Daniel 6:4
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 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. | Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. | Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedDarius planned to set Daniel over the whole realm, so the other presidents and princes looked for a charge to bring against him. They searched his handling of the kingdom's affairs and found nothing, because he was faithful. That failure led them to aim at his worship of God instead (6:5). Daniel 6:3Daniel 6:4Daniel 6:5
SpeakingThe narrator of the book. Chapters 1-6 tell of Daniel in the third person, while chapters 7-12 are in Daniel's own voice. Daniel overview
ToGod's people in exile and after it. The book shows them how to stay faithful to God under foreign rulers. Daniel overview
Also involvedDaniel, the man under scrutiny, and the jealous presidents and princes who searched for a fault in him. Daniel 6:2Daniel 6:3Daniel 6:4
Daniel's rivals tried to find grounds to accuse him in his work for the kingdom. They found no error, corruption or neglect, because he was trustworthy. So they decided they could only trap him through his loyalty to the law of his God. Daniel 6:4Daniel 6:5Strong's H0540Strong's H7844Strong's H7960
At the royal court of Darius, in the empire that had taken over Babylon, where Daniel served under Babylonian and then Persian kings. Daniel overviewDaniel 6:28
The eventsIn the reign of Darius, after Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians, while Darius was organizing the kingdom under 120 princes and three presidents. Daniel went on to prosper into the reign of Cyrus. Daniel overviewDaniel 6:1Daniel 6:2Daniel 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 keep the 500s BC date. Daniel overview
HereThe verse shows that Daniel's public record was spotless. That sets up the story: the only charge his enemies could bring was his faithfulness to God (6:5, 6:13). It also shows the trap was unjust, as Daniel later says he had done the king no hurt (6:22). Daniel 6:4Daniel 6:5Daniel 6:13Daniel 6:22
In the whole of ScriptureDaniel is a model of staying faithful to God while serving a foreign ruler, a key theme of the book. His blameless record matches how Jesus' enemies watched for words to use against him (Luke 20:20), and Pilate found no fault in him (Luke 23:14). Daniel overviewLuke 20:20Luke 23:14
For readersOther Scripture calls believers to the same honest conduct, so that accusers are put to shame and have no evil thing to say (1 Peter 2:12, 1 Peter 3:16, Titus 2:8). God's people are to be blameless in a crooked world (Philippians 2:15), even when the wicked watch them for harm (Psalms 37:32). 1 Peter 2:121 Peter 3:16Titus 2:8Philippians 2:15Psalms 37:32
- occasionעִלָּה
The word means a matter, affair or occasion, here a pretext. The rivals were not reporting a real wrong. They were hunting for a pretext to accuse him. Strong's H5931Daniel 6:4Daniel 6:5
- faithfulאֲמַן
This verb means to confirm, support, believe in or trust, and its passive form here means trustworthy. It is the Aramaic form of the Hebrew word meaning 'be faithful.' Daniel was someone who could be relied on. Strong's H0540Daniel 6:4
- faultשְׁחַת
The word comes from a verb meaning to corrupt, and here it is glossed 'corruption.' The search covered dishonesty in office, and none was found. Strong's H7844Daniel 6:4
- errorשָׁלוּ
The word means neglect or remissness. Daniel was not only free of corruption but also free of carelessness in his duties. Strong's H7960Daniel 6:4
Takeaway
Daniel's work was so honest and careful that his enemies could only attack his faith. Scripture calls believers to the same blameless conduct, so that accusers have nothing true to say. Daniel 6:4Daniel 6:51 Peter 2:12Titus 2:8
