Daniel 5:12

5:12 Thus there was found in this man Daniel, whom the king renamed Belteshazzar, an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, and skill to interpret ¹  dreams, solve riddles, and decipher knotty problems. ²  Now summon ³  Daniel, and he will disclose the interpretation.”

Daniel 5:16

5:16 However, I have heard ⁴  that you are able to provide interpretations and to decipher knotty problems. Now if you are able to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, you will wear purple and have a golden collar around your neck and be third ⁵  ruler in the kingdom.”

[5:12]  ¹ tc The translation reads מִפְשַׁר (mifshar) rather than the MT מְפַשַּׁר (mÿfashar) and later in the verse reads וּמִשְׁרֵא (mishre’) rather than the MT וּמְשָׁרֵא (mÿshare’). The Masoretes have understood these Aramaic forms to be participles, but they are more likely to be vocalized as infinitives. As such, they have an epexegetical function in the syntax of their clause.

[5:12]  ² tn Aram “to loose knots.”

[5:12]  ³ tn Aram “let [Daniel] be summoned.”

[5:16]  ⁴ tn The Aramaic text has also the words “about you.”

[5:16]  ⁵ tn Or perhaps “one of three rulers,” in the sense of becoming part of a triumvir. So also v. 29.