Daniel 5:6

Schlachter Bibel

Da veränderte sich das Aussehen des Königs, und seine Gedanken erschreckten ihn, also daß sich die Gelenke seiner Hüften lockerten und seine Knie schlotterten.

Parallel Translations

Lutherbible (1912)
Da entfärbte sich der König, und seine Gedanken erschreckten ihn, daß ihm die Lenden schütterten und die Beine zitterten.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the king's: Daniel 5:9, Daniel 2:1, Daniel 3:19, Job 15:20-27, Job 20:19-27, Psalms 73:18-20, Isaiah 21:2-4

countenance: Chal, brightness, Daniel 5:9

was changed: Chal, changed it

and his thoughts: Daniel 5:10, Daniel 4:5, Daniel 4:19, Daniel 7:28

so that: Psalms 69:23, Isaiah 13:7, Isaiah 13:8, Isaiah 21:3, Isaiah 21:4

joints: or, girdles, Isaiah 5:27, Chal, bindings, or knots

and his knees: Isaiah 35:3, Ezekiel 7:17, Ezekiel 21:7, Nahum 2:10, Hebrews 12:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 40:6 - behold Genesis 41:8 - his spirit Joshua 5:1 - neither was 1 Samuel 14:15 - very great trembling 1 Samuel 28:5 - he was afraid Esther 7:6 - was afraid Job 4:4 - feeble knees Job 4:15 - the hair Psalms 22:14 - all Psalms 48:6 - Fear Psalms 73:19 - they are Psalms 107:40 - contempt Isaiah 44:25 - maketh Isaiah 45:1 - to subdue Jeremiah 30:6 - every Jeremiah 50:43 - king Ezekiel 21:6 - with the Ezekiel 26:16 - tremble Daniel 3:24 - astonied Jonah 1:10 - exceedingly afraid Hebrews 10:27 - a certain

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then the kings countenance changed,.... Or, "his brightness" l; his ruddy countenance, his florid looks, his gay airs; all his jollity and mirth, that appeared in his face, were changed into paleness, sadness, and confusion:

and his thoughts troubled him; what should be the meaning of this; perhaps he might immediately fear it presaged ruin and destruction to him; the sins of his former life might at once come into his thoughts, and those particularly he had now been guilty of; his luxury and intemperance, his idolatry and profanation of the vessels of the sanctuary, which his conscience might accuse him of, and give him great distress and trouble:

so that the joints of his loins were loosed; or, "the girdles of his loins" m; which were loosed or broke, through the agitation he was in; or he was all over in a sweat, so that he was obliged to loose his girdle; or, as persons in great fear and consternation, he was seized with a pain in his back; it opened as it were; nor could he hold his urine; as Grotius and others; see Isaiah 45:1, where this seems to be prophesied of:

and his knees smote one against another; as is the case of persons in a great tremor, or under a panic. "Et subito genua intremuere timore".--Ovid.

l זיוהי "splendores ejus", Montanus, Vatablus, Michaelis. m קטרי חרצה "cingula lumborum ejus", Pagninus, Junius & Tremellius, Cocceius.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Then the king’s countenance was changed - The word rendered “countenance” is, in the margin, as in Daniel 5:9, “brightnesses.” The Chaldee word means “brightness, splendor” (זיו zı̂yv), and the meaning here is bright looks, cheerfulness, hilarity. The word rendered was changed, is in the margin changed it; and the meaning is, that it changed itself: probably from a jocund, cheerful, and happy expression, it assumed suddenly a deadly paleness.

And his thoughts troubled him - Whether from the recollection of guilt, or the dread of wrath, is not said. He would, doubtless, regard this as some supernatural intimation, and his soul would be troubled.

So that the joints of his loins were loosed - Margin, “bindings,” or “knots,” or “girdles.” The Chaldee word rendered “joints” (קטר q^eṭar) means, properly, “knots;” then joints of the bones, as resembling knots, or apparently answering the purposes of knots in the human frame, as binding it together. The word “loins” in the Scriptures refers to the part of the body around which the girdle was passed, the lower part of the back; and Gesenius supposes that the meaning here is, that the joints of his back, that is, the vertebral are referred to. This part of the body is spoken of as the seat of strength. When this is weak the body has no power to stand, to walk, to labor. The simple idea is, that he was greatly terrified, and that under the influence of fear his strength departed.

And his knees smote one against another - A common effect of fear Nahum 2:10. So Horace, “Et corde et genibus tremit.” And so Virgil, “Tarda trementi genua labant.” “Belshazzar had as much of power, and of drink withal to lead him to bid defiance to God as any ruffian under heaven; and yet when God, as it were, lifted but up his finger against him, how poorly did he crouch and shiver. How did his joints loose, and his knees knock together!” - South’s Sermons, vol. iv. p. 60.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Daniel 5:6. The king's countenance was changed — Here is a very natural description of fear and terror.

1. The face grows pale;

2. The mind becomes greatly agitated;

3. Pains seize on the lower part of the back and kidneys;

4. A universal tremor takes place, so that the knees smite against each other;

5. And lastly, either a syncope takes place, or the cry of distress is uttered, Daniel 5:7: "The king cried."