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| then | אֱדַ֨יִן | 'e-DA-yin | H0116 | thenאֱדַ֫יִן (e.da.yin) then, afterwards, thereupon, from that time Aramaic of az (אָז "then" H0227A) |
| overseers the | סָֽרְכַיָּ֜א | sa-re-khai-YA' | H5632 | chiefסָרֵךְ (sa.rekh) chief, overseer |
| and satraps the | וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֗א | va-'a-chash-dar-pe-nai-YA' | H0324 | satrapאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנִין (a.chash.dar.pan) satrap, a governor of a Persian province Aramaic of a.chash.dar.pan (אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפַּן "satrap" H0323) |
| they were | הֲו֨וֹ | ha-VO | 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 |
| seeking | בָעַ֧יִן | va-'A-yin | H1156 | to askבְּעָא (be.a) 1) to ask, seek, request, desire, pray, make petition 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to ask, request 1a2) to seek (for favour) |
| an occasion | עִלָּ֛ה | 'i-LAH | H5931 | pretextעִלָּה (il.lah) matter, affair, occasion Aramaic of a.lah (עָלָה ": rise" H5927) |
| to find | לְהַשְׁכָּחָ֥ה | le-hash-ka-CHAH | H7912 | to findשְׁכַח (she.khach) 1) to find 1a) (Aphel) to find 1b) (Ithp'al) to be found |
| to Daniel | לְדָנִיֵּ֖אל | le-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) |
| from [the] side of | מִצַּ֣ד | mi-TZAD | H6655 | sideצַד (tsad) 1) side 2) (CLBL) beside |
| kingdom the | מַלְכוּתָ֑א | mal-khu-TA' | H4437 | kingdomמַלְכוּ (mal.khu) 1) royalty, reign, kingdom 1a) royalty, kingship, kingly authority 1b) kingdom 1c) realm (of territory) 1d) reign (of time) |
| and any | וְכָל־ | ve-khol | H3606 | allכֹּל (kol) 1) all, whole, the whole 1a) the whole of, all 1b) every, any, none |
| occasion | עִלָּ֨ה | 'i-LAH | H5931 | pretextעִלָּה (il.lah) matter, affair, occasion Aramaic of a.lah (עָלָה ": rise" H5927) |
| and corruption | וּשְׁחִיתָ֜ה | u-she-chi-TAH | H7844 | to corruptשְׁחַת (she.chat) 1) to corrupt 1a) (P'al) 1a1) corrupt (participle) 1a2) fault (subst) |
| not | לָא־ | la'- | H3809 | notלָא (la) no, not, nothing Aramaic of lo (לֹא "not" H3808) |
| [they were] able | יָכְלִ֣ין | ya-khe-LIN | H3202 | be ableיְכִל (ye.khel) 1) to be able 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to be able 1a2) to prevail |
| to find | לְהַשְׁכָּחָ֗ה | le-hash-ka-CHAH | H7912 | to findשְׁכַח (she.khach) 1) to find 1a) (Aphel) to find 1b) (Ithp'al) to be found |
| because | קֳבֵל֙ | ko-VEL | H6903H | beforeקֳבֵל (qe.vel) subst 1) front prep 2) in front of, before, because of, in view of, by reason of, because of this, therefore conj 3) because that, inasmuch as, although, according as, before adv 4) accordingly, then |
| that | 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 |
| [was] trustworthy | מְהֵימַ֣ן | me-hei-MAN | H0540 | to trustאֲמַן (a.man) 1) to confirm, support 1a) (Aphel) 1a1) to believe in 1a2) to trust 1a3) trustworthy (pass participle) Aramaic of a.man (אָמַן "be faithful" H0539) |
| he | ה֔וּא | 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) |
| and any | וְכָל־ | ve-khol | H3606 | allכֹּל (kol) 1) all, whole, the whole 1a) the whole of, all 1b) every, any, none |
| negligence | שָׁלוּ֙ | sha-LU | H7960 | neglectשָׁלוּ (sha.lu) neglect, remissness |
| and corruption | וּשְׁחִיתָ֔ה | u-she-chi-TAH | H7844 | to corruptשְׁחַת (she.chat) 1) to corrupt 1a) (P'al) 1a1) corrupt (participle) 1a2) fault (subst) |
| not | לָ֥א | la' | H3809 | notלָא (la) no, not, nothing Aramaic of lo (לֹא "not" H3808) |
| it was found | הִשְׁתְּכַ֖חַת | hish-te-KHA-chat | H7912 | to findשְׁכַח (she.khach) 1) to find 1a) (Aphel) to find 1b) (Ithp'al) to be found |
| concerning him | עֲלֽוֹהִי׃ | a-LO-hi | H5922 | sinceעַל (al) 1) upon, over, on account of, above, to, against 1a) upon, over, on account of, regarding, concerning, on behalf of 1b) over (with verbs of ruling) 1c) above, beyond (in comparison) 1d) to, against (of direction) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.