Daniel 5:30

בֵּ֚הּ בְּלֵ֣ילְיָ֔א קְטִ֕יל בֵּלְאשַׁצַּ֖ר מַלְכָּ֥א כַשְׂדָּיָֽא
In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

בֵּ ֚הּ
בֵּ
Preposition fathers, father, chief, families, patrimony, …
֚הּ
Suffix — pronoun his / him / it
Dictionary form: אָב · awb

Preposition

his father ×133 of their fathers ×94 his fathers ×86 my father ×80 thy father ×51 of the fathers ×44 the father ×41 their fathers ×30
More options
father — Default choice; direct, natural, widely understood.
ancestor — Prefer when referring to distant forebears or lineage.
forefather — Slightly more formal; good for ancestral or covenantal contexts.
patriarch — Use for tribal or clan heads with religious authority.
family head — Highlights household-leader role in social/legal contexts.
founder — Suits contexts emphasizing originating or establishing a line.

BDB17 H1

BDB16 | BIBLICAL HEBREW | BDB18

אָב1191 noun masculine father (Phoenician אב, Assyrian abu, Arabic , Sabean אב CISiv, 1, 37 1. 2 and others, Ethiopic Aramaic אַבָּא, — absolute אָב Gen 44:19 + 47 t.; construct אַב Gen 17:4; Gen 17:5 (compare in אַבְרָהָם ib. & elsewhere in proper names. On Hal's proposed אֲבִר see אברהם); אֲבִי (compare Ge§§ 90, 3b, 96) Gen 4:20 +; suffix אָבִי Gen 19:34 + (MI אבי); אָבִיךָ Gen 12:1 +; אָבִיו Gen 2:24 +; אָבִ֫יהוּ Judg 14:10 + 6t.; plural אָבוֺת Exod 12:3 +; construct אֲבוֺת Exod 6:25 + 7 t.; suffix אֲבוֺתַי (אֲבֹתַי, אֲבוֺתָ֑י) Gen 47:9 + 15 t.; אֲבוֺתֵיהֶם 1Chr 4:38 + 32 t. (late); אֲבוֺתָם Exod 4:5 + 106 t. etc.; —

