Daniel 6:25 kjv
Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
Daniel 6:25 nkjv
Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
Daniel 6:25 niv
Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: "May you prosper greatly!
Daniel 6:25 esv
Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: "Peace be multiplied to you.
Daniel 6:25 nlt
Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: "Peace and prosperity to you!
Daniel 6 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dan 2:4 | The Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic: "O king, live forever!..." | Aramaic introduction, king's greeting. |
| Dan 3:29 | Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language... | Prior royal decree, universal scope, King's acknowledgment. |
| Dan 4:1 | King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: "Peace be multiplied to you!" | Similar universal address and greeting by a gentile king. |
| Dan 4:34 | ...my praise, honor, and glory to him who lives forever... | King Nebuchadnezzar's later praise to God. |
| Gen 10:31-32 | These are the sons of Shem, according to their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations. | Diversity of "peoples, nations, and languages." |
| Pss 66:1-2 | Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name... | Universal call to praise God. |
| Ps 117:1 | Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples! | Universal call for nations to praise God. |
| Isa 45:22 | "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!..." | Universal call to salvation by God. |
| Zech 8:20-23 | "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities..." | Prophecy of many peoples and nations seeking God. |
| Hag 2:7 | and I will shake all nations, and the desirable things of all nations shall come in... | God's sovereignty over nations. |
| Mic 4:2 | and many nations shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD..." | Gentiles seeking God's ways. |
| Gen 49:6 | In their anger they slaughtered men, and in their self-will they hamstrung oxen. | Example of "peace" (shalom) contrasting with violence. |
| Num 6:26 | The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. | Priestly blessing of peace. |
| Ps 29:11 | May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace! | God's blessing of peace to His people. |
| Isa 9:6-7 | For to us a child is born...and his name shall be called...Prince of Peace. | Prophecy of the Messiah as the source of true peace. |
| Isa 48:18 | Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river... | Peace flowing from obedience to God. |
| Jer 29:7 | But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. | Seek "peace" (shalom) even for pagans. |
| Rom 15:13 | May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing... | God as the source of joy and peace through faith. |
| Gal 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness... | Peace as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. |
| Eph 2:14 | For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility... | Christ as the ultimate peace-bringer. |
| Col 3:15 | And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts... | Peace from Christ ruling in believers. |
| 1 Pet 1:2 | ...Grace to you and peace be multiplied. | Apostolic greeting of peace. |
| Rev 5:9-10 | And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you...for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation..." | Universal redemption spanning all peoples and languages. |
Daniel 6 verses
Daniel 6 25 Meaning
Daniel 6:25 begins King Darius's imperial decree, a direct consequence of Daniel's miraculous deliverance from the lions' den. It signifies a profound shift from a state-sponsored threat against Daniel to a royal endorsement of Daniel's God. The verse is a universal address, communicating the king's acknowledgement of the God of Heaven and promoting a desired state of "peace" (shalom), implying not merely the absence of conflict but holistic well-being, prosperity, and wholeness for all the diverse peoples under his vast dominion. This royal proclamation of blessing sets the stage for the specific contents of the decree in the subsequent verses.
Daniel 6 25 Context
Daniel chapter 6 narrates the dramatic events surrounding Daniel's administrative success under King Darius, the jealousy of rival satraps and high officials, their cunning plot against Daniel using a royal decree, Daniel's faithfulness to God despite the decree, his miraculous deliverance from the lions' den, and the subsequent punishment of his accusers. Verse 25 serves as the formal beginning of King Darius's second decree within the book of Daniel. Following Daniel's undeniable rescue, the pagan king is compelled to publicly acknowledge the supreme power of Daniel's God. Historically, royal edicts were common methods for communication across the vast Persian Empire, often beginning with a grand salutation and proclamation to underscore the king's authority and desired global reach. This specific edict, unlike the previous one designed to ensnare Daniel, becomes a vehicle for propagating reverence for the Living God throughout Darius's dominion.
