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

Daniel 6:17 details the official act of securing the lions' den after Daniel was cast into it. A large stone was used to cover the opening of the den, and this stone was then sealed with the personal signet rings of King Darius and his nobles. This sealing served to ensure the finality and irrevocability of the judgment against Daniel, preventing any interference, rescue attempts, or alteration of the king's decree according to the established Medo-Persian law. It symbolized an inescapable human verdict, setting the stage for divine intervention.

Daniel 6 17 Context

Daniel chapter 6 narrates the events surrounding Daniel's continued faithful service in the Medo-Persian empire under King Darius, succeeding the Babylonian empire. His unparalleled wisdom and diligence led King Darius to consider appointing him over the entire kingdom (v. 3). This distinction provoked the jealousy and malice of other satraps and administrators, who sought to find fault with Daniel. Finding nothing in his official conduct, they devised a plot targeting his unwavering devotion to God (v. 4-5). They manipulated the king into signing an irrevocable decree forbidding any petition to any god or man, save the king, for thirty days, punishable by being cast into the lions' den (v. 6-9). Daniel, despite knowing the decree, continued his daily prayers to God (v. 10), leading to his apprehension and the reluctant King Darius's command for him to be thrown into the den (v. 11-16). Verse 17 then describes the final, official act of sealing the den, ensuring no one could intervene or alter the decree's consequence, emphasizing the human finality of Daniel's seemingly inescapable doom.

Daniel 6 17 Word analysis

• And a stone (וְכֵ֣יף – wə·ḵêp̄): The Aramaic kêp̄ (כֵּיף) refers to a large, substantial stone, capable of fully covering the opening. This was a standard method of sealing tombs or pits, signifying an act of making a situation conclusive and preventing access. Its presence highlights the physical barrier placed, making rescue humanly impossible.
• was brought (אִיתַ֣יִת – 'i·ṯay·iṯ): Passive voice, indicating that the action was performed by others at the command of authority, likely the royal guards or officials. The stone did not just appear but was specifically sourced and transported for this purpose, adding to the gravity of the event.
• and laid (וְרִמִּ֗יאַת – wə·rim·mî·aṯ): From the root remah, meaning "to cast" or "to throw." This suggests a forceful, decisive placement of the stone over the mouth of the den, not a gentle positioning. It implies a strong, secure covering.
• upon the mouth of the den (עַל־פִּי֩ גֻבָּא֙ – ‘al-pî gū·bā’): Pi (פִּי) refers to the 'mouth' or opening, while gūbā’ (גֻבָּא) specifically means a "pit" or "cistern," commonly a deep, excavated place used for storage or confinement, in this context, a large pit for lions. This precise detail emphasizes that the entry point was fully covered, sealing Daniel inside the confines with the predators.
• and the king sealed it (וּמַלְכָּא֙ חֲתַ֣ם – ū·mal·kā' ḥă·ṯam): Ḥătam (חֲתַם) means "to seal," an action that renders something legally binding, official, and unalterable. The king's direct involvement with his own seal was paramount. It conveyed the highest level of authority and attested to the finality of the sentence.
• with his own signet ring (בְּעִזְקְתֵהּ֙ – bə·‘iz·qə·ṯêh): ‘izqətēh (עִזְקְתֵהּ) is the signet ring, a personal identifier of the king, functioning like a signature. Its impression in clay or wax served as proof of royal authority and authentication of documents or commands. This underscored his absolute command over the execution of the decree, even if he regretted it.
• and with the signet of his nobles (וּבַעֲזְקָת֙ רַבְרְבָנֹ֔והִי – ū·ḇa·‘ăz·qāṯ raḇ·rə·ḇā·nō·w·hî): The inclusion of the nobles' signets added an extra layer of official witness and authorization. This would prevent the nobles (who had instigated Daniel’s downfall) from interfering or making accusations of impropriety against the king later. It collectively bound the entire leadership to the irrevocability of the act.
• that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed (דִּי־לָ֨א תֶהֱוֵ֥א שׁוּנִ֛י בְּדָנִיֵּ֖אל – dî-lā’ te·hĕ·wê šū·nî bə·ḏā·nî·yêl): The phrase šūnî (שׁוּנִי), meaning "change" or "alteration," clearly states the objective of the sealing. Given the immutable Medo-Persian law, the sealing was essential to ensure the sentence passed on Daniel was permanent and unchallengeable. Despite the king's deep personal distress and desire to save Daniel (v. 14), his hands were tied by the law. This action locked Daniel into an irreversible human fate, setting the stage for God’s miraculous intervention to demonstrate His power.

Daniel 6 17 Bonus section

The sealing of the den with the king’s and nobles' rings not only made the decree unalterable but also confirmed that Daniel's fate was a matter of official royal record, legally verified by all concerned parties. This meticulously documented finality prevented any future claims of error or secret rescue by the king, as the very men who had set the trap were made witnesses to its final execution. The scene creates a vivid dramatic irony: what was intended to guarantee Daniel's destruction only served to magnify the divine power that preserved him. This act foreshadows other instances in biblical narrative where human efforts to seal away God's plans (like sealing Christ's tomb) are futile against His sovereign will and miraculous intervention.

Daniel 6 17 Commentary

Daniel 6:17 meticulously details the final act of sealing Daniel's fate according to human justice. The casting of the large stone and the multiple signet rings from both the king and his nobles illustrate an ultimate legal finality. This elaborate sealing serves to reinforce the ironclad nature of Medo-Persian law—once a decree was established and sealed, it could not be altered or rescinded. This provided no avenue for human intervention or leniency.

Despite King Darius’s clear reluctance and distress, he was compelled by the system to uphold the decree. His seal, coupled with those of his nobles, left no ambiguity: Daniel's "case" was closed. From a human perspective, Daniel's survival was an impossibility. This legalistic thoroughness, ironically, amplified the power and glory of God when Daniel was later found unharmed. The very seals meant to ensure Daniel's demise ultimately testified to God's unique power to nullify human authority and natural law. It highlighted the impotence of even the most formidable human systems against divine will, mirroring how Christ's tomb, also sealed, was no match for the power of resurrection.

Examples:

• In moments of professional slander where all avenues of justice seem sealed, like an official dismissal or condemnation.
• When a dire medical diagnosis appears to close off all hope, similar to a sealed fate.
• Facing systemic injustice where legal processes offer no recourse, resembling an unalterable decree.