Daniel 6 17

Daniel 6:17 kjv

And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

Daniel 6:17 nkjv

Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.

Daniel 6:17 niv

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation might not be changed.

Daniel 6:17 esv

And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

Daniel 6:17 nlt

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel.

Daniel 6 verses

Daniel 6 17 Meaning

This verse describes an act of profound faithfulness and obedience to God by Daniel. The king, coerced by the edict, participates in delivering Daniel to the lions' den. The carrying of Daniel to the pit signifies his passive surrender and the certainty of his fate according to the decree. The "stone" symbolizes the sealing and finality of the den, preventing any intervention and underscoring the severity of the king's decision under pressure.

Daniel 6 17 Context

Daniel chapter 6 details Daniel's unwavering faith in God amidst intense political intrigue and persecution. After successfully serving under King Darius, the Medes and Persians, a conspiracy was hatched by envious nobles. They secured an edict forbidding prayer to any god or man for thirty days, other than to the king. Daniel, a man of prayer, continued his practice of praying three times a day towards Jerusalem. This act led to his denunciation and subsequent condemnation to be thrown into a lions' den. Verse 17 describes the execution of this sentence.

Daniel 6 17 Word analysis

• and: (Hebrew: וְ - wə) - Conjunction connecting actions and thoughts, indicating sequence or addition.
• a: Indefinite article, specifying one stone.
• stone: (Hebrew: אֶבֶן - ʾeḇen) - Solid mineral material. Symbolically, can represent foundation, stumbling block, or barrier.
• was: Past tense verb.
• brought: (Hebrew: הֵבִיאוּ - heḇîʾū) - Third person masculine plural, from the root בּוֹא (bōʾ), to come, bring, or enter.
• and: (Hebrew: וְ - wə) - Conjunction.
• placed: (Hebrew: שׂוּם - śūm) - Verb, to set, lay, put.
• upon: Preposition indicating location.
• the: Definite article.
• mouth: (Hebrew: פִּי - pî) - Opening, entrance. Refers to the entrance of the den.
• of: Preposition indicating possession or relation.
• the: Definite article.
• den: (Hebrew: גּוּב - gūḇ) - Pit, den, especially of lions.
• and: (Hebrew: וְ - wə) - Conjunction.
• the: Definite article.
• king: (Hebrew: מֶלֶךְ - meleḵ) - Ruler. Darius.
• sealed: (Hebrew: חָתַם - ḥāṯam) - To seal, mark with a seal. Denotes finality and preventing tampering.
• it: Pronoun referring to the stone or the den's opening.
• with: Preposition.
• his: Possessive pronoun.
• own: Emphasizes possession.
• signet: (Hebrew: טַבָּעַת - ṭabbāʿaṯ) - Ring used for sealing. Implies authority and legal validation.
• ring: Circular band, usually worn on finger.
• and: (Hebrew: וְ - wə) - Conjunction.
• with: Preposition.
• the: Definite article.
• signet: (Hebrew: טַבָּעַת - ṭabbāʿaṯ) - Ring.
• rings: Plural of ring.
• of: Preposition.
• his: Possessive pronoun.
• nobles: (Hebrew: שָׂרִים - śārîm) - Officials, princes, leaders. Those with authority who enforced the decree.
• so that: Conjunction indicating purpose or result.
• no: Negation.
• change: (Hebrew: תְּמוּרָה - təmûrâ) - Change, exchange, alteration. Refers to any alteration of Daniel's fate.
• might: Modal verb.
• be: Verb.
• made: Past participle verb.
• in: Preposition.
• the: Definite article.
• disposal: (Hebrew: דָּבָר - dāḇār) - Matter, thing, affair, word. Here, the disposition or outcome concerning Daniel.
• of: Preposition.
• Daniel: Proper name of the prophet.

Words-group analysis:

• "a stone was brought and placed upon the mouth of the den": This imagery signifies the official, undeniable, and unalterable nature of Daniel's confinement. The stone was a physical barrier, but the sealing was the legal one.
• "sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles": This act by the king, especially using his signet, highlights the king's compliance with the law he himself had enacted, albeit under duress. The inclusion of his nobles' seals reinforces the collective and unappealable nature of the decision. It demonstrates the weight of the pressure applied to the king and his absolute authority in executing his own law.

Daniel 6 17 Bonus section

The action of sealing with signet rings was common in ancient Near Eastern cultures to authenticate documents, secure property, and ensure the inviolability of a decree. The king's signet was a symbol of his ultimate authority, and by using it, he legitimized and enforced the sentence. The fact that his nobles also affixed their seals implies a collective responsibility or consensus behind Daniel's fate, strengthening the perception of an unassailable legal action. Daniel’s prior prayers and unyielding faith positioned him for a divine rescue that would transcend the king's power and the lions' ferocity. This setup anticipates the miraculous deliverance as described in subsequent verses, proving that earthly powers and seals are ultimately powerless against the divine will and power of God when His faithful servants are in peril.

Daniel 6 17 Commentary

This verse underscores the gravity of the king's edict and the desperate measure taken to ensure Daniel's doom. The physical sealing of the den with a massive stone and the subsequent official sealing of that stone by the king and his nobles was a testament to the decree's immutability. It signifies the legal and political finality of the situation, leaving no room for human intervention. The king's participation in sealing the den, while compelled by his own law, contrasts with his subsequent anguish and disturbed night, suggesting internal conflict and perhaps regret over a decision made under political pressure. This act also serves to completely isolate Daniel, placing him solely in the hands of God for deliverance. The sealing signifies that no man could alter Daniel's fate, thus amplifying the supernatural intervention that was to follow.