DAN 6:12 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Then they approached the king and reminded him about the law, “Didn’t you introduce a law that within thirty days, any man who makes a petition to any god or man, except to you, your majesty, must be thrown into the lions’ den?”
¶ “Yes, that’s correct,” answered the king. “It can’t be revoked now according to the law of the Medes and Persians.”

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Then they approached and spoke before the king about the injunction of the king: “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, must be thrown into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The matter is certain, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.”

UST So they returned to the king and said to him, “Do you remember that you wrote a law stating that for the next thirty days people may pray only to you, and if anyone prays to anyone else, either to a human or to a god, he will be thrown into a pit of lions?” The king replied, “Yes, that is the law that I wrote. It is a law of our governments of Media and Persia, which cannot be canceled.”

BSB So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?”
§ The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.”

OEB No OEB DAN book available

WEBBE Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree: “Haven’t you signed a decree that every man who makes a petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?”
¶ The king answered, “This thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t alter.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET So they approached the king and said to him, “Did you not issue an edict to the effect that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than to you, O king, would be thrown into a den of lions?” The king replied, “That is correct, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.”

LSV then they have come near, indeed, they are saying before the king concerning the king’s interdict: “Have you not signed an interdict, that any man who seeks from any god and man until thirty days, except of you, O king, is cast into a den of lions?” The king has answered and said, “The thing [is] certain as a law of Media and Persia, that does not pass away.”

FBV They went to the king right away and asked him about the decree. “Didn't Your Majesty sign a decree that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions' den?”
¶ “I certainly did!” the king replied. “The decree stands. According to the law of the Medes and the Persians it cannot be revoked.”

T4T So they returned to the king and said to him, “Do you remember that you wrote a law stating that for the next thirty days people may pray only to you, and if anyone prays to anyone else, either to a human or to a god, he will be thrown into a pit of lions?”
¶ The king replied, “Yes, that is the law that I wrote. It is a law of our governments of Media and Persia, which cannot be canceled.”

LEB Then they approached _⌊and spoke with the king_⌋[fn] concerning the edict of the king, “_⌊Did you not sign an edict_⌋[fn] that any person who would seek anything from any God or human within thirty days except from you, O king, would be thrown into _⌊the lion pit_⌋?”[fn] The king answered and said, “The matter as you have just stated is certain according to the law of the Medes and Persians which cannot be revoked.”

6:12 Literally “and saying before the king”

6:12 Literally “Not an edict you signed?”

6:12 Literally “pit of lions”

BBE Then they came near before the king and said, O King, have you not put your name to an order that any man who makes a request to any god or man but you, O King, for thirty days, is to be put into the lions' hole? The king made answer and said, The thing is fixed by the law of the Medes and Persians which may not come to an end.

Moff So they went before the king and asked him about the royal edict. “Did you not sign an edict that any man who offered a prayer to any god or man for thirty days, except to yourself, O king, should be flung into the den of lions?” “It is true,” replied the king, “by the law of the Medes and the Persians, which is unalterable.”

JPS (6-13) Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's interdict: 'Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?' The king answered and said: 'The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.'

ASV Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s interdict: Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

DRA And they came and spoke to the king concerning the edict: O king, hast thou not decreed, that every man that should make a request to any of the gods, or men, for thirty days, but to thyself, O king, should be cast into the den of the lions? And the king answered them, saying: The word is true according to the decree of the Medes and Persians, which it is not lawful to violate.

YLT then they have come near, yea, they are saying before the king concerning the king's interdict: 'Hast thou not signed an interdict, that any man who seeketh from any god and man until thirty days, save of thee, O king, is cast into a den of lions?' Answered hath the king, and said, 'The thing [is] certain as a law of Media and Persia, that doth not pass away.'

Drby Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree: Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask [anything] of any [fn]god or man within thirty days, except of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.

6.12 Elohim

RV Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s interdict; Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
(Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s interdict; Hast thou/you not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto thee/you, Oh king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. )

SLT At that time they drew near, and saying before the king concerning the interdict of the king, Didst thou not sign an interdict that every man that shall seek from any God and man even for thirty days, except from thee, O King, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The word is certain, according to the law of Media and Persia, that shall not pass away.

