Protos

Who was Belshazzar in the Bible?

Emperor, during the exile and the return

Belshazzar is a prominent figure in the book of Daniel, mentioned in chapters 5, 7, and 8. Belshazzar appears in 8 verses of the Bible.

What does the Bible say about Belshazzar?

Belshazzar is a prominent figure in the book of Daniel, mentioned in chapters 5, 7, and 8. He is introduced as the king of Babylon and the son of Nebuchadnezzar (Dan.5.1, 22), although historical records identify him as the son of Nabonidus, the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Belshazzar is known for holding a great feast, during which he and his nobles drank from the sacred vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem (Dan.5.1-4). During this feast, a mysterious hand appeared and wrote a message on the wall, which only Daniel could interpret (Dan.5.5-28). The message foretold the end of Belshazzar's kingdom, and that very night, Belshazzar was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom (Dan.5.30-31). Belshazzar is also mentioned in Daniel's visions (Dan.7.1; 8.1), providing a historical context for the prophetic revelations. Belshazzar's reign and his sudden downfall serve as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty over earthly kingdoms and the consequences of disregarding God's authority.

Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.

Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.

Where does Belshazzar appear in the Bible?

Belshazzar is referenced in 8 verses. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.

Daniel 8

What else appears in these passages?

These turn up in the same passages as Belshazzar.

DanielNebuchadnezzarJerusalemBabylonYear

Common questions

How many times does the Bible mention Belshazzar?

Belshazzar appears in 8 verses, all of them in Daniel.

Which books of the Bible mention Belshazzar?

Just one: Daniel.

Where can I read every verse about Belshazzar?

This page lists 8 of them. Protos carries all 8, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.

Read it in context

Read Daniel with Belshazzar explained on the verse.

Tap any name, place, or word you do not recognize and the background opens on the verse you are reading. No second tab, no search, no losing your place.

The Protos reader open on Genesis 1 with the How to Read Genesis background sheet raised over it
Download Protos
"People don't give up on the Bible for lack of discipline. They give up because they don't understand what they read. So they skim past it and jump straight to what it means for them, before they have listened to what God is saying through the words, the story, and the voice of the writer. It happens so often that theology has a name for it: eisegesis."
Fabio Jonathan ArifinFabio JonathanFounder of Protos · Portland Bible College graduate

Protos is the answer to that. Every explanation you read was written by a scholar and published in a reference work, credited right on the page.

★★★★★4.7 from 107 App Store ratings

The streak feature actually got people in my congregation excited to read, especially the youth. We've started comparing notes after service.
★★★★★
PPhilPastor, Ohio
between work + kids i barely get time to breathe lol. but protos somehow helps making deep studies doable. i've been reading during lunch breaks again for the first time in years.
★★★★★
CCalebA dad
been using protos for like 2 weeks now. It helps me prep for our small group without getting overwhelmed. The context snippets show up right where I need them.
★★★★★
CChloe ChuaSmall group leader, Singapore

Start understanding the Bible better.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Android is in review with Google Play. Tap the Play badge and we will email you the day it lands.