Daniel 6 7

Daniel 6:7 kjv

All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

Daniel 6:7 nkjv

All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

Daniel 6:7 niv

The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions' den.

Daniel 6:7 esv

All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

Daniel 6:7 nlt

We are all in agreement ? we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors ? that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human ? except to you, Your Majesty ? will be thrown into the den of lions.

Daniel 6 verses

Daniel 6 7 Meaning

This verse signifies a decree issued by the kings, satraps, and governors of the Persian Empire. It states that no one can petition any god or human other than King Darius for thirty days. The purpose was to exclusively direct all supplications towards the king.

Daniel 6 7 Context

This verse is situated within chapter 6 of the Book of Daniel, detailing the political maneuvering against Daniel in the Persian Empire under King Darius. Darius, impressed by Daniel's competence and integrity, planned to set him over the entire kingdom. This ambition incited jealousy among the other high-ranking officials (satrapies and presidents). They couldn't find any fault in Daniel's work or character, so they devised a plan to trap him through his religious devotion. The decree described in this verse was their method, designed to force Daniel to compromise his commitment to praying only to his God, Yahweh, or face severe consequences. The historical backdrop is the Babylonian exile era, where Daniel served in high governmental positions. The decree itself reflects the absolute authority claimed by ancient Near Eastern rulers, who often demanded divine honor.

Daniel 6 7 Word analysis

• “So”: Implies a consequence or the execution of a plan previously formulated.
• “the”: Definite article.
• “officials”: (Hebrew: sarê - שָׂרַי). Leaders, chief men, princes. This refers to the presidents and satraps mentioned earlier.
• “and”: Conjunction.
• “satrapies”: (Hebrew: sehªªraên - שָׂהֲרָאִין). Governors or viceroys appointed over a province in the Persian system.
• “and”: Conjunction.
• “governors”: (Hebrew: par³ªdºkîn - פַּרְדַּכִּין). Sub-governors or administrators of the provinces.
• “came”: (Hebrew: tə în - תָּאן). Came, presented themselves.
• “in”: Preposition indicating location or within.
• “and”: Conjunction.
• “consulted”: (Hebrew: yā‘ºū - יָעוּ). Counseled together, took counsel. Implies a united and conspiratorial effort.
• “together”: Indicates they met and conferred as a group.
• “with”: Preposition.
• “the”: Definite article.
• “king”: (Hebrew: mélek - מֶלֶךְ). The sovereign ruler.
• “and”: Conjunction.
• “said”: (Hebrew: ’ªmar - אָמַר). Spoke.
• “thus”: (Hebrew: kōn - כֹּן). In this manner, so.
• “unto”: Preposition.
• “him”: Pronoun referring to King Darius.
• “O”: Exclamation.
• “King”: (Hebrew: mélek - מֶלֶךְ). Addressed with reverence.
• “Darius”: The Medo-Persian king.
• “live”: (Hebrew: ’ªdarâ - אֲדָרָה). To live, prosper, endure forever. A common salutation or acclamation of royalty.
• “forever”: Emphasizes the lasting nature of the king's reign and the desired perpetual existence.
• “for”: Because.
• “all”: The entirety.
• “the”: Definite article.
• “king’s”: (Hebrew: mélek - מֶלֶךְ). Pertaining to the king.
• “decrees”: (Hebrew: ’ªmār - אֲמַר). Edicts, commands, ordinances. This indicates a royal command or law.
• “are”: State of being.
• “alike”: Equal, the same.
• “and”: Conjunction.
• “any”: One, some.
• “who”: Relative pronoun.
• “transgresses”: (Hebrew: š³bªq - שְׁבַק). Breaks, violates, abandons.
• “the”: Definite article.
• “king’s”: (Hebrew: mélek - מֶלֶךְ). Of the king.
• “commandment”: (Hebrew: ’ªmār - אֲמַר). Ordinance, word, injunction.
• “must”: Indicates necessity or obligation.
• “be”: State of being.
• “cast”: (Hebrew: š¹lªkh - שְׁלַח). Thrown, cast.
• “into”: Preposition.
• “the”: Definite article.
• “den”: (Hebrew: ldān - לִישְׁדָּן). Den, pit, dungeon. This specifically refers to the lions' den in Daniel's story.
• “of”: Preposition indicating possession or substance.
• “the”: Definite article.
• “lions”: (Hebrew: lºšîyªhî - לְשִׁילַיּוֹת). Lions.
• “Thus”: Adverb of manner.
• “it”: Pronoun referring to the proposed decree.
• “pleaseth”: (Hebrew: rºʻyān - רְעָאן). Seems good, is pleasing. A polite way to present a request to a superior.
• “the”: Definite article.
• “king”: (Hebrew: mélek - מֶלֶךְ). The ruler.
• “O”: Exclamation.
• “King”: (Hebrew: mélek - מֶלֶךְ). Addressing the king.
• “ Darius”: The king's name.
• “establish”: (Hebrew: qªyēm - קַיֵּם). Set up, enact, make valid, confirm.
• “the”: Definite article.
• “writing”: (Hebrew: kºtªb - כְּתָב). Written decree, inscription.
• “so”: Thus, in this way.
• “that”: Conjunction indicating purpose or result.
• “it”: Pronoun.
• “may”: Indicating possibility.
• “not”: Negation.
• “be”: State of being.
• “altered”: (Hebrew: šnî* - שְׁנִּי). Changed, altered, moved. Pertains to its immutability.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "officials and satrapies and governors": This hierarchical listing highlights the combined authority of the Persian administrative structure, presenting a united front against Daniel.
• "consulted together with the king and said thus unto him": This emphasizes the clandestine and conspiratorial nature of their approach, masking their true intentions with flattery.
• "O King Darius, live forever!": This was a standard, formal Persian salutation to the king, used here to gain his favor and make their subsequent request seem more authoritative and beneficial to him.
• "all the king's decrees are alike": This pretense suggests that establishing such a decree would be consistent with the king's established practice, making it seem a reasonable proposition.
• "any who transgresses the king's commandment must be cast into the den of the lions": This outlines the severe penalty for violating the proposed law, a consequence specifically designed to entrap Daniel, knowing his refusal.
• "O King, establish the writing and sign the decree, that it may not be altered": This closing plea emphasizes the importance of making the decree official and unchangeable, ensuring its absolute enforcement.

