New Living Translation
Daniel 6:4
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.
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 King James Version (NKJV)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.
Context of Daniel 6:4
2The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. 3Daniel 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. 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. 5So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.” 6So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius!
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 3:8But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews.
- Genesis 43:18The brothers were terrified when they saw that they were being taken into Joseph’s house. “It’s because of the money someone put in our sacks last time we were here,” they said. “He plans to pretend that we stole it. Then he will seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys.”
- Judges 14:4His father and mother didn’t realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time.
- Psalms 37:12The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance.
- Proverbs 29:27The righteous despise the unjust; the wicked despise the godly.
- Ecclesiastes 4:4Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
- Jeremiah 18:18Then the people said, “Come on, let’s plot a way to stop Jeremiah. We have plenty of priests and wise men and prophets. We don’t need him to teach the word and give us advice and prophecies. Let’s spread rumors about him and ignore what he says.”
- Jeremiah 20:10I have heard the many rumors about me. They call me “The Man Who Lives in Terror.” They threaten, “If you say anything, we will report it.” Even my old friends are watching me, waiting for a fatal slip. “He will trap himself,” they say, “and then we will get our revenge on him.”
- Matthew 26:4plotting how to capture Jesus secretly and kill him.
- Matthew 27:18(He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)
- Luke 20:20Watching for their opportunity, the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus.
- Luke 22:2The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction.
- 1 Samuel 18:14David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him.
- 1 Samuel 19:4The next morning Jonathan spoke with his father about David, saying many good things about him. “The king must not sin against his servant David,” Jonathan said. “He’s never done anything to harm you. He has always helped you in any way he could.
- 1 Samuel 22:14“But sir,” Ahimelech replied, “is anyone among all your servants as faithful as David, your son-in-law? Why, he is the captain of your bodyguard and a highly honored member of your household!
- Luke 23:14and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent.
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
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