New English Translation
Daniel 6:1
1It seemed like a good idea to Darius to appoint over the kingdom 120 satraps who would be in charge of the entire 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,
- English Standard Version (ESV)It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole 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;
Context of Daniel 6:1
It seemed like a good idea to Darius to appoint over the kingdom 120 satraps who would be in charge of the entire kingdom. 2Over them would be three supervisors, one of whom was Daniel. These satraps were accountable to them, so that the king’s interests might not incur damage. 3Now this Daniel was distinguishing himself above the other supervisors and the satraps, for he had an extraordinary spirit. In fact, the king intended to appoint him over the entire 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 5:31(6:1) So Darius the Mede took control of the kingdom when he was about sixty-two years old.
- 1 Peter 2:14or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good.
- Exodus 18:21But you choose from the people capable men, God-fearing, men of truth, those who hate bribes, and put them over the people as rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
- Esther 1:1The following events happened in the days of Ahasuerus. (I am referring to that Ahasuerus who used to rule over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces extending all the way from India to Ethiopia.)
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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries