Mene

MENE is the first word of the inscription written by the disembodied hand on the wall of Belshazzar's banquet hall. It is repeated, doubling its weight, before the other terms of the oracle.

The writing on the wall

The text records the inscription as Daniel reads it back to the king: "And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN" (Da 5:25). The quadruple word stands as the king's verdict, written in capitals, with no narrative gloss before its meaning is unfolded.

The interpretation

Daniel takes the words one at a time and gives MENE first: "This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom, and brought it to an end" (Da 5:26). The doubled MENE is read once — a numbering verdict over Belshazzar's reign, with the act of numbering already complete and the end already set.