Daniel 6 25 Word analysis
- Then King Darius wrote: This marks a decisive moment, shifting from the previous action (punishment of accusers) to the king's official public declaration. It signifies royal authority and intent to formalize his recent experience. The verb "wrote" (kethab, Aramaic) implies a legal, binding decree.
- to all peoples: From Aramaic ʿammiyyaʾ (עַמְמַיָּא), signifying a distinct group or nation.
- nations: From Aramaic ummīyaʾ (אֻמַּיָּא), another term for nations or large groups, emphasizing the breadth and diversity of subjects. The repetition with "peoples" amplifies the scope of the address.
- and languages: From Aramaic lishshānayyaʾ (לִשָּׁנַיָּא), meaning tongues or linguistic groups. This ensures comprehensive reach, encompassing every distinct culture and origin within the empire.
- that dwell in all the earth: This phrase (dî dāʾărîn bəḵol-ʾarʿā, דִּי דָאֲרִין בְּכָל־אַרְעָא) highlights the universal scope, referring to the known world or the extent of the Persian Empire's influence. It elevates the king's reach and, by extension, the perceived reach of his decree concerning Daniel's God.
- peoples, nations, and languages: This triad of terms is a conventional imperial formula for universality in ancient Near Eastern texts (cf. Dan 3:29, 4:1). In Daniel, it emphasizes the global witness of God's power. It prefigures the future universal worship of God described in prophetic literature.
- May your peace abound!: From Aramaic shalāməḵôm yisgê (שְׁלָמְכֹם יִשְׂגֵּא).
- "peace" (shalom): Far more than absence of conflict, shalom denotes completeness, welfare, health, prosperity, security, tranquility, and harmony. It speaks to wholeness in every aspect of life – spiritual, physical, relational, and material.
- "abound" (yisgê): Meaning to multiply, increase, become great. This is not a static wish for peace but a dynamic desire for its ever-increasing prevalence. Coming from a king, it implies a wish for order and stability within his vast empire, which he now associates with the power of the God who saves.
Daniel 6 25 Bonus section
The royal edicts in Daniel (e.g., Dan 3:29, 4:1-3, 6:25-27) demonstrate a recurring pattern of gentile rulers being confronted with the power of YHWH and, consequently, issuing proclamations that glorify Him throughout their vast empires. This narrative structure highlights God's sovereignty over the nations and kings of the earth, aligning with prophetic visions of God being recognized and worshipped by non-Israelite peoples (e.g., Isa 49:6, Zech 8:20-23). The Aramaic phrasing, common to royal decrees of the period, lends historical authenticity while simultaneously emphasizing the divinely ordained message carried by the human agent (the king). This instance of a king promoting the true God offers a unique picture of how divine influence penetrates secular power structures, contrasting with more common scenarios of pagan kings persecuting God's people.
Daniel 6 25 Commentary
Daniel 6:25 functions as the majestic, albeit conventional, opening of King Darius's formal royal edict. Far from a mere formality, it reveals a profound transformation in the king's understanding of divine authority. After witnessing the undeniable deliverance of Daniel from the lions' den—a miracle only God could orchestrate—Darius moves from reluctantly condemning a righteous man to actively proclaiming the greatness of his God. The universal scope of the address ("to all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth") is significant, reflecting the vastness of the Persian Empire and setting the stage for a decree with worldwide theological implications. The greeting "May your peace abound!" or "Let your prosperity be great" (Aramaic: shalom yisge) is a customary royal salutation but gains immense weight in this context. It suggests that the king recognizes the source of true peace and stability lies not solely in imperial power but in the divine hand that saved Daniel. It implicitly calls upon all subjects to align with the reverence shown to this mighty God, signaling that universal peace and well-being are inextricably linked to acknowledging the God of Daniel. This pagan king's public decree glorifying God serves as a powerful testament to God's sovereignty over earthly rulers and His ability to use any instrument to spread His fame.