Daniel 6 · Verse 3

Daniel 6:3

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.
Daniel 6:3, King James Version

Daniel 6:3 in other translations

BSBSoon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps. So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
WEBThen this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the local governors, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
ASVThen this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
YLTThen this Daniel hath been overseer over the presidents and satraps, because that an excellent spirit is in him, and the king hath thought to establish him over the whole kingdom.
DARBYNow this Daniel surpassed the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to appoint him over the whole realm.
BBEThen this Daniel did his work better than the chief rulers and the captains, because there was a special spirit in him; and it was the king's purpose to put him over all the kingdom.
WebsterThen 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.

What does Daniel 6:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. 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 people.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 The 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Daniel 6:1-5

The malice of Daniel's enemies. (Dn 6:1-5) His constancy in prayer. (Dn 6:6-10) He is cast into the lion's den. (Dn 6:11-17) His miraculous preservation. (Dn 6:18-24) The decree of Darius. (Dn 6:25-28) Verses 1-5 We notice to the glory of God, that though Daniel was now very old, yet he was able for business, and had continued faithful to his religion. It is for the glory of God, when those who profess religion…

Read the full comment on Daniel 6:1-5 →

Daniel 6:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אֱדַ֙יִן֙'e.Da.yinthenH116
דָּנִיֵּ֣אלda.ni.YelDanielH1841
דְּנָ֔הde.NahthisH1836
הֲוָ֣אha.Va'he wasH1934
מִתְנַצַּ֔חmit.na.Tzachdistinguishing himselfH5330
עַל\־'al-overH5922
סָרְכַיָּ֖אsa.re.khai.Ya'overseers theH5632
וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֑אva.'a.chash.dar.pe.nai.Ya'and satraps theH324
כָּל\־kol-as to
קֳבֵ֗לko.VelbecauseH6903
דִּ֣יdithatH1768
ר֤וּחַRu.acha spiritH7308
יַתִּירָא֙ya.ti.Ra'extraordinaryH3493
בֵּ֔הּBeh[was] in him
וּמַלְכָּ֣אu.mal.Ka'and king theH4430
עֲשִׁ֔ית'a.Shit[was] planningH6246
לַהֲקָמוּתֵ֖הּla.ha.ka.mu.Tehto appoint himH6966
עַל\־'al-overH5922
כָּל\־kol-allH3606
מַלְכוּתָֽא\׃mal.khu.Ta'kingdom theH4437

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Daniel 6:3

  • Daniel 5:14

    I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.

  • Genesis 41:38-41

    And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

  • Proverbs 22:29

    Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

  • Daniel 5:12

    Forasmuch 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.

  • Esther 10:3

    For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

  • Daniel 9:23

    At 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.

  • Proverbs 17:27

    He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

  • Proverbs 3:3-4

    Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

  • Nehemiah 7:2

    That 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.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:13

    Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
was preferred.
Pr 22:29
an.
5:12,14; 9:23; Ge 41:38-41; Ne 7:2; Pr 3:3,4; 17:27; Ec 2:13
thought.Intended to make him grand vizier or {emiru'l umra.} Daniel had now been employed full sixty-five years as prime minister under the kings of Babylon; and was justly entitled, from his acknowledged wisdom, to this preference.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Daniel 6:2

    And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

  • Daniel 6:3

    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.

  • Daniel 6:4

    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.

Read all of Daniel 6

Daniel 6:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Pero el mismo Daniel era superior á estos gobernadores y presidentes, porque había en él más abundancia de espíritu: y el rey pensaba de ponerlo sobre todo el reino.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et au-dessus d’eux, trois présidents, dont Daniel était l’un, pour que ces satrapes leur rendent compte, et que le roi ne souffre aucun dommage.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und über diese drei Vorsteher, von welchen Daniel einer war: damit jene Satrapen ihnen Rechenschaft gäben und der König keinen Schaden erlitte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Igitur Daniel superabat omnes principes et satrapas, quia spiritus Dei amplior erat in illo.