Daniel 6:26
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. | I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom, men are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will never end. | I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even unto the end. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedAfter God shut the lions' mouths and saved Daniel, King Darius wrote to every people in his kingdom. He ordered them to tremble and fear before Daniel's God, because that God lives, endures for ever, and rules a kingdom that will never be destroyed. Daniel 6:22Daniel 6:25Daniel 6:26Daniel 6:27
SpeakingKing Darius, who had been tricked into signing the law that sent Daniel to the lions. Daniel 6:9Daniel 6:14Daniel 6:25
ToAll people, nations, and languages in every part of Darius's kingdom. Daniel 6:25Daniel 6:26
Also involvedThe God of Daniel is the one being honored. Daniel was the faithful servant whose rescue prompted the decree. Daniel 6:20Daniel 6:23Daniel 6:26
A royal decree that reverses the earlier one. The first decree banned prayer to any god or man except the king. This one commands everyone to fear Daniel's God, and it gives the reason: he is living, steadfast, and his kingdom and dominion last to the end. Daniel 6:7Daniel 6:12Daniel 6:26
The court of the empire that ruled from Babylon, where Daniel served Babylonian and then Persian kings. The decree went out to every dominion of the kingdom. Daniel overviewDaniel 6:26
The eventsIn the reign of Darius, after Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians. Daniel went on to prosper under Darius and under Cyrus the Persian. Daniel overviewDaniel 6:28
WrittenTraditional: written by Daniel in the 500s BC. Scholarly: many critical scholars date the book's final form to about 167-164 BC, while others hold to the 500s BC date. Daniel overview
HereDarius saw God deliver Daniel from the lions and publicly confessed that this God rules for ever. A pagan king now names the living God as greater than his own lasting law. Daniel 6:8Daniel 6:20Daniel 6:26Daniel 6:27
In the whole of ScriptureThe verse repeats the book's central message that God's kingdom outlasts every earthly empire. The same words, "his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed," describe the kingdom given in Daniel's vision. Nebuchadnezzar made similar confessions earlier in the book. Daniel overviewDaniel 2:44Daniel 7:14Daniel 4:34Daniel 4:3Daniel 3:29
For readersGod's people living under foreign rulers are shown that faithful prayer, kept up even when it is forbidden, rests on a God whose rule cannot be overturned. Psalm 2:11 likewise calls for serving the LORD with fear and trembling. Daniel 6:10Daniel overviewPsalms 2:11
- livingחַי
The word means alive or living. Darius had already called Daniel the "servant of the living God" at the den. A God who is alive can act and deliver, as verse 27 says. Strong's H2417Daniel 6:20Daniel 6:27
- stedfastקַיָּם
The word means secure and enduring. It answers the court's boast that the law of the Medes and Persians "altereth not": God is the one who truly endures for ever. Strong's H7011Daniel 6:8Daniel 6:15
- destroyedחֲבַל
The word means to hurt or destroy. The same promise that God's kingdom shall not be destroyed appears in Daniel 2:44 and 7:14. Strong's H2255Daniel 2:44Daniel 7:14
- trembleזוּעַ
The word means to tremble. Paired with "fear" (H1763), it calls for deep awe before God, much as Psalm 2:11 says "rejoice with trembling." Strong's H2112Strong's H1763Psalms 2:11
Takeaway
Kings and their laws change, but Daniel's God is living and steadfast, and his kingdom will never be destroyed. Even a foreign king who once outlawed prayer had to confess it. Daniel 6:26Daniel 6:7Daniel 2:44Psalms 29:10
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
About 605-536 BC. King of Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC). Where Daniel lived and served for about seventy years. The capital of the Babylonian empire, on the Euphrates south of modern Baghdad, in the land the Bible calls Shinar and Chaldea.
