What does Daniel 5:8 mean?

The Babylonian King Belshazzar is terrified after seeing supernatural fingers writing a message on the wall during his drunken, profane party (Daniel 5:1–5). In abject panic, he calls for his advisors and promises incredible wealth and power to anyone who can explain what has happened (Daniel 5:6–7).

This part of the book of Daniel is written in Aramaic (Daniel 2:4—7:28), and the words turn out to be Aramaic, as well (Daniel 5:25). And yet, the great wisdom of Babylon's scholars and occultists could neither read nor interpret the writing on the wall. That educated Babylonian men could not even read the words suggests they were written in some foreign language or script. Perhaps the words were in a cipher—a scramble or coded form—or some other disguise. The inability of pagan magicians to interpret a divine message echoes what happened when Nebuchadnezzar convened his wise men to interpret his first troubling dream (Daniel 2:1–2). In that case, as well, those advisors were hopeless (Daniel 2:10–11).

God makes much of His truth plain and obvious (Romans 1:18–21; Psalm 19:1). This is meant to encourage people to seek Him (Matthew 7:7–8). Yet some truths can only be grasped with the help of God's Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14). God's plan in this supernatural event is not only to send a message to Belshazzar; it also emphasizes that only those who honor the Lord have access to ultimate understanding.