Daniel 6 · Verse 4

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.
Daniel 6:4, King James Version

Daniel 6:4 in other translations

BSBThus 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.
WEBThen the presidents and the local governors sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion or fault, because he was faithful. There wasn’t any error or fault found in him.
ASVThen 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.
YLTThen the presidents and satraps have been seeking to find a cause of complaint against Daniel concerning the kingdom, and any cause of complaint and corruption they are not able to find, because that he is faithful, and any error and corruption have not been found in him.
DARBYThen the presidents and the satraps sought to find a pretext against Daniel with respect to the kingdom; but they could not find any pretext or fault; inasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
BBEThen the chief rulers and the captains were looking for some cause for putting Daniel in the wrong in connection with the kingdom, but they were unable to put forward any wrongdoing or error against him; because he was true, and no error or wrong was to be seen in him.
WebsterThen the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning 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.

What does Daniel 6:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. occasion ... concerning the kingdom--pretext for accusation in his administration (Ec 4:4).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 Sought to find occasion against Daniel - But they found no blemish in his administration, for he was faithful to his king: this was a virtue. But he was also faithful to his God: this they hoped to construe into a crime, and make it the cause of his ruin.

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 6:4 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.

אֱדַ֨יִן'e.Da.yinthenH116
סָֽרְכַיָּ֜אsa.re.khai.Ya'overseers theH5632
וַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֗אva.'a.chash.dar.pe.nai.Ya'and satraps theH324
הֲו֨וֹha.Vothey wereH1934
בָעַ֧יִןva.'A.yinseekingH1156
עִלָּ֛ה'i.Lahan occasionH5931
לְהַשְׁכָּחָ֥הle.hash.ka.Chahto findH7912
לְדָנִיֵּ֖אלle.da.ni.Yelto DanielH1841
מִצַּ֣דmi.Tzadfrom [the] side ofH6655
מַלְכוּתָ֑אmal.khu.Ta'kingdom theH4437
וְכָל\־ve.kholand anyH3606
עִלָּ֨ה'i.LahoccasionH5931
וּשְׁחִיתָ֜הu.she.chi.Tahand corruptionH7844
לָא\־la'-notH3809
יָכְלִ֣יןya.khe.Lin[they were] ableH3202
לְהַשְׁכָּחָ֗הle.hash.ka.Chahto findH7912
כָּל\־kol-as to
קֳבֵל֙ko.VelbecauseH6903
דִּֽי\־di-thatH1768
מְהֵימַ֣ןme.hei.Man[was] trustworthyH540
ה֔וּאHu'heH1932
וְכָל\־ve.kholand anyH3606
שָׁלוּ֙sha.LunegligenceH7960
וּשְׁחִיתָ֔הu.she.chi.Tahand corruptionH7844
לָ֥אla'notH3809
הִשְׁתְּכַ֖חַתhish.te.Kha.chatit was foundH7912
עֲלֽוֹהִי\׃a.Lo.hiconcerning himH5922

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

Cross references for Daniel 6:4

  • 1 Peter 3:16

    Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

  • Philippians 2:15

    That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

  • 1 Peter 2:12

    Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

  • Luke 20:20

    And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

  • Titus 2:8

    Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

  • Luke 23:14-15

    Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

  • Matthew 27:18

    For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

  • Psalms 37:32-33

    The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

  • Jeremiah 20:10

    For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

  • Genesis 43:18

    And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.

  • Proverbs 29:27

    An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

  • Ecclesiastes 4:4

    Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Cir. A.M. 3467. B.C. 537. sought.
3:8; Ge 43:18; Jud 14:4; Ps 37:12,13,32,33; Pr 29:27; Ec 4:4
Jer 18:18,23; 20:10; Mt 26:4; 27:18; Lu 20:20; 22:2
but.
1Sa 18:14; 19:4,5; 22:14; Lu 23:14,15; Joh 19:4; 2Co 11:12
Php 2:15; 1Ti 5:14; Tit 2:8; 1Pe 2:12; 3:16; 4:14-16

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Daniel 6:5

    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.

Read all of Daniel 6

Daniel 6:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Entonces los presidentes y gobernadores buscaban ocasiones contra Daniel por parte del reino; mas no podían hallar alguna ocasión ó falta, porque él era fiel, y ningún vicio ni falta fué en él hallado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et ce Daniel surpassa les présidents et les satrapes, parce qu’il y avait en lui un esprit extraordinaire; et le roi pensa à l’établir sur tout le royaume.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Da übertraf dieser Daniel die Vorsteher und die Satrapen, weil ein außergewöhnlicher Geist in ihm war; und der König gedachte, ihn über das ganze Königreich zu bestellen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Porro rex cogitabat constituere eum super omne regnum: unde principes, et satrapæ quærebant occasionem ut invenirent Danieli ex latere regis: nullamque causam, et suspicionem reperire potuerunt, eo quod fidelis esset, et omnis culpa, et suspicio non inveniretur in eo.