Definition: But 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:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Daniel 5. It’s a really important passage about pride and humbling yourself before God. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Situation: Daniel was invited to a banquet by the king of Judah. He deliberately disobeyed the king's rules – he boasted about his wealth and status, even though it wasn’t truly earned. He bragged about his possessions, including his wives and concubines, and made wine in them! What the Verse Says: “But 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:” Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven…” - This is a big warning. Daniel was mocking God. He was acting like he was above God and deserving of special attention. It's about pride and arrogance. "...and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee..." – The king had prepared a beautiful display of gifts – wine, food, and even the precious objects of the king’s household. They were presenting them as offerings to Daniel. "...and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them…” – Daniel was boasting about his wealth and status, showing off his possessions. He was taking the gifts of others and celebrating them as his . "...and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know…” – This is where it gets serious. Daniel realized he had been boasting about things that didn’t have a real purpose or meaning. He was praising false gods - things that can't understand or appreciate what’s truly important. “See” and “hear” are key here - they can't comprehend the value of something that has a divine source. "...and the God in whose hand thy breath [is], and whose [are] all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:” – This is the most important part. Daniel was asking, "Did you glorify the God who created you?" He's implying that by boasting and showing off, he hadn’t shown reverence for the true God. He didn’t acknowledge or appreciate the divine purpose of his existence. The Message: This verse is a powerful reminder to be humble and recognize our place in God’s plan. It’s about avoiding pride and focusing on what truly matters – God, His love, and His will. It's a call for spiritual reflection and a recognition that true worth comes from acknowledging the divine source of everything. In short: Daniel was proud and boastful, and he failed to show reverence for God by bragging about his wealth and possessions. The verse is a reminder to be humble and recognize our dependence on God. --- Would you like me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific theme or story?