1. father of individual Gen 2:24 (+ אֵם) Gen 11:28; Gen 11:29 (twice in verse); Gen 19:31; Gen 19:32; Gen 19:33, + often (mostly J E D); of father as commanding Gen 50:16 (J) Jer 35:6 f Prov 6:20 (compare Gen 18:19 J Gen 28:1; Gen 28:6 P 1Sam 17:20; 1Kgs 2:1); instructing מוסר Prov 1:8; Prov 4:1 (compare Deut 8:5); specifically as begetter, genitor Prov 23:22; Zech 13:3 (twice in verse) (+ אֵם) Isa 45:10 compare Gen 49:4 (J) Lev 18:7; Lev 18:8; Lev 18:11 (P); rebuking Gen 37:10 loving Gen 37:4; Gen 44:20 (J E; compare Gen 22:2; Gen 25:28; Gen 37:3; 2Sam 14:1); pitying Ps 103:13 (in simile compare 2Sam 18:5); blessing Gen 27:41 (J E compare Gen 27:4 also Gen 28:1 P +); as glad Prov 10:1; Prov 15:20 compare Prov 29:3 grieving Gen 37:35 (J E; compare 2Sam 12:22; 2Sam 19:1; 2Sam 19:2 f) etc. Also as object of honour, obedience, love Exod 20:12 (E) = Deut 5:16; Exod 21:15; Exod 21:17 (E) Deut 21:18; Deut 21:19; Gen 28:7 (P) 1Kgs 19:20 (all + אֵם), 1Kgs 50:1; 1Kgs 50:5 (J) Mal 1:6 etc. Hence metaphor of intimate connection Job 17:14 to corruption I cry, My father art thou (|| אִמִּי וַאֲחֹתִי לָֽרִמָּה).
2. of God as father of his people (see RSSem 42), who constituted, controls, guides and lovingly watches over it: Deut 32:6; Jer 3:4; Jer 3:19; Jer 31:9; Isa 63:16 (twice in verse); Isa 64:7; Mal 1:6; Mal 2:10 (compare Exod 4:22; Exod 19:4 (JE) Deut 32:11; Hos 11:1); compare Jer 2:27 (of idolatrous Israel) אֹמְרִים לָעֵץ אָבִי אַתָּה וְלָאֶבֶן אַתְּ ילדתני׃; especially God as father of Davidic line 2Sam 7:14; Ps 89:27 f. of needy (late) Ps 68:6 (compare Ps 103:13) (in proper name, f. of individual, compare below)
3. head of household, family or clan; בֵּית אָבִי as abode Gen 38:11 (twice in verse); Lev 22:13 +; = family Gen 24:40 (|| מִשְׁפַּחְתִּי) Gen 41:51; Gen 46:31 + compare Num 18:1; Num 18:2; Josh 2:12; Josh 2:18; Josh 6:25 especially techn. of divisions of Israel בֵּית אָב לְמִשְׁפָּחוֺת Num 3:30; Num 3:35 = a father's house, i.e. a family or clan; more often plural (אבותם, אבותיו) בֵית אָבוֺת = father's houses = families, clans (compare Di on Exod 6:14) Exod 6:14; Exod 12:3; Num 1:2; Num 1:18 ff (often in Numbers) Josh 14:1; Josh 19:51; Josh 21:1 (twice in verse); Josh 22:14 (twice in verse) (always P in Hexateuch); also 1Chr 5:13; 1Chr 5:15 + often in Chronicles; compare רָאשֵׁי אבות הלוים (= ׳בית א ׳ר) Exod 6:25 compare 1Kgs 8:1; 1Chr 6:4; 1Chr 7:11 + often Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah.
4. ancestor (a) of individual; grandfather (instead of precise term) Gen 28:13; Gen 32:10 (J; where used by Jacob of Abraham & then of Isaac); greatgrandfather 1Kgs 15:13 great-greatgrandfather 1Kgs 15:11 etc.; oft plural (= fathers, forefathers) Gen 15:15; Gen 46:34 (JE) 1Kgs 19:4; 1Kgs 21:3; 1Kgs 21:4; 2Kgs 19:12; 2Kgs 20:17 +; particularly שׁכב עם אבותיו 1Kgs 1:21; 1Kgs 2:10; 1Kgs 11:21; 1Kgs 22:40 +; joined with ׳ויקבר עם אב 1Kgs 14:31; 1Kgs 15:24; 1Kgs 22:51; 2Kgs 8:24; 2Kgs 15:38 compare v2Kgs 15:7, 2Kgs 16:20 + (all of kings of Judah); intensive, אֲבֹתֶיךָ וַאֲבוֺת אֲבֹתֶיךָ Exod 10:6 compare Dan 11:24 (b) of people Gen 10:21 (J) Gen 17:4; Gen 17:5 (P) Gen 19:37; Gen 19:38 (J) Gen 36:9; Gen 36:43 (P) Deut 26:5; Isa 51:2; Isa 43:27 (where אביך הראשׁון thy first father, see Che) compare also Ezek 16:3; Ezek 16:45 + often; plural Exod 3:13; Exod 3:15; Exod 3:16 (E) Deut 1:8; Josh 1:6; Judg 2:1; 1Sam 12:6 +; 1Sam 12:15 near the end read וּבְמַלְכְּכֶם ᵐ5 We Dr.
5. originator or patron of a class, profession, or art Gen 4:20; Gen 4:21.
6. figurative of producer, generator Job 38:28 הֲיֵשׁ לַמָּטָר אָ֑ב (|| הוֺלִיד אֶגְלֵיטָֽֿל׃ מִיֿ).
7. figurative of benevolence & protection Job 29:6 אָב אָֽנֹכִי לָֽאֶבְיוֺנִים, compare Job 31:18 of Eliakim Isa 22:21 perhaps also of gracious Messianic king אֲבִי עַד Isa 9:5 everlasting father (Ge Ew De Che Brd Di) — others divider of spoil (Abarb Hi Kn Kue BrMP).
8. term of respect & honour (Abbas, Pater, Papa, Pope); applied to master 2Kgs 5:13 priest Judg 17:10; Judg 18:19 prophet 2Kgs 2:12 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 6:21; 2Kgs 13:14 (twice in verse); compare 2Kgs 8:9 counsellor Gen 45:8 (E; compare δευτέρου πατρός ᵐ5 add. Esth 3:13 τῷ πατρί 1 Mac Esth 11:32); king 1Sam 24:12 artificer 2Chr 2:12; 2Chr 4:16.
9. specifically, ruler, chief (late) 1Chr 2:24; 1Chr 2:42 (twice in verse); etc. (compare Ew§ 273 b) see also EwGeschichte. i. 524. H i. 365. On the force of אָב in proper names (in many probably a divine title), see CheEncy. Bib., ABI, NAMES WITH Nöib., NAMES, §§ 44, 45.

