Daniel 5:25

25 This is what was written down: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN.

Daniel 5:25 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 5:25

And this is the writing that was written
They are such and such letters, and so to be read, as follows: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN;
which are Chaldee words, and may be literally rendered, "he hath numbered, he hath numbered"; that is, God hath certainly, perfectly, and exactly numbered; "he hath weighed", God hath weighed thee, Belshazzar; "and they divide the kingdom"; that is, the Medes and Persians, as appears from the following interpretation:

Daniel 5:25 In-Context

23 Instead, you've set yourself up against the Lord of heaven! The equipment of God's house was brought to you; and you, your princes, your consorts, and your secondary wives drank wine out of it, all the while praising the gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—gods who can't see, hear, or know anything. But you didn't glorify the true God who holds your very breath in his hand and who owns every road you take.

24 “That's why this hand was sent from God and why this message was written down.

25 This is what was written down: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN.

26 "This is the meaning of the word MENE: God has numbered the days of your rule. It's over!

27 TEKEL means that you've been weighed on the scales, and you don't measure up.

Footnotes

• [a]. Aram Upharsin