneiform Verse Account of Nabonidus affirm that Belshazzar (co-regent under Nabonidus) perished and Cyrus installed Darius the Mede (Gobryas/Ugbaru) as governor. The biblical narrative aligns precisely: the kingdom was “divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” Theological Significance 1. Divine Sovereignty: God alone “changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings” (Daniel 2:21). Peres is the concrete execution of that sovereignty. 2. Covenant Justice: Belshazzar desecrated Jerusalem’s temple vessels (5:2-4); Peres embodies lex talionis—dishonor God, lose your throne. 3. Eschatological Type: Babylon’s fall foreshadows ultimate judgment on “Mystery Babylon” (Revelation 17-18). The pattern—arrogant kingdom, sudden divine verdict—echoes through redemptive history. New Testament Parallels Jesus’ parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21) mirrors Belshazzar: both are abruptly called to account. Paul cites divine “division” of worldly powers (Acts 17:26) and ultimate “handing over” to Christ (1 Corinthians 15:24). Archaeological Illustrations • The Persian-style glazed-brick reliefs unearthed at Babylon’s Processional Way display early Persian presence. • Cylinder seals inscribed “Gubāru, governor of Babylon” date within months of the fall, matching Daniel 5:31. • Stratigraphic layers at Tell el-Muqayyar (Ur) reveal a cultural shift from Neo-Babylonian to Achaemenid artifacts at the 539 BC horizon, visualizing the “division.” Practical Application Peres reminds every generation that national stability rests in God’s hands. Personal kingdoms—careers, reputations, possessions—can be “divided” in a night. Wisest response: humble repentance and faith in the risen Christ, who alone grants a kingdom “that cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28). Summary Peres in Daniel 5:28 means “divided,” functions as a pun on “Persia,” and announces God’s irreversible judgment: Babylon’s sovereignty is severed and transferred to the Medo-Persian Empire. The word encapsulates linguistic ingenuity, historical accuracy, theological depth, and enduring relevance under the unchanging authority of Scripture. |
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