fathers, father, chief, families, patrimony, …
ʾāb
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
  • father of an individual
    • "of God as father of his people"head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan"ancestor
    • grandfather, forefathers (of a person)
      • "of people
    originator or patron of a class, profession, or art"of producer, generator (figuratively)"of benevolence and protection (figuratively)"term of respect and honor"ruler or chief (specifically)

בְּ לֵ֣ילְיָ ֔א
בְּ
Prefix — preposition in, at, by, with
לֵ֣ילְיָ
Root word night
֔א
Prefix — article the
Dictionary form: לֵילְיָא · lay-leh-YAW

Noun — Common, masculine singular, determined state determined — includes "the" (Aramaic)

In the KJV here: in that night
in the night ×2 in a night ×1 in that night ×1 night ×1
More options
night — Default, neutral rendering for most contexts.
nighttime — Emphasizes the time period; good for contrast with day.
overnight — Useful when duration or passage through night is implied.
after dark — Colloquial; vivid for narrative or dramatic contexts.

BDB9645 H3915 H3916

BDB9644 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9646

[לֵילָא] noun [masculine] night (see Biblical Hebrew לַ֫יְלָה); — emphatic לֵילְיָא Dan 2:19; Dan 5:30; Dan 7:2; Dan 7:7; Dan 7:13.

night
lêlĕyāʾ
Lael an Israelite
  • night

קְטִ֕יל
קְטִ֕יל
Root word slain, slay, slew
Dictionary form: קְטַל · keh-TAHL

Verb — Peil, Perfect (Qatal), third person masculine singular simple passive (Aramaic) — "it was done" completed action — try "he ___ed" or "he has ___ed" the built-in subject is "he (or it)"

In the KJV here: slain
men should be slain ×1 slain ×1 slew ×1 to be slain ×1 to slay ×1 was slain ×1
More options
kill — Broadest, most neutral modern term for taking life.
slay — Modernized KJV form; suits solemn or literary contexts.
put to death — Emphasizes official or judicial execution.
execute — Best when death is carried out by authority or decree.
slaughter — Implies mass or brutal killing; heightens violence.
cut down — Vivid idiom; suits battlefield or swift killing scenes.

BDB9859 H6991 H6992

BDB9858 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9860

[קְטַל] verb slay (ᵑ7 Syriac (often); see Biblical Hebrew (late, rare)); —

Pe`al Participle active קָטֵל Dan 5:19, accusative of person Pe`îl be slain: Perfect 3 masculine singular קְטִיל Dan 5:30, 3 feminine singular קְטִילַת Dan 7:11. Pa`el slay: Perfect 3 masculine singular קַטִּל Dan 3:22 (accusative of person); Infinitive לְקַטָּלָה Dan 2:14 (ל accusative of person). Hithpe`el be slain: Infinitive לְהִתְקְטָלָה Dan 2:13 Participle (= gerundive, K§ 76, 3) plural מִתְקַטְלִין vDan 2:13 were to be slain.

slain, slay, slew
qĕṭal
to kill
  • to slay, kill
    • (P'al) to be slain
      • "(Pael) to slay"(Ithp'al) to be slain"(Ithpael) to be slain

בֵּלְאשַׁצַּ֖ר
בֵּלְאשַׁצַּ֖ר
Root word a name — transliterate it ("Was belshazzar")
Dictionary form: בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר · bay-leh-shahts-SAHR

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: was belshazzar
belshazzar ×4 o belshazzar ×1 of belshazzar ×1 was belshazzar ×1
More options
Belshazzar — Standard modern spelling; use in all narrative contexts.
King Belshazzar — Adds royal title when his role is being emphasized.
Belshazzar the king — Formal appositive form, mirrors Hebrew word order closely.

