Charles Ellicott Commentary Daniel 5:11

"There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, [I say], thy father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;" — Daniel 5:11 (ASV)

The spirit.— Compare Daniel 4:8-9.

Your father.— No blood relationship is necessarily implied by this word. It means no more than “predecessor.” (See Introduction, section VI.)