Who ruled
- King of BabylonNebuchadnezzar605-562 BC
The king who besieged Jerusalem, carried Daniel and the temple vessels to Babylon, and later destroyed the city and temple. His own building inscriptions boast of the Babylon he built. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 24:12 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 25:1Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- Last king of Babylon, and his son who ruled in his placeNabonidus and Belshazzar556-539 BC
Nabonidus spent about ten years at the oasis of Tema in Arabia and left his son Belshazzar to rule in Babylon. That is why Belshazzar could only offer Daniel the place of "third ruler in the kingdom": he was himself second. Daniel 5:1Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:29Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Verse Account of Nabonidus
- Received the kingdom after Babylon fellDarius the MedianFrom 539 BC
Daniel says he "took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old" and set 120 princes over it. Records outside the Bible do not name him; he has been identified with Gubaru, the governor Cyrus set over Babylon, or with Cyrus himself. Daniel 5:31Daniel 6:1Daniel 9:1Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)
- King of PersiaCyrus559-530 BC
He united the Medes and Persians, took Babylon in 539 BC, and let the exiles go home to rebuild the temple, as Isaiah had named him beforehand. Daniel 1:21Daniel 6:28Daniel 10:1Ezra 1:1-4Isaiah 44:28-45:1Cyrus Cylinder
- King of JudahJehoiakim609-598 BC
Judah's king when Daniel was taken. Jeremiah warned him and his people that the land would serve Babylon seventy years. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 23:36-24:6Jeremiah 25:1-11
What was happening, 612 BC to 167 BC
- 612 BCWarNineveh falls
Babylon and the Medes destroyed Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as Nahum and Zephaniah had foretold. Babylon became the great power of the region. Nahum 3:7Zephaniah 2:13Fall of Nineveh Chronicle (ABC 3)
- 605 BCWarBattle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Carchemish on the Euphrates, in Jehoiakim's fourth year. The same year he came against Jerusalem and took the first captives, Daniel among them. Jeremiah 46:2Daniel 1:1-4Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 597 BCWarJerusalem surrenders
Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiachin, his nobles and craftsmen to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel went into exile with them. 2 Kings 24:10-17Ezekiel 1:2Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 586 BCWarJerusalem and the temple destroyed
Babylon's army burned the temple and the city and broke down its walls. Daniel later prays over "the desolations of Jerusalem" and asks God to shine on his "sanctuary that is desolate." 2 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 52:12-14Daniel 9:2Daniel 9:17
- c. 575 BCBuildingBabylon rebuilt in splendor
Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon with great walls, palaces and the blue-glazed Ishtar Gate, and his inscriptions praise his own work. Compare his boast: "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?" Daniel 4:30Nebuchadnezzar's East India House InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 1.178-183
- 562 BCRulersNebuchadnezzar dies
His son Evil-merodach became king and released Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 2 Kings 25:27-30Jeremiah 52:31-34
- c. 553-543 BCRulersNabonidus leaves Babylon to Belshazzar
King Nabonidus stayed at Tema in Arabia for about ten years, and the yearly New Year festival in Babylon was not held. Belshazzar governed in Babylon. Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Daniel 5:1Daniel 7:1
- 550 BCWarCyrus unites the Medes and Persians
Cyrus of Persia defeated Astyages king of the Medes, joining the two peoples in one kingdom. Daniel's vision names the ram's two horns as "the kings of Media and Persia," the higher coming up last. Daniel 8:3Daniel 8:20Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.127-130
- October 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus's army entered Babylon without a long siege. Herodotus says the people were feasting when the city was taken. Daniel records that "in that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain." Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.191Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleCyrus lets the exiles return
In his first year over Babylon, Cyrus proclaimed that the Jews could go back and build the LORD's house in Jerusalem. Daniel "continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus." Ezra 1:1-42 Chronicles 36:22-23Daniel 1:21Cyrus Cylinder
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe temple's foundation is laid
The returned exiles rebuilt the altar and laid the foundation of the temple. In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel was still in the east, mourning and praying. Ezra 3:1-11Daniel 10:1-3
- 334-331 BCWarAlexander the Great conquers Persia
Alexander of Macedon crossed into Asia and overthrew the Persian empire within four years. Daniel 8:21 names the rough goat as "the king of Grecia" and its great horn as "the first king." Daniel 8:5-8Daniel 8:21Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 1-3
- 323-301 BCWarAlexander's empire is divided
Alexander died young, and after twenty years of war his generals divided his empire, chiefly into four kingdoms. Daniel 8:22 says "four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." Daniel 8:8Daniel 8:22Daniel 11:4Diodorus Siculus, Library 18-20Plutarch, Demetrius 28-30
- 167 BCWarAntiochus IV defiles the temple
The Greek king Antiochus IV banned Jewish worship and set up a pagan altar on the altar of burnt offering. 1 Maccabees calls it "the abomination of desolation." Two centuries later Jesus spoke of "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" as still to come. 1 Maccabees 1:54-59Josephus, Antiquities 12.5.4Matthew 24:15
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records of these years (the Babylonian Chronicles, the Cyrus Cylinder, Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Diodorus, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Original Aramaic words
This passage was written in Aramaic, the common language of the Babylonian and Persian empires, which the Jews of the exile also spoke. It uses the same alphabet as Hebrew.