BDB9377 H1113 H1112

BDB9376 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9378

בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר proper name, masculine king of Babylonian, according to Dan 5:1; Dan 5:2; Dan 5:9; Dan 5:22; Dan 5:29 (Biblical Hebrew id., p. 128) = בֵּלְאשַׁצַּר vDan 5:30; Dan 7:1 Βαλτασαρ; see BevEncy. Bib. Belshazzar DrDu xxviii f..

belshazzar
bēlĕšaʾṣṣar
Bel protect the king
Belshatstsar, a Babylonian king
  • king of Babylon at the time of its fall; he to whom Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall

מַלְכָּ ֥א
מַלְכָּ
Root word king, kings, royal
֥א
Prefix — article the
Dictionary form: מֶלֶךְ · meh-LEK

Noun — Common, masculine singular, determined state determined — includes "the" (Aramaic)

In the KJV here: the king
the king ×75 o king ×19 the kings ×12 king ×10 kings ×9 unto the king ×9 and the king ×7 to the king ×6
More options
king — Standard modern rendering; broadly suitable in most contexts.
monarch — Formal or literary tone; emphasizes sovereign authority.
ruler — Broader term; useful when royal title is less central.
sovereign — Elevated register; stresses supreme political power.
royal — Adjectival use; prefer when modifying a noun directly.

BDB9662 H4429 H4430

BDB9661 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9663

מֶ֫לֶךְ178 noun masculine king (general Semitic; see Biblical Hebrew); — ׳מ absolute Dan 2:10 + 2 t.; construct Dan 4:34 + 6 t.; usually emphatic מַלְכָּא Ezra 4:8 + 154 t., ָ  ה Dan 2:11 plural מַלְכִין Ezra 4:15 + 9 t., ִ  ים Ezra 4:13 (Hebraism, BeRy M41*); emphatic מַלְכַיָּא Dan 2:44 + 2 t.; — king Dan 2:4; Dan 2:5 + 132 t. Daniel; Ezra 4:8; Ezra 4:11 + 42 t. Ezra (מֶלָךְ מַלְכַיָּא of Nebuchadnezzar Dan 2:37, of Artaxerxes Ezra 7:12 [compare Cooke71.3, of Xerxes]; מַלְכִין Dan 7:17 = kingdoms, compare מַלְכוּ vDan 7:23).

king, kings, royal
melek
a king
  • king

כַשְׂדָּאָֽ ה
כַשְׂדָּאָֽ
Root word a name — transliterate it ("Of the chaldeans")
ה
Prefix — article the
Dictionary form: כַּשְׂדַּי · kahs-DAI

Noun — Gentilic, masculine singular, determined state determined — includes "the" (Aramaic); a people-group name (like "Hittite")

In the KJV here: of the chaldeans
the chaldeans ×3 chaldeans ×2 of the chaldeans ×1 or chaldean ×1 to the chaldeans ×1
More options
Chaldean — Standard modern adjective or singular noun form.
Babylonian — Broader cultural/political context; use when empire is in view.
Chaldeans — Collective plural; most common contextual rendering.
Babylonians — Plural equivalent of 'Babylonian'; emphasizes imperial identity.
astrologer — Use when כַּשְׂדַּי refers to the priestly/scholarly class in Daniel.

