God’s Word Translation
Daniel 6:4
4So the other officials and satraps tried to find something to accuse Daniel of in his duties for the kingdom. But they couldn’t find anything wrong because he was trustworthy. No error or fault could be found.
Daniel 6:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
- New International Version (NIV)At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.
Context of Daniel 6:4
2Over these satraps were three officials. Daniel was one of these officials. The satraps were to report to these three officials so that the king wouldn’t be cheated. 3This man, Daniel, distinguished himself among the other officials and satraps because there was an extraordinary spirit in him. The king thought about putting him in charge of the whole kingdom. So the other officials and satraps tried to find something to accuse Daniel of in his duties for the kingdom. But they couldn’t find anything wrong because he was trustworthy. No error or fault could be found. 5These men said, “We won’t find anything to accuse this man, Daniel, unless we find it in his religious practices.” 6So these officials and satraps went to the king as a group. They said to him, “May King Darius live forever!
Read all of Daniel 6Daniel 6:4 word by word
אֱדַ֨יִן סָֽרְכַיָּ֜א וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֗א הֲו֨וֹ בָעַ֧יִן עִלָּ֛ה לְהַשְׁכָּחָ֥ה לְדָנִיֵּ֖אל מִצַּ֣ד מַלְכוּתָ֑א וְכָל־עִלָּ֨ה וּשְׁחִיתָ֜ה לָא־יָכְלִ֣ין לְהַשְׁכָּחָ֗ה כָּל־קֳבֵל֙ דִּֽי־מְהֵימַ֣ן ה֔וּא וְכָל־שָׁלוּ֙ וּשְׁחִיתָ֔ה לָ֥א הִשְׁתְּכַ֖חַת עֲלֽוֹהִי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenאֱדַ֫יִן'ĕdayin · thenH116
- the presidentsסָרֵךְsârêk · chiefH5632
- and princesאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנִין'ăchashdarpan · satrapH324
- soughtבְּעָאbe‛â' be‛âh · to askH1156
- soughtהֲוָאhâvâ' hâvâh · to beH1934
- to findשְׁכַחshekach · to findH7912
- occasionעִלָּה‛illâh · pretextH5931
- against Danielדָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵלdânîyê'l · DanielH1841
- concerningצַדtsad · sideH6655
- the kingdomמַלְכוּmalkû · kingdomH4437
- butכֹּלkôl · allH3606
- they couldיְכִלyekêl yekîyl · be ableH3202
- noneלָאlâ' lâh · notH3809
- faultשְׁחַתshechath · to corruptH7844
- forasmuchקֳבֵלqebêl qŏbêl · beforeH6903
- faithfulאֲמַן'ăman · to trustH540
- errorשָׁלוּshâlû shâlûth · neglectH7960
- in himעַל‛al · uponH5922
Cross-references for Daniel 6:4
- Daniel 3:8After that happened, some astrologers came forward and brought charges against the Jews.
- Genesis 43:18The men were frightened, because they had been brought to Joseph’s house. They thought, “We’ve been brought here because of the money that was put back into our sacks the first time. They’re going to attack us, overpower us, take our donkeys, and make us slaves.”
- Judges 14:4His father and mother didn’t know that the Lord was behind this. The Lord was looking for an opportunity to do something to the Philistines. (At that time the Philistines were ruling Israel.)
- Psalms 37:12The wicked person plots against a righteous one and grits his teeth at him.
- Proverbs 29:27An unjust person is disgusting to righteous people. A decent person is disgusting to wicked people.
- Ecclesiastes 4:4Then I saw that all hard work and skillful effort come from rivalry. Even this is pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind.
- Jeremiah 18:18Then they said, “Let’s plot against Jeremiah, because the teachings of the priests, the advice of wise people, and the word of the prophets won’t disappear. Accuse him! Pay no attention to anything he says.”
- Jeremiah 20:10I have heard many ⌞people⌟ whispering, “Terror is everywhere! Report him! Let’s report him!” All my closest friends are waiting to see me stumble. They say, “Maybe he will be tricked. Then we can overpower him and take revenge on him.”
- Matthew 26:4They made plans to arrest Jesus in an underhanded way and to kill him.
- Matthew 27:18Pilate knew that they had handed Jesus over to him because they were jealous.
- Luke 20:20So they watched for an opportunity to send out some spies. The spies were to act like sincere religious people. They wanted to catch him saying the wrong thing so that they could hand him over to the governor.
- Luke 22:2The chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings were looking for some way to kill Jesus. However, they were afraid of the people.
- 1 Samuel 18:14He was successful in everything he undertook because the Lord was with him.
- 1 Samuel 19:4So Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. “You should not commit a sin against your servant David,” he said. “He hasn’t sinned against you. Instead, he has done some very fine things for you:
- 1 Samuel 22:14Ahimelech asked the king, “But whom among all your officials can you trust like David? Your Majesty, he’s your son-in-law, the commander of your bodyguard. He’s honored in your own household.
- Luke 23:14He told them, “You brought me this man as someone who turns the people against the government. I’ve questioned him in front of you and haven’t found this man guilty of the crimes of which you accuse him.
Commentaries on Daniel 6:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Sought to find occasion against Daniel - But they found no blemish in his administration, for he was faithful to his king: this was a virtue. But he was also faithful to his God: this they hoped to construe into a crime, and make it the cause of his ruin.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel - The word rendered “occasion” (עלה ‛illâh ) means a pretext or pretence. “The Arabs use the word of any business or affair which serves as a cause or pretext for neglecting another business.” - Gesenius, Lexicon The meaning is, that they sought to find some plausible pretext or reason in respect to Daniel, by which the contemplated appointment might be prevented, and by which he…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-5Daniel's integrity was beyond question, and his abilities were unmatched. The envious administrators targeted his strongest point, his faithful worship of God. Daniel was about 80 to 85 years old at this time. He had lived an exemplary life in Babylon.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. occasion ... concerning the kingdom--pretext for accusation in his administration (Ec 4:4).Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 6:4
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
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