Wbstr Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

KJB-1769 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
(Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou/you not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee/you, Oh king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. )

KJB-1611 Then they came neere, and spake before the king concerning the kings decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that euery man that shall aske a petition of any God or man, within thirty dayes, saue of thee, O king, shalbe cast into the denne of Lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
(Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the kings decree; Hast thou/you not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man, within thirty days, save of thee/you, Oh king, shall be cast into the den of Lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.)

Bshps So they came to the king, & spake before him concerning his comaundement, saying: O king, hast thou not sealed the decree, that within thirtie dayes whoso requireth his petition of any God or man, but onely of thy selfe O king, he shalbe cast into the denne of lions? The king aunswered and said, Yea it is true, according to the lawe of the Medes and Perses that altereth not.
(So they came to the king, and spake before him concerning his commandment, saying: Oh king, hast thou/you not sealed the decree, that within thirty days whoso/whoever requireth his petition of any God or man, but only of thyself/yourself Oh king, he shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, Yea it is true, according to the law of the Medes and Perses that altereth not.)

Gnva So they came and, spake vnto the King concerning the Kings decree, Hast thou not sealed the decree, that euery man that shall make a request to any god or man within thirtie dayes, saue to thee, O King, shall be cast into the denne of lyons? The King answered, and sayd, The thing is true, according to the Lawe of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
(So they came and, spake unto the King concerning the Kings decree, Hast thou/you not sealed the decree, that every man that shall make a request to any god or man within thirty days, save to thee/you, Oh King, shall be cast into the den of lions? The King answered, and said, The thing is true, according to the Law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. )

Cvdl So they came to the kynge, and spake before him concernynge his commaundement, sayenge: O kynge, hast thou not subscribed the statute, that within xxx. dayes who so requyreth his peticion off eny god or man, but only of thy self, o kynge: he shalbe cast in to the denne of the Lyons? The kynge answered, ad sayde: yee, it is true. It must be as a lawe of ye Medes and Perses, that maye not be broken.
(So they came to the king, and spake before him concerning his commandment, saying: Oh king, hast thou/you not subscribed the statute, that within 30 days whoso/whoever requireth his petition off any god or man, but only of thy/your self, o king: he shall be cast in to the den of the Lions? The king answered, and said: ye/you_all, it is true. It must be as a law of ye/you_all Medes and Perses, that may not be broken.)

Wycl And thei neiyiden and spaken to the kyng of the comaundement, Kyng, whether thou ordeynedist not, that ech man that axide ony of goddis and of men, til to thretti daies, no but thee, thou kyng, he schulde be sent in to the lake of liouns? To whiche men the kyng answeride, and seide, The word is soth, bi the decree of Medeis and Perseis, which it is not leueful to breke.
(And they neiyiden and spoke to the king of the commandment, King, whether thou/you ordained not, that each man that asked any of gods and of men, till to thirty days, no but thee/you, thou/you king, he should be sent in to the lake of lions? To which men the king answered, and said, The word is soth, by the decree of Medes and Perseis, which it is not lawful to breke.)

Luth Da kamen diese Männer häufig und fanden Daniel beten und flehen vor seinem GOtt.
(So came this/these men frequently and found Daniel pray and beg/implore before/in_front_of his God.)

ClVg Et accedentes locuti sunt regi super edicto: Rex, numquid non constituisti ut omnis homo qui rogaret quemquam de diis et hominibus usque ad dies triginta, nisi te, rex, mitteretur in lacum leonum? Ad quos respondens rex, ait: Verus est sermo juxta decretum Medorum atque Persarum, quod prævaricari non licet.
(And approaching spoke are to_rule over edicto: Rex, is_it not/no to_establishsti as everyone human who/which to_askt anyone from/about gods and to_humans until to days thirty, except you(sg), king, would_sendur in/into/on lake lion? To which responding king, he_said: Verus it_is speech next_to decretum Medorum and_yet Persarum, that beforevaricari not/no although. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:1–28: God delivered Daniel from the lions’ den

The new Persian king, Darius the Mede, chose Daniel to be one of the three officials who administered the kingdom. Daniel did his work so well that the other officials became jealous of him. One day they asked the king to pass a law that forbade praying to anyone but him for a period of thirty days. The king signed the law. Daniel, however, refused to obey it and continued to pray to the one true God, the God of Israel. When the king heard that Daniel had disobeyed the law, he ordered his soldiers to throw Daniel into the pit where he kept hungry lions. But God protected Daniel. The lions did not hurt him. When the king saw this, he punished Daniel’s enemies and honored Daniel and the God of Israel.

