New King James Version
Daniel 6:4
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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.
Context of Daniel 6:4
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. 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. 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. 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.” 6So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “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 3:8Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews.
- Genesis 43:18Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.”
- Judges 14:4But his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord—that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
- Psalms 37:12The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth.
- Proverbs 29:27An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.
- Ecclesiastes 4:4Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
- Jeremiah 18:18Then they said, “Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come and let us attack him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.”
- Jeremiah 20:10For I heard many mocking: “Fear on every side!” “Report,” they say, “and we will report it!” All my acquaintances watched for my stumbling, saying, “Perhaps he can be induced; Then we will prevail against him, And we will take our revenge on him.”
- Matthew 26:4and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him.
- Matthew 27:18For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
- Luke 20:20So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.
- Luke 22:2And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.
- 1 Samuel 18:14And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.
- 1 Samuel 19:4Thus Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you.
- 1 Samuel 22:14So Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, who goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your house?
- Luke 23:14said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries