What does Daniel 5:28 mean?

This is the last part of Daniel's interpretation of the strange writing (Daniel 5:5) which appeared during Belshazzar's blasphemous feast (Daniel 5:1–4). The phrase "mene mene tekel and parsin" was formed by disembodied fingers. The first three words meant King Belshazzar, and Babylon, had been measured and found lacking, according to God (Daniel 5:25–27).

The root word for parsin implies a division, a split, or a separation. This was used as the name of a half-coin. The writing on the wall used a plural noun, but Daniel subtly changes it here to a singular: peres, which sounds very much like the name for Persia, which was Paras. When Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream many years prior, he predicted that a "lesser" nation would come after Babylon (Daniel 2:39), characterized as a chest and arms of silver (Daniel 2:32). This echoes the nature of the Medo-Persian Empire which came when Babylon fell. Cyrus the Great was associated with Persia, and Darius with the Medes. The Persians were the most powerful part of the Medo-Persian empire, although Darius the Mede was the first to become the ruler of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way to acknowledge that God rules and gives power to whomever He chooses (Daniel 4:32, 34–35). Belshazzar had felt secure; historians suggest this wild party may have happened during a siege of the well-defended and fortified capital city. Belshazzar did not realize that God's hand of judgment would tear apart his false sense of security. His kingdom was about to fall to the Medes and Persians.