53 Or “word” or “event.” See מִלָּה.
54 The Aramaic term מְנֵא (méne’) is a noun referring to a measure of weight. The linkage here to the verb “to number” (Aram. מְנָה, ménah) is a case of paronomasia rather than strict etymology. So also with תְּקֵל (téqel) and פַרְסִין (farsin). In the latter case there is an obvious wordplay with the name “Persian.”

In other versions

This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end;

“Here is what these words mean:

Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

This is the interpretation of the message:

‘Mene’ means that God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end.

This is what these words mean:

Mene means ‘numbered’—God has numbered the days of your reign and has brought it to an end.

“This is the explanation of the matter: ‘Mene’—God has numbered your kingdom and brought an end to it.

This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

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