Daniel 6:7
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. | All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions. | All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThe officials who could find no fault in Daniel set a trap through his faith in his God. They ask King Darius to sign a law that for thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except the king will be thrown to the lions. The plan targets Daniel's habit of prayer, which he keeps anyway. Daniel 6:4Daniel 6:5Daniel 6:7Daniel 6:10
SpeakingThe presidents and princes who plotted against Daniel speak to King Darius. Daniel 6:4Daniel 6:6
ToKing Darius, whom they greet with 'live for ever' before making their request. Daniel 6:6
Also involvedDaniel is the real target. He was himself one of the three presidents, so the claim that 'all the presidents' agreed left him out. Daniel 6:2Daniel 6:5Daniel 6:7Daniel 6:13
The officials propose a royal statute and a firm ban. For thirty days no one may make a petition to any god or man except the king, on pain of being cast into the lions' den. They then urge the king to sign it so it cannot be changed under the law of the Medes and Persians. Daniel 6:7Daniel 6:8Daniel 6:9
The scene is the royal court of Darius, in the kingdom that had taken over Babylon, where Daniel served. Daniel 6:6Daniel overview
The eventsThis happens in the reign of Darius, after Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians, while Daniel served high in the government. Daniel overviewDaniel 6:1Daniel 6:28
WrittenTraditional view: Daniel wrote the book in the 500s BC. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date its final form to about 167-164 BC, while others keep the 500s BC date. Daniel overview
HereThe officials could find no fault in Daniel's work, so they made his faithfulness to God into a crime. The law was a tool to destroy him, not a real concern for the king. Daniel 6:4Daniel 6:5Daniel 6:13
In the whole of ScriptureThis echoes chapter 3, where a king's decree ordered death in the fiery furnace for anyone who would not worship his image, and the gathered officials saw God's servants come out unharmed. Here too a decree threatens death, God delivers his servant, and Darius ends by decreeing that all should fear the God of Daniel. Daniel 3:6Daniel 3:27Daniel 6:22Daniel 6:26Daniel overview
For readersScripture shows the godly are often plotted against without cause, as the Psalms describe enemies who consult together against God's people. Daniel's answer was to keep praying as before, and God delivered him. Psalms 59:3Psalms 83:3Psalms 62:4Daniel 6:10Daniel 6:22
- petitionבָּעוּ
The word means a petition or request, and also prayer. So the ban struck directly at prayer, which is why Daniel's daily praying broke it. Strong's H1159Daniel 6:10Daniel 6:11Daniel 6:13
- decree (prohibition)אֱסָר
This is an interdict or decree of restriction: a ban forbidding something. It was a prohibition aimed at what Daniel did every day. Strong's H0633Daniel 6:10
- consulted togetherיְעַט
The word means to take counsel together. It shows a planned scheme by a group, like those in the Psalms who consult against God's people. Strong's H3272APsalms 83:3Psalms 62:4
- make a firmתְּקֵף
In this form it means to make strong, firm, or stringent. The officials wanted a law that could not be undone, which trapped even the king. Strong's H8631Daniel 6:8Daniel 6:14Daniel 6:15
Takeaway
Daniel's enemies could only attack him through his faith, so they made prayer illegal. He kept praying to his God, and God shut the lions' mouths. Daniel 6:5Daniel 6:7Daniel 6:10Daniel 6:22
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
Behind this verse
- Lions kept by kings
- The kings of Mesopotamia kept lions and hunted them as a show of royal power, as the Assyrian palace reliefs of Ashurbanipal's lion hunt show. Daniel 6:7Daniel 6:16Assyrian palace reliefs, Ashurbanipal's lion hunt
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| they took counsel together | אִתְיָעַ֜טוּ | 'it-ya-'A-tu | H3272A | to counselיְעַט (ye.at) (Ithpael) to advise, counsel, take counsel Aramaic of ya.ats (יָעַץ "to advise" H3289) |
