Daniel 5:5-6

5:5 At that very moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the royal palace wall, opposite the lampstand. The king was watching the back of the hand that was writing. 5:6 Then all the color drained from the king’s face and he became alarmed. The joints of his hips gave way, and his knees began knocking together.


tn Aram “came forth.”

sn The mention of the lampstand in this context is of interest because it suggests that the writing was in clear view.

tn While Aramaic פַּס (pas) can mean the palm of the hand, here it seems to be the back of the hand that is intended.

tn Aram “[the king’s] brightness changed for him.”

tn Aram “his thoughts were alarming him.”

tn Aram “his loins went slack.”