Daniel 5:21 · KJV

"And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will."

King James Version

Passage Context

¹⁹And 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.

²⁰But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:

²¹And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.

²²And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;

²³But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

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Reflection Questions

When have you felt isolated or out of control?

How does recognizing God's authority change your perspective?

What does it mean to you to be humbled by circumstances?

Life Application

humility

Embrace moments of humility as opportunities for growth and understanding.

identity

Remember that true identity is found in God, not in status or power.

People in This Verse

NebuchadnezzarOT

King of Babylon who led the siege against Jerusalem and was known for his military conquests.

First appearance: 2 Kings 24:1

Connection to Jesus

gospel theme

Belshazzar's downfall due to pride serves as a warning about the need for humility before God, a theme echoed in Jesus' teachings.

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