| English | Aramaic | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| from | מִן־ | min- | H4481 | fromמִן־ (min) 1) from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than 1a) from, out of (of place) 1b) from, by, as a result of, by reason of, at, according to, (of source) 1c) from (of time) 1d) beyond, more than (in comparisons) |
| before me | קֳדָמַי֮ | ko-da-MAI | H6925 | beforeקֳדָם (qo.dam) 1) before, in front of 1a) before 1b) from before |
| it is made | שִׂ֣ים | sim | H7761G | to set: makeשׂוּם (sum) 1) to set, make, appoint 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to make, make decree, setout (decree) 1a2) to make, appoint 1a3) to set, fix 1b) (Ithp'al) to be made, be set, be laid |
| a decree | טְעֵם֒ | te-'EM | H2942 | commandטְעֵם (te.em) 1) report, taste 1a) taste 1b) report |
| that | דִּ֣י׀ | di | H1768 | thatדִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because |
| in all | בְּכָל־ | be-khol | H3606 | allכֹּל (kol) 1) all, whole, the whole 1a) the whole of, all 1b) every, any, none |
| [the] dominion of | שָׁלְטָ֣ן | shal-TAN | H7985 | dominionשׇׁלְטָן (shol.tan) 1) dominion, sovereignty 1a) dominion, sovereignty 1b) realm |
| kingdom my | מַלְכוּתִ֗י | mal-khu-TI | H4437 | kingdomמַלְכוּ (mal.khu) 1) royalty, reign, kingdom 1a) royalty, kingship, kingly authority 1b) kingdom 1c) realm (of territory) 1d) reign (of time) |
| they will be | לֶהֱוֹ֤ן | le-he-VON | H1934 | to beהֲוָא (ha.va) 1) to come to pass, become, be 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to come to pass 1a2) to come into being, arise, become, come to be 1a2a) to let become known (with participle of knowing) 1a3) to be |
| trembling | זָיְעִין֙ | za-'a-'in | H2112 | to trembleזוּעַ (zu.a) (Pe) to tremble Aramaic of zu.a (זוּעַ "to tremble" H2111) |
| and fearing | וְדָ֣חֲלִ֔ין | ve-DA-cha-LIN | H1763 | to fearדְּחַל (de.chal) 1) to fear 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to fear 1a2) terrible (pass participle) 1b) (Pael) to cause to be afraid, make afraid |
| from | מִן־ | min- | H4481 | fromמִן־ (min) 1) from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than 1a) from, out of (of place) 1b) from, by, as a result of, by reason of, at, according to, (of source) 1c) from (of time) 1d) beyond, more than (in comparisons) |
| before | קֳדָ֖ם | ko-DAM | H6925 | beforeקֳדָם (qo.dam) 1) before, in front of 1a) before 1b) from before |
| God his | אֱלָהֵ֣הּ | 'e-la-HEH | H0426 | godאֱלָהּ (e.lah) 1) god, God 1a) god, heathen deity 1b) God (of Israel) |
| of | דִּי־ | di- | H1768 | thatדִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because |
| Daniel | דָֽנִיֵּ֑אל | da-ni-YEL | H1841H | Danielדָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל (da.niy.yel) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.8.2 § Daniel = "God is my judge" 1) the 4th of the greater prophets, taken as hostage in the first deportation to Babylon, because of the gift of God of the interpretation of dreams, he became the 2nd in command of the Babylon empire and lasted through the end of the Babylonian empire and into the Persian empire. His prophecies are the key to the understanding of end time events. Noted for his purity and holiness by contemporary prophet, Ezekiel 1a) also, 'Belteshazzar' (H01095 or H01096) |
| that | דִּי־ | di- | H1768 | thatדִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because |
| he | ה֣וּא׀ | hu' | H1932 | he/she/itהוּא (hu) 1) he, she, it 1a) (emphasising and resuming subject) 1b)(anticipating subj) 1c) as demons pron 1d) (relative) 1e) (affirming existence) |
| [is] God the | אֱלָהָ֣א | 'e-la-HA' | H0426 | godאֱלָהּ (e.lah) 1) god, God 1a) god, heathen deity 1b) God (of Israel) |
| the living | חַיָּ֗א | chai-YA' | H2417 | livingחַי (chay) alive, living, life Aramaic of chay (חַי "alive" H2416A) |
| and enduring | וְקַיָּם֙ | ve-kai-YAM | H7011 | enduringקַיָּם (qay.yam) secure, enduring |
| for ever | לְעָ֣לְמִ֔ין | le-'A-le-MIN | H5957 | perpetuityעָלַם (a.lam) perpetuity, antiquity, for ever Aramaic of o.lam (עוֹלָם ": old" H5769J) |
| and kingdom his | וּמַלְכוּתֵהּ֙ | u-mal-khu-TEH | H4437 | kingdomמַלְכוּ (mal.khu) 1) royalty, reign, kingdom 1a) royalty, kingship, kingly authority 1b) kingdom 1c) realm (of territory) 1d) reign (of time) |
| which | דִּֽי־ | di- | H1768 | thatדִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because |
| not | לָ֣א | la' | H3809 | notלָא (la) no, not, nothing Aramaic of lo (לֹא "not" H3808) |
| it will be destroyed | תִתְחַבַּ֔ל | tit-cha-BAL | H2255 | to destroyחֲבַל (cha.val) 1) to hurt, destroy 1a) (Pael) to hurt, destroy 1b) (Ithpael) to be destroyed |
| and dominion his | וְשָׁלְטָנֵ֖הּ | ve-shal-ta-NEH | H7985 | dominionשׇׁלְטָן (shol.tan) 1) dominion, sovereignty 1a) dominion, sovereignty 1b) realm |
| [is] to | עַד־ | 'ad- | H5705 | tillעַד (ad) prep 1) even to, until, up to, during conj 2) until, up to the time that, ere that |
| end the | סוֹפָֽא׃ | so-FA' | H5491 | endסוֹף (soph) end, conclusion Aramaic of soph (סוֹף "end" H5490) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.