English Standard Version
Daniel 6:1
1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom;
Daniel 6:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
- New International Version (NIV)It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom,
- New King James Version (NKJV)It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom;
- New Living Translation (NLT)Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province.
Context of Daniel 6:1
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3Then 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.
Read all of Daniel 6Daniel 6:1 word by word
שְׁפַר֙ קֳדָ֣ם דָּרְיָ֔וֶשׁ וַהֲקִים֙ עַל־מַלְכוּתָ֔א לַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֖א מְאָ֣ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֑ין דִּ֥י לֶהֱוֹ֖ן בְּכָל־מַלְכוּתָֽא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- It pleasedשְׁפַרshephar · to acceptableH8232
- It pleasedקֳדָםqŏdâm qedâm · beforeH6925
- Dariusדָּֽרְיָ֫וֶשׁdâreyâvêsh · DariusH1868
- to setקוּםqûm · to stand: establishH6966
- overעַל‛al · uponH5922
- the kingdomמַלְכוּmalkû · kingdomH4437
- an hundredמְאָהme'âh · hundredH3969
- and twentyעֶשְׂרִין‛eώrîyn · twentyH6243
- princesאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנִין'ăchashdarpan · satrapH324
- which should beהֲוָאhâvâ' hâvâh · to beH1934
- over the wholeכֹּלkôl · allH3606
Cross-references for Daniel 6:1
- Daniel 5:31And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
- 1 Peter 2:14or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
- Exodus 18:21Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
- Esther 1:1Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces,
Commentaries on Daniel 6:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1A hundred and twenty princes - A chief or satrap over every province which belonged to the Medo-Persian empire. Afterwards we find it enlarged to one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, by the victories of Cambyses and Darius Hystaspes. See Esther 1:1. Josephus reckons three hundred and sixty satrapies or lordships; but this is most probably an exaggeration or mistake.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom - Evidently over the kingdom of Babylon, now united to that of Media and Persia. As this was now subject to him, and tributary to him, it would be natural to appoint persons over it in whom he could confide, for the administration of justice, for the collection of revenue, etc. Others however, suppose that this relates to the whole kingdom of Persia, but as the reference here is mainly to what was the kingdom of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The malice of Daniel's enemies. (Dn 6:1-5) His constancy in prayer. (Dn 6:6-10) He is cast into the lion's den. (Dn 6:11-17) His miraculous preservation. (Dn 6:18-24) The decree of Darius. (Dn 6:25-28) Verses 1-5 We notice to the glory of God, that though Daniel was now very old, yet he was able for business, and had continued faithful to his religion. It is for the glory of God, when those who profess religion, conduct themselves so that their most…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-28God saved and freed his loyal servant Daniel (Daniel 5:23; 6:20), but Belshazzar's lifeless gods could not help him.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-281. Darius--Grotefend has read it in the cuneiform inscriptions at Persepolis, as Darheush, that is, "Lord-King," a name applied to many of the Medo-Persian kings in common. Three of that name occur: Darius Hystaspes, 521 B.C., in whose reign the decree was carried into effect for rebuilding the temple (Ezr 4:5; Hag 1:1); Darius Codomanus, 336 B.C., whom Alexander overcame, called "the Persian" (Ne 12:22), an expression used after the rule of Macedon was…Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 6:1
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries