Daniel 6 26

Daniel 6:26 kjv

I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

Daniel 6:26 nkjv

I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end.

Daniel 6:26 niv

"I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. "For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.

Daniel 6:26 esv

I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.

Daniel 6:26 nlt

"I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.
For he is the living God,
and he will endure forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed,
and his rule will never end.

Daniel 6 verses

Daniel 6 26 meaning

King Darius, having witnessed God's miraculous deliverance of Daniel from the lion's den, issues a comprehensive decree across his entire kingdom. This decree commands all people to show profound reverence and awe towards the God of Daniel. Darius proclaims this God as the "living God," distinct from lifeless idols, who possesses eternal existence. He further declares that this God's kingdom and dominion are perpetual, indestructible, and will never cease, emphasizing His supreme and enduring sovereignty over all earthly powers.

Daniel 6 26 Context

Daniel 6:26 stands as the climax of King Darius's conversion experience and an official proclamation of the God of Daniel's supremacy. Prior to this verse, the chapter details the envy and conspiracy of the satraps and administrators against Daniel, who was favored by Darius. They exploited Daniel's unwavering faithfulness in praying to God three times a day, tricking Darius into issuing an edict that prohibited prayer to any god or man except the king for thirty days, punishable by being cast into a lion's den. Despite knowing the decree, Daniel continued his prayer, was condemned, and subsequently miraculously delivered by an angel who shut the mouths of the lions. Darius, deeply distressed by Daniel's fate, rejoiced immensely at his survival. This firsthand, undeniable demonstration of divine power prompted Darius to overturn his previous misguided decree with a new one that officially acknowledged and commanded reverence for Daniel's God, contrasting sharply with his earlier decree that inadvertently targeted God. Historically, this places the decree in the Persian Empire during the reign of Darius the Mede, affirming God's ability to reveal His sovereignty even through pagan rulers.

Daniel 6 26 Word analysis

• I issue a decree (מִן קֳדָמַי שִׂים טְעֵם - min qodamai sim ṭəʿēm):

  • "I issue a decree": A royal, authoritative pronouncement. In Aramaic, it implies "a command is given from me." This underscores the official and binding nature of Darius's proclamation across his vast empire.
  • Significance: Highlights the ultimate power God holds, influencing even the highest earthly authority. This king, initially misled by human cunning, now acts as an instrument of divine acknowledgment.

• in every part of my kingdom (בְּכֹל שָׁלְטָן מַלְכוּתִי - bəḵol šālṭān malḵûṯî):

  • "every part": Emphasizes the universal scope of this command within Darius's extensive dominion. It's not a localized belief but a mandatory respect for God throughout the empire.
  • Significance: Reflects God's cosmic authority. His truth is not limited by geography or culture; even a pagan king recognizes its universal applicability.

• people must fear and revere (לֶהֱווֹן דָּחֲלִין וְזָאֲעִין - lehevôn dāḥəlîn wəzāʿîn):

  • "fear" (דָּחֲלִין - daḥalin): Not merely terror, but a profound reverence and awe, coupled with obedience to God's power. It implies a recognition of His overwhelming might.
  • "revere" (וְזָאֲעִין - vəzaʿin): Implies trembling, being struck with awe. The combined expression denotes deep respect and profound veneration, often in response to a visible manifestation of divine power.
  • Significance: This dual term speaks to the appropriate human response to the living God – an acknowledgment of His transcendence, power, and holiness, leading to humble submission.

• the God of Daniel (אֱלָהּ דִּי דָנִיאֵל - ʾělāh dî dānîʾēl):

  • "God of Daniel": Identifies God specifically through His relationship with His faithful servant and through the witnessed miracle. It is not an abstract concept but the actively interventionist God known through Daniel.
  • Significance: God makes Himself known not generically but personally and through His loyal followers. This testifies to Daniel's steadfast witness and God's faithfulness to His own.

