Daniel 6:3

Daniel 6:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
• New International Version (NIV)Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.

Context of Daniel 6:3

1It seemed good to Darius [who became king after Belshazzar] to appoint over the kingdom 120 satraps who would be in charge throughout the kingdom, 2and over them three chief commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, so that the king would have no loss [from disloyalty or mismanagement]. Then this Daniel, because of the extraordinary spirit within him, began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and the satraps, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire realm. 4Then the [other two] commissioners and the satraps began trying to find a reason to bring a complaint against Daniel concerning the [administration of the] kingdom; but they could find no reason for an accusation or evidence of corruption, because he was faithful [a man of high moral character and personal integrity], and no negligence or corruption [of any kind] was found in him. 5Then these men said, “We will not find any basis for an accusation against this Daniel unless we find something against him in connection with the law of his God.”

Daniel 6:3 word by word

אֱדַ֙יִן֙ דָּנִיֵּ֣אל דְּנָ֔ה הֲוָ֣א מִתְנַצַּ֔ח עַל־סָרְכַיָּ֖א וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֑א כָּל־קֳבֵ֗ל דִּ֣י ר֤וּחַ יַתִּירָא֙ בֵּ֔הּ וּמַלְכָּ֣א עֲשִׁ֔ית לַהֲקָמוּתֵ֖הּ עַל־כָּל־מַלְכוּתָֽא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thenאֱדַ֫יִן'ĕdayin · thenH116
• thisדְּנָהdên · thisH1836
• Danielדָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵלdânîyê'l · DanielH1841
• wasהֲוָאhâvâ' hâvâh · to beH1934
• preferredנְצַחnetsach · to distinguish oneselfH5330
• aboveעַל‛al · uponH5922
• the presidentsסָרֵךְsârêk · chiefH5632
• and princesאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנִין'ăchashdarpan · satrapH324
• becauseקֳבֵלqebêl qŏbêl · before: becauseH6903
• becauseכֹּלkôl · allH3606
• an excellentיַתִּירyattîyr · preeminentH3493
• spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7308
• in him; and the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
• thoughtעֲשִׁת‛ăshith · to planH6246
• to setקוּםqûm · to stand: establishH6966
• realmמַלְכוּmalkû · kingdomH4437

Cross-references for Daniel 6:3

• Proverbs 22:29Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work? He will stand [in honor] before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.
• Daniel 5:12It was because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, the ability to interpret dreams, clarify riddles, and solve complex problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called and he will give the interpretation.”
• Daniel 9:23At the beginning of your supplications, the command [to give you an answer] was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly regarded and greatly beloved. Therefore consider the message and begin to understand the [meaning of the] vision.
• Genesis 41:38So Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this [a man equal to Joseph], in whom is the divine spirit [of God]?”
• Nehemiah 7:2I put my brother Hanani, with Hananiah the commander of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem, for Hananiah was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many [of the others].
• Proverbs 3:3Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you]; Bind them [securely] around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
• Proverbs 17:27He who has knowledge restrains and is careful with his words, And a man of understanding and wisdom has a cool spirit (self-control, an even temper).
• Ecclesiastes 2:13Then I saw that [even secular] wisdom [that brings sorrow] is better than [the pleasures of] folly and self-indulgence as light excels darkness.

Commentaries on Daniel 6:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3The king thought to set him over the whole realm - Intended to make him grand vizier or emir ul amrim. This partiality of the king made Daniel the object of the other presidents, and the grandees of the kingdom.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes - That is, he was at their head, or was placed in rank and office over them. “Because an excellent spirit was in him.” This may refer alike to his wisdom and his integrity - both of which would be necessary in such an office. It was an office of great difficulty and responsibility to manage the affairs of the empire in a proper manner, and required the talents of an accomplished statesman…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom: Compare Daniel 2:48–49; 3:30; Genesis 41:40–43.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. Daniel was preferred--probably because of his having so wonderfully foretold the fall of Babylon. Hence the very expression used by the queen mother on that occasion (Da 5:12) is here used, "because an excellent spirit was in him." king thought to set him over the whole realm--Agreeing with Darius' character, weak and averse to business, which he preferred to delegate to favorites. God overruled this to the good both of Daniel, and, through him, of His…Read the comment

Topics related to Daniel 6:3

• Government
• Indictments
• King
• Minister, Civil
• Persia
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Daniel
• Arise
• Lay
• Media
• Presidents
• Prince
• Temptation
• Aramaic; Aramaic Language
• Bible, the
• Daniel, Book of

Commentaries on Daniel 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings