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 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. Now 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. 4Consequently the supervisors and satraps were trying to find some pretext against Daniel in connection with administrative matters. But they were unable to find any such damaging evidence, because he was trustworthy and guilty of no negligence or corruption. 5So these men concluded, “We won’t find any pretext against this man Daniel unless it is 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 person skilled in his work? He will take his position before kings; he will not take his position before obscure people.
• Daniel 5:12Thus there was found in this man Daniel, whom the king renamed Belteshazzar, an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, and skill to interpret dreams, solve riddles, and decipher knotty problems. Now summon Daniel, and he will disclose the interpretation.”
• Daniel 9:23At the beginning of your requests a message went out, and I have come to convey it to you, for you are of great value in God’s sight. Therefore consider the message and understand the vision:
• Genesis 41:38So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find a man like Joseph, one in whom the Spirit of God is present?”
• Nehemiah 7:2I then put in charge over Jerusalem my brother Hanani and Hananiah the chief of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many do.
• Proverbs 3:3Do not let truth and mercy leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
• Proverbs 17:27The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning.
• Ecclesiastes 2:13I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to 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