Revised Literal Translation
Daniel 6:3
3Then 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.
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
1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 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. 4Then 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. 5Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except 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
- 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 22:29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
- Daniel 5:12Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
- Daniel 9:23At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
- Genesis 41:38And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
- Nehemiah 7:2That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.
- Proverbs 3:3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
- Proverbs 17:27He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
- Ecclesiastes 2:13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth 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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries