Daniel 5:5
“In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall.”Read in Context
Modern Meaning
What Does “The writing on the wall” Mean?
An omen or warning of impending doom.
Biblical Origin
Where Does This Phrase Come From?
During Belshazzar's feast, a mysterious hand appeared and wrote on the palace wall. Daniel interpreted the words as God's judgment: the king's days were numbered. That very night Belshazzar was killed. This dramatic story gave English one of its most vivid expressions for an unavoidable bad outcome.
The phrase appears in Daniel 5:5 in the King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611.
Usage Today
How Is It Used Today?
Seeing the signs of inevitable failure. "The writing was on the wall months before the company went bankrupt."
The KJV Verse
Daniel 5:5
“In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall.”
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