BDB9627 H3779 H3778

BDB9626 | BIBLICAL ARAMAIC | BDB9628

כַּשְׂדָּ֑י proper name, of a people Chaldean (see Biblical Hebrew כַשְׂדִּים); — absolute ׳כ Dan 2:10 emphatic כשדיא Dan 5:30 Kt (Qr כַּשְׂדָּאָה), כסדיא Ezra 5:12 Kt (Qr כַּסְדָּאָה); plural absolute כַּשְׂדָּאִין Ezra 3:8; Ezra 5:11, emphatic כשדיא Kt, כַּשְׂדָּאֵי Qr, Dan 2:5; Dan 2:10; Dan 4:4; Dan 5:7 —

1. Chaldean By race Dan 3:8; Dan 5:30; Ezra 5:12.
2. as learned, of the class of Magi (Biblical Hebrew ׳כ 1 c), Dan 2:5; Dan 2:10 (twice in verse); Dan 4:4; Dan 5:7; Dan 5:11.

chaldeans, chaldean
kaśday
clod breakers
a Chaldaean or inhabitant of Chaldaea; by implication, a Magian or professional astrologer
  • the inhabitants of Chaldea, living on the lower Euphrates and Tigris
    • "those persons considered the wisest in the land (by extension)

The cantillation accents are the Masoretes' punctuation: each group below ends at a pausing accent. Translate a group as one unit.
בֵּ֚הּ Yetiv — a lesser break בְּלֵ֣ילְיָ֔א Zaqef Qatan — a strong break קְטִ֕יל Zaqef Gadol — a strong break בֵּלְאשַׁצַּ֖ר Tipeha — a lesser break מַלְכָּ֥א כַשְׂדָּיָֽא Silluq — end of the verse

בֵּהּ בְּלֵילְיָא קְטִיל בֵּלְאשַׁצַּר מַלְכָּא כַשְׂדָּיָֽא׃
30
In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
Cross References

Jeremiah 51:31

רָץ לִקְרַאת-רָץ יָרוּץ וּמַגִּיד לִקְרַאת מַגִּיד לְהַגִּיד לְמֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל כִּֽי-נִלְכְּדָה עִירוֹ מִקָּצֶֽה׃
31
One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end,

Jeremiah 51:57

וְהִשְׁכַּרְתִּי שָׂרֶיהָ וַחֲכָמֶיהָ פַּחוֹתֶיהָ וּסְגָנֶיהָ וְגִבּוֹרֶיהָ וְיָשְׁנוּ שְׁנַת-עוֹלָם וְלֹא יָקִיצוּ נְאֻם-הַמֶּלֶךְ יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃
57
And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.

Jeremiah 51:39

בְּחֻמָּם אָשִׁית אֶת-מִשְׁתֵּיהֶם וְהִשְׁכַּרְתִּים לְמַעַן יַעֲלֹזוּ וְיָשְׁנוּ שְׁנַת-עוֹלָם וְלֹא יָקִיצוּ נְאֻם יְהוָֽה׃
39
In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.

Daniel 5:1

בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר מַלְכָּא עֲבַד לְחֶם רַב לְרַבְרְבָנוֹהִי אֲלַף וְלָקֳבֵל אַלְפָּא חַמְרָא שָׁתֵֽה׃
1
Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

Isaiah 21:4

תָּעָה לְבָבִי פַּלָּצוּת בִּֽעֲתָתְנִי אֵת נֶשֶׁף חִשְׁקִי שָׂם לִי לַחֲרָדָֽה׃
4
My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.

Jeremiah 51:11

הָבֵרוּ הַחִצִּים מִלְאוּ הַשְּׁלָטִים הֵעִיר יְהוָה אֶת-רוּחַ מַלְכֵי מָדַי כִּֽי-עַל-בָּבֶל מְזִמָּתוֹ לְהַשְׁחִיתָהּ כִּֽי-נִקְמַת יְהוָה הִיא נִקְמַת הֵיכָלֽוֹ׃
11
Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.

Isaiah 47:9

וְתָבֹאנָה לָּךְ שְׁתֵּי-אֵלֶּה רֶגַע בְּיוֹם אֶחָד שְׁכוֹל וְאַלְמֹן כְּתֻמָּם בָּאוּ עָלַיִךְ בְּרֹב כְּשָׁפַיִךְ בְּעָצְמַת חֲבָרַיִךְ מְאֹֽד׃
9
But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
Daniel 5:29
Read Daniel 5
Daniel 5:31