Other possible headings for this section include:

Daniel in the Pit of Lions (GNT)

Daniel and the Lions (NCV)

God protected Daniel from lions

Historical Background: The Persian empire under Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539/538 BC, when Daniel was over seventy years old.Daniel was taken captive and brought to Babylon in approximately 605 B.C. If he was 12 years old when he came, he would have been 78 when this story began. The Persian empire became larger than the Babylonian empire had ever been. It extended west to include both Egypt and Libya. It extended east as far as the Indus River in what is now Pakistan. It was the largest empire in the history of the world up to that time.

Some commentators think that Darius the Mede was another name or title for the Persian King Cyrus or for the governor under him, Gubaru.

Text:

The verse numbers in the NJPS and the NJB are different from the verse numbers in the BSB. For example, 6:1 in the NJPS and the NJB is 5:31 in the BSB. The difference is because the NJPS and NJB follow the numbers in the Hebrew Bible. These Notes follow the verse numbers in the BSB.

Special Problems:

1. Lists: The author liked to include lists. In Daniel 6, he listed the different officials who conspired against Daniel (6:1–2; 7). Some languages may not have so many terms for officials. The Notes will suggest some ways to translate these lists.

2. Repetition: The author liked to repeat words and phrases in order to create suspense and emphasis. The Notes will give some suggestions on how to translate words or phrases that are repeated.

3. Verbs of Speech: The author sometimes used more than one verb of speech to introduce a quotation. In some languages, this may not be natural. The Notes will offer some options on how to translate these verbs.

4. Synonyms: The author liked to use synonyms or near synonyms to refer to the same idea. For example: 6:7–9 (ordinance, law, decree); 6:14 (rescue, delivering); 6:26 (kingdom, dominion); 6:27b (signs, wonders). The Notes will suggest different ways to translate these terms.

Paragraph 6:10–12c

After Daniel heard that the king had signed the law, he went home and prayed to God, as he had always done. The other officials saw this and informed the king.

6:12a

So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree:

After that, they returned to the king to speak with him about his new law. They said/asked,
Then the officials went back to the king and reminded him about his ban against praying to anyone else. They said,

So: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as So here introduces the next event in the narrative. The officials acted in a certain way because of what they had seen. Introduce this action in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

then (NRSV)

they approached the king: The Aramaic verb that the BSB literally translates as approached implies, in this context, that the subject was approaching someone of higher status and importance.HALOT, 1972. If you have a special verb that has this meaning, you can use it here.

and asked: The Aramaic verb that the BSB translates as asked here introduces the act of speech in a general way. In this context, it may be natural to use a more specific verb. For example:

talked to the king (NCV)

and reminded him (NLT)

about his royal decree: The phrase his royal decree indicates the topic of the officials’ conversation with the king.

his royal decree: There are two ways to understand the function of the Aramaic word that the BSB translates as royal:

It means “of the king” and refers to the decree that the king had made. For example:
the king’s decree (KJV) (BSB, NIV, KJV, NASB, GW, NET note)
It is a form of address for the king and introduces the officials’ speech. For example:
O king! (NRSV) (RSV/NRSV, ESV, REB)

The Aramaic text does not contain quotation marks, so it is difficult to be certain. You may wish to follow your national language version. Either option may involve some unnatural repetition. In some languages it may be natural to avoid this repetition by using a personal pronoun here. For example:

and spoke to the king about his decree (GW)

decree: See the Notes at 6:7b. The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as decree refers to a law that prohibits people from doing something.The Aramaic word is ʾesar. HALOT, 1821 has “prohibition.” It implies that if a person disobeyed the king, he would be punished.

General Comment on 6:12a

In some languages it may be natural to supply the reason the men went to the king. For example:

all of them went together to the king to accuse Daniel. They said… (GNT)

6:12b–e

Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?: This is a rhetorical question. It functions as a polite way to remind the king of the law that he had signed. There are at least two ways to translate this:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
have you not issued an edict that any person who, within the next thirty days, presents a petition to any god or human being other than your majesty is to be thrown into the lion-pit? (REB)
As a statement. For example:
Your Majesty, you signed an order that for the next thirty days anyone who requested anything from any god or from any human being except you, would be thrown into a pit filled with lions. (GNT)

Use the form that is most natural in your language in this context.

