King James Version

What Does Daniel 6:7 Mean?

Daniel 6:7 in the King James Version says “All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted tog...” — study this verse from Daniel chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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. decree: or, interdict”

Daniel 6:7 · KJV

Salvation

Context

5

Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

6

Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. assembled: or, came tumultuously

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. decree: or, interdict

8

Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. altereth not: Cald. passeth not

9

Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

Read Daniel 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The conspirators manipulate the king through flattery and deception: 'All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute.' The claim 'all' is false—Daniel, the chief president, wasn't consulted. The proposal that no one petition any god or man except the king for thirty days exploits royal vanity while appearing to secure loyalty. The Medo-Persian law's irrevocability (v. 8, 12, 15) means once signed, even the king cannot change it. The trap is set—they've created legal requirement Daniel cannot obey without violating God's law.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Persian legal tradition emphasized law's permanence and binding nature on even kings (cf. Esther 1:19; 8:8). This differed from Babylonian practice where kings had more arbitrary power. The irrevocability of Medo-Persian law becomes crucial to the plot—once the king signs, he cannot save Daniel. The thirty-day prohibition likely appealed to Darius's desire to consolidate loyalty after conquest. Ancient Near Eastern rulers sometimes claimed divine status or exclusive mediation with deities. The prohibition's limited duration made it seem temporary and reasonable while trapping Daniel.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the conspirators' manipulation through flattery and false claims warn us about deceptive tactics that exploit pride and vanity?
  2. What does the irrevocable law teach about how legal structures can become rigid systems trapping even those with good intentions?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 31 words
אִתְיָעַ֜טוּ1 of 31

“have consulted together”

H3272

to counsel; reflexively, to consult

כָּל2 of 31

“All”

H3606

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

סָרְכֵ֣י3 of 31

“the presidents”

H5632

an emir

מַלְכוּתָ֗א4 of 31

“of the kingdom”

H4437

dominion (abstractly or concretely)

סִגְנַיָּ֤א5 of 31

“the governors”

H5460

a prefect of a province

וַֽאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא֙6 of 31

“and the princes”

H324

a satrap or governor of a main province (of persia)

הַדָּֽבְרַיָּ֣א7 of 31

“the counsellors”

H1907

a vizier

וּפַחֲוָתָ֔א8 of 31

“and the captains”

H6347

a prefect (of a city or small district)

לְקַיָּמָ֤ה9 of 31

“to establish”

H6966

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

קְיָם֙10 of 31

“statute”

H7010

an edict (as arising in law)

מַלְכָּ֔א11 of 31

“a royal”

H4430

a king

וּלְתַקָּפָ֖ה12 of 31

“and to make a firm”

H8631

to become (causatively, make) mighty or (figuratively) obstinate

אֱסָ֑ר13 of 31

“decree”

H633

an interdict

דִּ֣י14 of 31
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

כָּל15 of 31

“All”

H3606

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

דִּֽי16 of 31
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

יִבְעֵ֣א17 of 31

“that whosoever shall ask”

H1156

to seek or ask

בָ֠עוּ18 of 31

“a petition”

H1159

a request

מִנָּ֣ךְ19 of 31

“of”

H4481

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of

כָּל20 of 31

“All”

H3606

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אֱלָ֨הּ21 of 31

“God”

H426

god

וֶֽאֱנָ֜שׁ22 of 31

“or man”

H606

a man

עַד23 of 31

“for”

H5705

until

יוֹמִ֣ין24 of 31

“days”

H3118

a day

תְּלָתִ֗ין25 of 31

“thirty”

H8533

ten times three

לָהֵן֙26 of 31

“save”

H3861

therefore; also except

מִנָּ֣ךְ27 of 31

“of”

H4481

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of

מַלְכָּ֔א28 of 31

“a royal”

H4430

a king

יִתְרְמֵ֕א29 of 31

“he shall be cast”

H7412

to throw, set, (figuratively) assess

לְגֹ֖ב30 of 31

“into the den”

H1358

a pit (for wild animals) (as cut out)

אַרְיָוָתָֽא׃31 of 31

“of lions”

H744

a lion

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Daniel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Daniel 6:7 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Daniel 6:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 59:3Daniel 3:27Psalms 83:1-3Psalms 62:4Daniel 3:2Daniel 3:6

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