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

1Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. 2The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. 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. 4Then 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. 5So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”

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 any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.
• Daniel 5:12This man Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, has exceptional ability and is filled with divine knowledge and understanding. He can interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.”
• Daniel 9:23The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.
• Genesis 41:38So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?”
• Nehemiah 7:2I gave the responsibility of governing Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, for he was a faithful man who feared God more than most.
• Proverbs 3:3Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.
• Proverbs 17:27A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.
• Ecclesiastes 2:13I thought, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than 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