6:12b

“Did you not sign a decree that

“Your Majesty, is it not true that you have signed a law that
“Your Majesty, recently you signed a ban. You said that

Did you not sign a decree…?: The clause Did you not sign a decree…? functions as a strong positive statement. See the note above on 6:12b–f. The officials reminded the king that he had in fact issued a decree. See the notes on 6:10a.

6:12c

for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man

no one may pray to any god or human for thirty days?
for the next thirty (30) days, if anyone prays to any god or person

that: The word that here introduces the content of the decree. See also the General Comment on 6:12c–e.

for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man: The decree was to be valid for thirty days. See the Notes at 6:7c. Here the information is in reverse order.

Paragraph 6:11–13

The officials went to the king and accused Daniel of breaking the new law.

6:12d

except you, O king,

Only to you may they pray, our king.
other than you,

except you, O king: See the notes on 6:7d. In some languages it may be natural to translate this as a separate sentence. For example:

Only to you may they pray, Your Majesty.

6:12e

will be thrown into the den of lions?”

Anyone who disobeys this law must be tossed/pushed into the den of lions.”
your men will throw him into the pit where the lions live. They can/will eat him!.”

will be thrown into the den of lions: This is a passive clause. See the notes on 6:7e. In some languages it may be more natural to translate it as an active clause. For example:

your men will throw/push them into the lion-pit

they must die in the lions’ den

General Comment on 6:12c–e

The word “that” here introduces indirect speech, the content of the decree. In some languages it may be more natural to use direct speech. See the General Comment on 6:7. For example:

did you not sign this law: ‘No one may pray to any god or man other than His Majesty and anyone who disobeys is to die in the lions’ den’?

General Comment on 6:12b–e

In some languages it will be more natural to translate this rhetorical question using two or more shorter sentences. For example:

Didn’t you sign a law that says no one may pray to any god or human except you, O king? Doesn’t it say that anyone who disobeys during the next thirty days will be thrown into the lion’s den? (NCV)

6:12f

The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands,

¶ The king answered, “That is true. It is a law of the Medes and Persians.
¶ The king replied, “Yes, that is the law.” It conforms with the law of the Medes and Persians.
¶ The king agreed, “Yes, the law is absolute. It is a law of the Medes and Persians.

The king replied: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as replied is literally “answering and saying.” The author used two verbs to indicate that the king was about to say something important. In some languages it may be more natural to use just one verb of speech. For example:

the king answered (NIV)

the king agreed (CEV)

According to the law of the Medes and Persians: See the Notes at 6:8c. The king’s decree was now one of the laws of the Medes and the Persians. As such, it was consistent with and conformed to the rest of their laws.HALOT (1896): “according to, corresponding to.” In some languages, it may be natural to translate this as a separate sentence. For example:

It is a law of the Medes and Persians

It conforms with the law of the Medes and Persians.GeCL97.

the order stands: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as the order stands is literally “the word is true.”The HALOT (1893) has: “well established.” See the Notes at 3:24c. The king replied in a positive way. He agreed with his officials. In some languages it will be more clear to say:

That’s true. (GW)

Yes, that is the law. (NCV)

The context implies that the law was strict. In some languages it may be good to indicate this here. For example:

Yes, the law is absolute.

Yes, that is a strict order. (GNT)

the order: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as order is a general one that can mean “a spoken or written word, a matter, thing.”HALOT (1915). In this context it refers to the written law that the king had signed.

6:12g

and it cannot be repealed.”

No one can repeal it.”
Therefore no one can cancel it.”

and it cannot be repealed: The officials reminded the king that the laws of the Persian Empire were permanent and binding. No one could choose to put an end to them, not even the king. In some languages it may be more natural to translate this as an active clause. For example:

No one can repeal it.

So no one can revoke it.

Therefore no one can cancel it.

Translate this in a way that is natural in your language. See also the Notes at 6:8c, where the same verb is used.

General Comment on 6:12f–g

In some languages it may be more natural to translate 6:12f–g as two or more separate sentences. For example:

The king answered, “Yes, the decree is firm. It is the same as every law that the Medes and Persians issue. No one can annul it.”

Parallel DAN 6:12