Daniel 6 7 Bonus section

The structure of this proposal—making it a royal, unalterable decree—is crucial. In Persian administration, royal decrees held supreme authority and were binding. The insistence on signing and inscribing it (as seen in Daniel 6:8) ensured its legal force and irrevocability. This move by Daniel’s enemies was not just a personal attack but an attempt to leverage the very system of Persian governance against him, forcing him into a position where loyalty to God would directly translate to treason against the king. The flattery employed is a common tactic in political intrigue, aiming to disarm and manipulate the powerful by appealing to their vanity and sense of authority.

Daniel 6 7 Commentary

The satraps and governors, driven by envy, cunningly presented a decree to King Darius that, on its surface, seemed designed to elevate his authority. They used flattery ("O King Darius, live forever!") and appealed to his desire for absolute control and recognition by proposing that for thirty days, all prayers and petitions be directed solely to him. This seemingly innocuous request, designed to secure his paramount status, was a calculated trap. They knew Daniel’s unwavering commitment to prayer directed towards Yahweh, as established in the preceding verses and in Daniel’s life. The proposal was crafted so that no one could approach any god or man other than Darius without facing severe punishment – being thrown into the lions' den. By making this a royal decree, unalterable and signed, they ensured it carried the weight of the king's law, thus cornering Daniel and hoping to eliminate their perceived rival. This highlights the pervasive dangers of opposition, deceit, and the struggle for power that can arise even in positions of high influence. It also underscores the temptation for rulers to accept deification or demand exclusive worship, a common theme in ancient Near Eastern polities and a foreshadowing of later antagonists who would seek divine status.