New International Version
Daniel 6:12
12So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
Daniel 6:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, "O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?” “Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”
Context of Daniel 6:12
10Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 13Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
Read all of Daniel 6Daniel 6:12 word by word
בֵּ֠אדַיִן קְרִ֨יבוּ וְאָמְרִ֥ין קֳדָם־מַלְכָּא֮ עַל־אֱסָ֣ר מַלְכָּא֒ הֲלָ֧א אֱסָ֣ר רְשַׁ֗מְתָּ דִּ֣י כָל־אֱנָ֡שׁ דִּֽי־יִבְעֵה֩ מִן־כָּל־אֱלָ֨הּ וֶֽאֱנָ֜שׁ עַד־יוֹמִ֣ין תְּלָתִ֗ין לָהֵן֙ מִנָּ֣ךְ מַלְכָּ֔א יִתְרְמֵ֕א לְג֖וֹב אַרְיָותָ֑א עָנֵ֨ה מַלְכָּ֜א וְאָמַ֗ר יַצִּיבָ֧א מִלְּתָ֛א כְּדָת־מָדַ֥י וּפָרַ֖ס דִּי־לָ֥א תֶעְדֵּֽא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenאֱדַ֫יִן'ĕdayin · thenH116
- they came nearקְרֵבqerêb · to approachH7127
- and spakeאֲמַר'ămar · to sayH560
- beforeקֳדָםqŏdâm qedâm · beforeH6925
- the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
- concerningעַל‛al · uponH5922
- decreeאֱסָר'ĕsâr · injunctionH633
- Hast thou notלָאlâ' lâh · notH3809
- signedרְשַׁםresham · to signH7560
- that everyכֹּלkôl · allH3606
- manאֱנָשׁ'ĕnâsh 'ĕnash · manH606
- that shall askבְּעָאbe‛â' be‛âh · to askH1156
- ofמִן־min · fromH4481
- Godאֱלָהּ'ĕlâhh · godH426
- withinעַד‛ad · tillH5705
- thirtyתְּלָתִיןtelâthîyn · thirtyH8533
- daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3118
- saveלָהֵןlâhên · exceptH3861
- shall be castרְמָאremâh · to castH7412
- into the denגֹּבgôb · denH1358
- of lionsאַרְיֵה'aryêh · lionH744
- answeredעֲנָה‛ănâh · to answerH6032
- The thingמִלָּהmillâh · wordH4406
- trueיַצִּיבyatstsîyb · certainH3330
- according to the lawדָּתdâth · lawH1882
- of the Medesמָדַיmâday · MedeH4076
- and Persiansפָּרַסpâras · PersiaH6540
- which alterethעֲדָה‛ădâ' ‛ădâh · to pass on/over/awayH5709
Cross-references for Daniel 6:12
- Daniel 3:8At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews.
- Acts 16:19When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.
- Acts 24:2When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation.
- Daniel 6:8Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
- Esther 1:19“Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she.
Commentaries on Daniel 6:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Shall be cast into the den of lions - Either this was the royal menagerie, like that place in the Tower of London, where wild beasts are kept for the king's pleasure, and the public amusement; or they were kept for the purpose of devouring certain criminals, which the laws might consign to that kind of death. This is most likely, from the case before us.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Then they came near - That is, they came near to the king. They had detected Daniel, as they expected and desired to do, in a palpable violation of the law, and they lost no time in apprising the king of it, and in reminding him of the law which he had established. Informers are not apt to lose time. The king answered and said, The thing is true - It is undeniable, whatever may be the consequences. There is no reason to suppose that he as yet had any…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-17Verses 11-17 It is no new thing for what is done faithfully, in conscience toward God, to be misrepresented as done obstinately, and in contempt of the civil powers. Through want of due thought, we often do that which afterwards, like Darius, we see cause a thousand times to wish undone again. Daniel, that venerable man, is brought as the vilest of malefactors, and is thrown into the den of lions, to be devoured, only for worshipping his God. No doubt the…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. 1212. They preface their attack by alleging the king's edict, so as to get him again to confirm it unalterably, before they mention Daniel's name. Not to break a wicked promise, is not firmness, but guilty obstinacy (Mt 14:9; Mr 6:26).Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 6:12
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 International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries