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Selected Verse: Daniel 5:12 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Da 5:12	Strong Concordance	Forasmuch as [06903] [03606] an excellent [03493] spirit [07308], and knowledge [04486], and understanding [07924], interpreting [06590] of dreams [02493], and shewing [0263] of hard sentences [0280], and dissolving [08271] of doubts [07001], were found [07912] in the same Daniel [01841], whom the king [04430] named [07761] [08036] Belteshazzar [01096]: now [03705] let Daniel [01841] be called [07123], and he will shew [02324] the interpretation [06591].
	King James	Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Forasmuch as an excellent spirit - Not an excellent spirit in the sense in which that phrase is sometimes used now, as denoting a good and pious spirit, but a spirit or mind that excels; that is, that is "distinguished" for wisdom and knowledge. Interpreting of dreams - Margin, "or, of an interpreter." This was regarded as a great attainment, and was supposed to prove that one who could do it was inspired by the gods. And showing of hard sentences - The meaning of enigmatical or obscure sentences. To be able to do this was supposed to indicate great attainments, and was a knowledge that was much coveted. Compare Pro 1:6 : "To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings." And dissolving of doubts - Margin, "or, a dissolver of knots." So the Chaldee. This language is still common in the East, to denote one who has skill in explaining difficult subjects. "In the copy of a patent given to Sir John Chardin in Persia, we find it is addressed 'to the Lords of lords, who have the presence of a lion, the aspect of Deston; the princes who have the stature of Tahemtenten, who seem to be in the time of Ardevon, the regents who carry the majesty of Ferribours. The conquerors of kingdoms. Superintendents that unloose all manner of knots, and who are under the ascendant of Mercury,'" etc. - Taylor's "Fragments to Calmet's Dict.," No. 174. The language used here would be applicable to the explanation of any difficult and perplexing subject. Whom the king named Belteshazzar - That is, the name was given to him by his authority (see the note at Joh 1:7), and it was by this name that he called him when he addressed him, Dan 4:9.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Forasmuch as an excellent spirit - Not an excellent spirit in the sense in which that phrase is sometimes used now, as denoting a good and pious spirit, but a spirit or mind that excels; that is, that is "distinguished" for wisdom and knowledge.

Interpreting of dreams - Margin, "or, of an interpreter." This was regarded as a great attainment, and was supposed to prove that one who could do it was inspired by the gods.

And showing of hard sentences - The meaning of enigmatical or obscure sentences. To be able to do this was supposed to indicate great attainments, and was a knowledge that was much coveted. Compare Pro 1:6 : "To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings."

And dissolving of doubts - Margin, "or, a dissolver of knots." So the Chaldee. This language is still common in the East, to denote one who has skill in explaining difficult subjects. "In the copy of a patent given to Sir John Chardin in Persia, we find it is addressed 'to the Lords of lords, who have the presence of a lion, the aspect of Deston; the princes who have the stature of Tahemtenten, who seem to be in the time of Ardevon, the regents who carry the majesty of Ferribours. The conquerors of kingdoms. Superintendents that unloose all manner of knots, and who are under the ascendant of Mercury,'" etc. - Taylor's "Fragments to Calmet's Dict.," No. 174. The language used here would be applicable to the explanation of any difficult and perplexing subject.

Whom the king named Belteshazzar - That is, the name was given to him by his authority (see the note at Joh 1:7), and it was by this name that he called him when he addressed him, Dan 4:9.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The remarkable endowments of Daniel are again stated (according to Dan 5:11) to give weight to the advice that he should be called in. The words from מפשּׁר [interpreting] to פטרין [doubts] are an explanatory parenthetical clause, after which the following verb, according to rule, joins itself to שׂכלתנוּ. In the parenthetical clause the nomen actonis אחויה [showing] is used instead of the participle, whereby the representation of the continued capability lying in the participle is transferred to that of each separate instance; literally, interpreting dreams, the explanation of mysteries and dissolving knots. The allusion of פטרין משׁרא to קטרי חר משׁתּרין, Dan 5:6, is only apparent, certainly is not aimed at, since the former of these expressions has an entirely different meaning. Knots stands figuratively for involved complicated problems. That Daniel did not at first appear along with the wise men, but was only called after the queen had advised it, is to be explained on this simple ground, that he was no longer president over the magicians, but on the occasion of a new king ascending the throne had lost that situation, and been put into another office (cf. Dan 8:27). The words of the queen do not prove that Belshazzar was not acquainted with Daniel, but only show that he had forgotten the service rendered by him to Nebuchadnezzar; for according to Dan 5:13 he was well acquainted with the personal circumstances of Daniel.

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⁹ O Belteshazzar [01096], master [07229] of the magicians [02749], because I [0576] know [03046] that the spirit [07308] of the holy [06922] gods [0426] is in thee, and no [03606] [03809] secret [07328] troubleth [0598] thee, tell [0560] me the visions [02376] of my dream [02493] that I have seen [02370], and the interpretation [06591] thereof.

⁷ The same [3778] came [2064] for [1519] a witness [3141], to [2443] bear witness [3140] of [4012] the Light [5457], that [2443] all [3956] men through [1223] him [846] might believe [4100].

⁶ To understand [0995] a proverb [04912], and the interpretation [04426]; the words [01697] of the wise [02450], and their dark sayings [02420].

¹³ Then [0116] was Daniel [01841] brought in [05954] before [06925] the king [04430]. And the king [04430] spake [06032] and said [0560] unto Daniel [01841], Art thou [0607] that Daniel [01841], which art of [04481] the children [01123] of the captivity [01547] of Judah [03061], whom the king [04430] my father [02] brought [0858] out of [04481] Jewry [03061]?

²⁷ And I Daniel [01840] fainted [01961], and was sick [02470] certain days [03117]; afterward I rose up [06965], and did [06213] the king's [04428] business [04399]; and I was astonished [08074] at the vision [04758], but none understood [0995] it.

⁶ Then [0116] the king's [04430] countenance [02122] was changed [08133], and his thoughts [07476] troubled [0927] him, so that the joints [07001] of his loins [02783] were loosed [08271], and his knees [0755] smote [05368] one [01668] against another [01668].

¹¹ There is [0383] a man [01400] in thy kingdom [04437], in whom is the spirit [07308] of the holy [06922] gods [0426]; and in the days [03118] of thy father [02] light [05094] and understanding [07924] and wisdom [02452], like the wisdom [02452] of the gods [0426], was found [07912] in him; whom the king [04430] Nebuchadnezzar [05020] thy father [02], the king [04430], I say, thy father [02], made [06966] master [07229] of the magicians [02749], astrologers [0826], Chaldeans [03779], and soothsayers [01505];