What Does Daniel 5:2 Mean in the King James?

Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
Daniel 5:2 · KJV
The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

The same Aramaic root describes the vessels being taken out of Jerusalem’s temple and the order to bring them out again: their sacred origin travels with them into the feast.

This verse speaks in the instant appetite reaches for what is set apart and makes it serve consumption. The repeated Aramaic root keeps the vessels’ movement visible: out of the temple, then out into the banquet. Jerusalem, named as their source and carrying the root of wholeness, stays in the sentence while their use changes.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie that changing how something is used erases the nature it carries from its source.

לְהַנְפָּקָה

lehanpāqāh

GROWS FROM

נפק

To go out, come forth, or bring out.

“bring out / take out” in this verse is lehanpāqāh. English renders the vessels’ earlier removal and the king’s new order with different phrases, while the Aramaic repeats ⁨נפק⁩. The same root keeps their movement out of the temple visible as they are brought into the feast.

ALSO GROWS

hanpīqū: They brought out.

הַנְפִּיקוּ

This form describes the vessels’ removal from the temple and echoes the order to bring them out for the feast.

nephaqat: Went out, issued forth.

נְפַקַת

In Daniel 2:13 this root describes a decree going forth, showing how its sense can extend from physical movement to an order released into action.

יְרוּשָׁלַיִם

Yerushalayim

GROWS FROM

שלם

To be whole or complete.

“Jerusalem” in this verse is Yerushalayim. Yerushalayim carries the root of shalom, wholeness, with the dual ending -ayim. The vessels’ source remains named as a place of wholeness even while their use is changed.

ALSO GROWS

shalom: Wholeness, well-being.

שָׁלוֹם

It names the wholeness carried in Jerusalem’s name, setting the vessels’ source against their use at the feast.

shalem: Whole, complete.

שָׁלֵם

This branch makes the root’s sense concrete: wholeness remains the frame attached to the city named as the vessels’ origin.

טָעַם

ṭaʿam

GROWS FROM

טעם

To taste; by extension, to discern or decree.

“tasted” in this verse is ṭaʿam. The Aramaic root spans tasting and judgment or decree. Here the taste of wine sits immediately beside an order that sends the temple vessels into the feast.

ALSO GROWS

ṭaʿam: To taste, experience.

טָעַם

This is the word behind tasting the wine, the bodily act that opens the scene.

ṭəʿēm: Judgment, decree, command.

טְעֵם

This related form shows the root’s reach from taking something in to a ruling that sends something forth.

What is set apart carries a claim from its source even when it changes hands or use.

And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Numbers 4:15 · KJVThe vessels remain distinct as they are covered and carried; their set-apart status travels with them.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2 Timothy 2:20 · KJVThe vessel’s use and honor remain visible even among other things in the same house.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1 Corinthians 6:19 · KJVThe body carries a sacred claim from its source, even when treated as personal possession.
Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
Daniel 5:3 · KJV

The same Aramaic root marks the vessels being brought out and their earlier removal from the temple. Verse 2 gives the order; verse 3 shows that movement reaching the table.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us