New King James Version
Daniel 6:3
3Then 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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.
Context of Daniel 6:3
1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 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. 4So 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. 5Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
Read all of Daniel 6Daniel 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 man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
- Daniel 5:12Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”
- Daniel 9:23At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:
- Genesis 41:38And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
- Nehemiah 7:2that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.
- Proverbs 3:3Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
- Proverbs 17:27He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
- Ecclesiastes 2:13Then I saw that wisdom excels folly As light excels 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
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 King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries