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Verse

Daniel 5:19

ESV And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled.
NIV Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.
NASB Now because of the greatness which He granted him, all the peoples, nations, and populations of all languages trembled and feared in his presence; whomever he wished, he killed, and whomever he wished, he spared alive; and whomever he wished he elevated, and whomever he wished he humbled.
CSB Because of the greatness he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages were terrified and fearful of him. He killed anyone he wanted and kept alive anyone he wanted; he exalted anyone he wanted and humbled anyone he wanted.
NLT He made him so great that people of all races and nations and languages trembled before him in fear. He killed those he wanted to kill and spared those he wanted to spare. He honored those he wanted to honor and disgraced those he wanted to disgrace.
KJV And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.

What does Daniel 5:19 mean?

This history lesson involves Nebuchadnezzar, a prior king of Babylon. It was Nebuchadnezzar who conquered Israel and took captives, including Daniel (Daniel 1:1–7). It was Nebuchadnezzar whom the Lord depicted in a dream as the golden head of a symbolic statue (Daniel 2:36–38). Nebuchadnezzar held the authority to decide who would be executed and who would be allowed to live. He threatened advisors with horrible death if they failed him (Daniel 2:5). His pride is also seen in his order to have executed whoever refused to worship his golden image (Daniel 3:5–6). He also had the authority to remove men from high positions in Babylon and replace them with others (Daniel 2:48–49; 3:30).

Yet it was also Nebuchadnezzar whom God degraded with madness to teach him humility (Daniel 4:24–25; 5:20). Belshazzar—the profane, drunken king (Daniel 5:1–4)—has not learned from that example. The terrifying vision he saw (Daniel 5:5) is a sign of judgment (Daniel 5:23–28).
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