| all | כֹּ֣ל׀ | kol | H3606 | allכֹּל (kol) 1) all, whole, the whole 1a) the whole of, all 1b) every, any, none |
| [the] overseers of | סָרְכֵ֣י | sa-re-KHEI | H5632 | chiefסָרֵךְ (sa.rekh) chief, overseer |
| kingdom the | מַלְכוּתָ֗א | 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) |
| prefects the | סִגְנַיָּ֤א | sig-nai-YA' | H5460 | prefectסְגַן (se.gan) prefect, governor Aramaic of sa.gan (סָגָן "ruler" H5461) |
| and satraps the | וַֽאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא֙ | 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) |
| counselors the | הַדָּֽבְרַיָּ֣א | ha-da-ve-rai-YA' | H1907 | counselorהַדָּבָר (had.da.var) counsellor, minister |
| and governors the | וּפַחֲוָתָ֔א | u-fa-cha-va-TA' | H6347 | governorפֶּחָה (pe.chah) governor Aramaic of pe.chah (פֶּחָה "governor" H6346) |
| to establish | לְקַיָּמָ֤ה | le-kai-ya-MAH | H6966I | to stand: riseקוּם (qum) : rise/get_going 1) to arise, stand 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to arise from 1a2) to come on the scene (fig) 1a3) to arise (out of inaction) 1a4) to stand 1a5) to endure 1b) (Pael) to set up, establish 1c) (Aphel) 1c1) to set up 1c2) to lift up 1c3) to establish 1c4) to appoint 1d) (Hophal) to be made to stand |
| [the] statute of | קְיָם֙ | ke-YAM | H7010 | statuteקְיָם (qe.yam) decree, statute |
| king the | מַלְכָּ֔א | mal-KA' | H4430 | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) king Aramaic of me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4428) § 1) king |
| and to make stringent | וּלְתַקָּפָ֖ה | u-le-ta-ka-FAH | H8631 | to grow strongתְּקֵף (te.qeph) 1) to grow strong, be hardened 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to grow strong, be hardened 1a2) to grow arrogant (fig) 1b) (Pael) to make strong, make firm, make stringent |
| a prohibition | אֱסָ֑ר | 'e-SAR | H0633 | injunctionאֱסָר (e.sar) interdict, decree, decree of restriction Aramaic of e.sar (אִסָּר "injunction" H0632) |
| 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 |
| every | כָל־ | khol- | H3606 | allכֹּל (kol) 1) all, whole, the whole 1a) the whole of, all 1b) every, any, none |
| [one] who | 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 |
| he will ask | יִבְעֵ֣ה | yiv-'EH | 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) |
| a petition | בָ֠עוּ | VA-'u | H1159 | petitionבָּעוּ (ba.u) 1) petition, request 2) prayer (always in Jewish liturgy) |
| 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) |
| any | כָּל־ | kol- | H3606 | allכֹּל (kol) 1) all, whole, the whole 1a) the whole of, all 1b) every, any, none |
| god | אֱלָ֨הּ | 'e-LAH | H0426 | godאֱלָהּ (e.lah) 1) god, God 1a) god, heathen deity 1b) God (of Israel) |
| and person | וֶֽאֱנָ֜שׁ | ve-'e-NASH | H0606 | manאֱנָשׁ (e.nash) 1) man, human being 2) mankind (collective) Aramaic of e.nosh (אֱנוֹשׁ "human" H0582) |
| until | עַד־ | 'ad- | H5705 | tillעַד (ad) prep 1) even to, until, up to, during conj 2) until, up to the time that, ere that |
| days | יוֹמִ֣ין | yo-MIN | H3118 | dayיוֹם (yom) 1) day 2) day always refers to a twenty-four hour period when the word is modified by a definite or cardinal number |
| thirty | תְּלָתִ֗ין | te-la-TIN | H8533 | thirtyתְּלָתִין (te.la.tin) thirty Aramaic of she.lo.shim (שְׁלֹשִׁים "thirty" H7970) |
| except | לָהֵן֙ | la-HEN | H3861 | exceptלָהֵן (la.hen) 1) therefore 2) except, but 2a) except (with negative) 2b) however, but |
| from you | מִנָּ֣ךְ | mi-NAKH | 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) |
| king O | מַלְכָּ֔א | mal-KA' | H4430 | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) king Aramaic of me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4428) § 1) king |
| he will be thrown | יִתְרְמֵ֕א | yit-re-ME' | H7412 | to castרְמָא (re.mah) 1) to cast, throw 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to cast 1a2) to throw 1a2a) of tribute (fig) 1b) (Peil) 1b1) to be cast 1b2) to be placed, be set 1c) (Ithp'el) to be cast |
| to [the] den of | לְגֹ֖ב | le-GO | H1358 | denגֹּב (gov) pit, den (of lions) |
| lions the | אַרְיָוָתָֽא׃ | 'ar-ya-va-TA' | H0744 | lionאַרְיֵה (ar.yeh) lion Aramaic of ar.yeh (אַרְיֵה "lion" H0738B) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.