• For he is the living God (דִּי הוּא אֱלָהָא חַיָּא - dî hû ʾělāhā ḥayyā):

  • "living God" (ʾělāhā ḥayyā): This crucial attribute directly contrasts the God of Israel with the lifeless, impotent idols worshipped by the Babylonians and Persians. It emphasizes His active, dynamic, and ever-present nature. He acts, He intervenes, He sustains.
  • Significance: A core theological declaration. Unlike carved images or natural forces, this God is alive, capable of hearing prayer, delivering, and ruling.

• and he endures forever (וְקַיָּם לְעָלְמִין - wəqayyām ləʿālmîn):

  • "endures" (wəqayyām): Implies standing, remaining firm, enduring, stable.
  • "forever" (ləʿālmîn): Denotes eternality, an endless span of time.
  • Significance: God's timeless existence, permanence, and unchangeable nature, further distinguishing Him from mortal kings and fleeting empires.

• his kingdom will not be destroyed (וּמַלְכוּתֵהּ לָא תִתְחַבַּל - ûmalḵûṯēh lāʾ tiṯḥabbāl):

  • "destroyed" (תִתְחַבַּל - tiṯḥabbāl): To be broken, ruined, corrupted, or overthrown.
  • Significance: Unlike all human empires (as depicted throughout Daniel 2 and 7), God's reign is impregnable, impervious to human or demonic opposition.

• and his dominion will never end (וְשָׁלְטָנֵהּ עַד סוֹפָא׃ - wəšālṭānēh ʿad sôfā):

  • "dominion" (וְשָׁלְטָנֵהּ - wəšālṭānēh): Refers to His active rule, authority, and power.
  • "never end" (עַד סוֹפָא - ʿad sôfā): Literally "until the end," idiomatically meaning eternally or unendingly.
  • Significance: Reaffirms the eternal and boundless nature of God's active sovereignty. His rule is not a passing phase but an eternal reality, a foundational truth for the entire book of Daniel.

Daniel 6 26 Bonus section

The profound declaration of Darius marks a culmination of theological recognition by pagan kings in Daniel. Unlike Nebuchadnezzar's praise, which was often mingled with pride or momentary awe before specific manifestations (Dan 2:47; Dan 4:34-37), Darius's decree here feels more comprehensive and declarative. He moves beyond acknowledging "a god" or "the greatest god" to proclaiming core attributes of Yahweh, specifically highlighting His eternal and indestructible nature. This is a remarkably extensive theological statement from a non-Israelite king, underscoring the universal scope of God's redemptive plan and His power to make His name known across the earth. The repeated emphasis on "forever" (לְעָלְמִין) and "never end" (עַד סוֹפָא) powerfully echoes and sets the stage for the New Testament's proclamations of Jesus' eternal kingdom and dominion (e.g., Luke 1:33, Rev 11:15), establishing a prophetic continuity in God's plan for an everlasting rule.

Daniel 6 26 Commentary

Darius's decree in Daniel 6:26 represents a powerful testament to the sovereign, living God who superintends all creation and history. It shifts from a decree designed to undermine Daniel's faith to one that commands the adoration of Daniel's God. The attributes Darius proclaims – "living God," "endures forever," an indestructible "kingdom," and unending "dominion" – directly challenge and refute the prevalent polytheism and imperial cults of his era. Darius recognizes through firsthand evidence that this God is not confined to one nation or temple, but actively rules and intervenes in the affairs of humanity, exercising authority over life, death, and kingdoms. This declaration prepares the ground for Daniel's later prophecies of God's ultimate, eternal kingdom which will replace all earthly ones, affirming God's providential care over His people and His universal Kingship. The narrative exemplifies how faithful witness, even under extreme pressure, can lead to God's glory being declared in unexpected and far-reaching ways.

• Example 1: In the face of seemingly overwhelming worldly power, steadfast faith (like Daniel's) can prompt even adversaries to acknowledge God's ultimate authority.
• Example 2: This verse teaches that God's true nature as living, eternal, and sovereign can shatter preconceived notions about deities or false ideologies.