Original Word: תְּלַת
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: tlath
Pronunciation: teh-LAHT
Phonetic Spelling: (tel-ath')
KJV: third
NASB: third
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) from H853 (אֵת - Not typically translated)2]
1. a tertiary rank
(Aramaic) from tlath; a tertiary rank -- third.
see HEBREW tlath
תְּלַת appears twice, both in Daniel, designating the "third" rank in the kingdom promised to Daniel (Daniel 5:16, 29). The occurrences sit within an Aramaic narrative unit (Daniel 2–7) that stresses God’s sovereignty over Gentile empires.
Historical Background: Belshazzar’s Offer of Third Place
Belshazzar ruled Babylon as co-regent while his father Nabonidus remained in Tema. As second in command, he could not promise the highest or even the second position; therefore, he offered the "third highest" office. Archaeological finds—especially the Nabonidus Chronicle—confirm this political arrangement and harmonize with Daniel’s account, lending external support to the biblical record.
The Significance of Three in Scripture
1. Divine completeness and testimony: "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken" (Ecclesiastes 4:12).
2. Covenant ratification: Abraham offered three year-old animals (Genesis 15:9).
3. Resurrection motif: "On the third day He will be raised to life" (Matthew 20:19).
4. Heavenly proclamation: The seraphim cry "Holy, Holy, Holy" (Isaiah 6:3), a thrice-repeated acclamation underscoring God’s perfect holiness.
Within Daniel 5 the "third" rank mirrors this biblical pattern of triadic completeness. The pagan king, though oblivious to deeper symbolism, unwittingly frames God’s servant within a number that often marks divine authentication.
Prophetic Echoes
The handwriting on the wall announced the imminent fall of Babylon. Daniel’s elevation to third place just hours before the empire’s collapse highlights the transient nature of human power compared to God’s enduring kingdom. The unrivaled sovereignty displayed here anticipates the stone "cut without hands" that will shatter every human empire and fill the whole earth (Daniel 2:34–35, 44).
Ministry and Pastoral Reflections
• Faithfulness in exile: Daniel’s unwavering obedience positions him for influence even in a hostile culture.
• Servanthood over status: Daniel accepts promotion yet continues speaking truth to power, modeling integrity for believers who find themselves in secular structures.
• Confidence in God’s timetable: Daniel is raised to third place precisely when Babylon is about to fall, reminding Christians that recognition from the world is fleeting, but reward from God endures.
Summary
תְּלַת, though occurring only twice, anchors a crucial moment in redemptive history. The "third" rank offered to Daniel validates Scripture’s historical reliability, underscores the symbolic richness of the number three, and calls the people of God to steadfast loyalty amid shifting kingdoms.
Daniel 5:29
HEB: לֶהֱוֵ֥א שַׁלִּ֛יט תַּלְתָּ֖א בְּמַלְכוּתָֽא׃
NAS: authority as the third [ruler] in the kingdom.
KJV: him, that he should be the third ruler
INT: he had authority as the third the kingdom
2 Occurrences
Strong's Hebrew 8531
2 Occurrences
tal·tā — 1 Occ.
wə·ṯal·tā — 1 Occ.