DAN 6:3 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=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) but because Daniel was exceptionally talented, he became noticed above the other high officials and governors, and the king decided to appoint him over the whole kingdom.

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 this Daniel became distinguished above the high officials and satraps because an extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom.

UST I soon showed that I was more capable to do the work better than all the other administrators and the governors. Because of that, the king planned to appoint me to be in charge of the entire empire.

BSB Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

OEB No OEB DAN book available

CSB Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit, so the king planned to set him over the whole realm.

NLT Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.

NIV Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

CEV And he did his work so much better than the other governors and officials that the king decided to let him govern the whole kingdom.

ESV Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

NASB Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom.

LSB Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because an extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king planned to set him over the entire kingdom.

WEBBE Then 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.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(1-3)Darius reorganized his kingdom. He appointed one hundred twenty governors to administer all the parts of his realm. Over them were three vice-regents, one of whom was Daniel. The governors reported to the vice-regents, who made sure that everything was in order for the king. But Daniel, brimming with spirit and intelligence, so completely outclassed the other vice-regents and governors that the king decided to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.

NET Now this Daniel was distinguishing himself above the other supervisors and the satraps, for he had an extraordinary spirit. In fact, the king intended to appoint him over the entire kingdom.

LSV Then this Daniel has been overseer over the presidents and satraps, because that an excellent spirit [is] in him, and the king has thought to establish him over the whole kingdom.

FBV Soon Daniel was shown to be a far better administrator than the other chief ministers and provincial governors. Because of his exceptional ability, the king planned to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.

T4T I soon showed that I was ◄more capable/able to do the work better► than all the other administrators and the governors. Because of that, the king planned to appoint me to be in charge of the entire empire.

LEB Then Daniel _⌊began distinguishing himself_⌋[fn] above the administrators and the satraps _⌊because_⌋[fn] an exceptional spirit was in him, and so the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom.

6:3 Literally “was distinguishing himself”

6:3 Literally “all of because that”

NRSV Soon Daniel distinguished himself above all the other presidents and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom.

NKJV Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.

NAB Daniel outshone all the ministers and satraps because an extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king considered setting him over the entire kingdom.

BBE Then 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.

Moff This Daniel distinguished himself more than all the presidents and satraps, because he had rare ability; indeed, the king thought of setting him over the whole kingdom.

JPS (6-4) Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the presidents and the satraps, because a surpassing spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

ASV Then 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.

DRA And Daniel excelled all the princes, and governors: because a greater spirit of God was in him.

YLT Then 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.

Drby Now 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.

RV Then 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.

SLT Then this Daniel excelling above the presidents and satraps because that an excellent spirit was in him; and the king doing to set him up over all the kingdom.

Wbstr 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.

KJB-1769 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.

KJB-1611 Then this Daniel was preferred aboue the Presidents, and Princes, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king thought to set him ouer the whole realme.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps Nowe this Daniel was preferred aboue the princes and gouerners, for the spirite of God was plenteous in him: so that the king was minded to set him ouer the whole realme.
(Now this Daniel was preferred above the princes and governers, for the spirit of God was plenteous/plentiful in him: so that the king was minded to set him over the whole realm.)

Gnva Now this Daniel was preferred aboue the rulers and gouernours, because the spirit was excellent in him, and the King thought to set him ouer the whole realme.
(Now this Daniel was preferred above the rulers and governors, because the spirit was excellent in him, and the King thought to set him over the whole realm. )

Cvdl But Daniel exceaded all these princes ad lordes, for the sprete off God was plenteous in him: so that the kynge was mynded to set him ouer the whole realme.
(But Daniel exceeded all these princes and lords, for the spirit off God was plenteous/plentiful in him: so that the king was minded to set him over the whole realm.)

Wycl Therfor Danyel ouercam alle the princes and duikis, for more spirit of God was in hym.
(Therefore Daniel overcam all the princes and dukes, for more spirit of God was in him.)

Luth Über diese setzte er drei Fürsten, deren einer war Daniel, welchen die Landvögte sollten Rechnung tun, und der König der Mühe überhoben wäre.
(Over this/these sat he three prince(s)/ruler(s), whose/their one/a what/which Daniel, which_(ones) the bailiffs should Rechnung do/put, and the/of_the king the/of_the effort/trouble abovehoben were.)

ClVg Igitur Daniel superabat omnes principes et satrapas, quia spiritus Dei amplior erat in illo.
(Therefore Daniel superabat everyone leaders and satrapas, because spirit of_God amplior was in/into/on that/there. )

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 6:3–5

The other government officials became jealous of Daniel and began to plot against him.

6:3a

Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps.

¶ Daniel showed/proved himself superior to the other overseers and the governors because he was exceptionally/unusually capable/competent.
¶ Daniel did much better work than the other two supervisors and all the provincial officials because he had extraordinary intelligence and ability.

Soon…Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps: Daniel was a better ruler than the others. He was superior to them in his ability to govern the country. Other ways to translate this include:

Daniel…was so evidently superior to the other presidents and satraps (NJB)

Daniel soon showed that he could do better work than the other supervisors or the governors (GNT)

And he did his work so much better than the other governors and officials (CEV)

Soon: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as Soon here introduces a new stage in the narrative and adds emphasis. Other ways to translate it include:

Then (RSV/NRSV)

Now (NIV)

by his extraordinary spirit: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as by here introduces a reason clause. There are at least two interpretations:

It connects to the previous clause and introduces the reason why Daniel was able to do better work than the other men. For example:
because an excellent spirit was in him (RSV) (BSB, NIV, RSV/NRSV, KJV, ESV, NJB, REB, NET, GW, NASB)
It connects to the following clause and introduces the reason why the king appointed Daniel. For example:
Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. (NLT) (NLT, CEV, NCV, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with the majority of English versions.

his extraordinary spirit: This phrase refers to Daniel’s intelligence and ability to learn and understand. See 1:17a. See the notes at 5:12b-c, where the same phrase occurs. Here are some other ways to translate this:

excellent spirit (NRSV)

exceptional qualities (NIV)

exceptional ability (REB)

Daniel: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as Daniel is literally “this Daniel.” The pronoun “this” identifies Daniel as the same Daniel the author referred to in 6:1. Translate in a way that is natural in your language. If you decide to translate the pronoun, make sure that it does not give a negative or derogatory meaning.

distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps: Daniel was an excellent administrator. He was clearly superior to the other officials. Others—probably including the king—could see what good work he did. Here are some other ways to translate this:

Among all the administrators and satraps, it was Daniel who proved to be the best

In that group of administrators and satraps, Daniel showed/displayed excellence

Daniel stood out among the administrators and satraps

In some languages it may be natural to translate this idea as a comparison. Daniel showed himself better than the other officials. He did better work than they did. For example:

proved himself more capable than all the other high administrators and high officers (NLT)

showed that he could do better work than the other supervisors or the governors (GNT)

did his work so much better than the other governors and officials (CEV)

among the administrators and satraps: Daniel was one of the three administrators. So in some languages it may be natural to say:

among the other administrators and satraps

all the other presidents and satraps (RSV)

administrators: See the Notes at 6:2a. Daniel was one of a group of three administrators. So it may be natural to say:

than the two other supervisors

than both of the other high officials

and satraps: See the Notes at 6:1. Use the same word here that you did there. For example:

and the governors

and all the officials

General Comment on 6:3a

In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of the two clauses. For example:

Daniel excelled all the other high officials and satraps because he could learn and understand things well.

6:3b

So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

So the king started to make plans to appoint him to administer the whole kingdom.
As a result, the king decided he would put him in charge of the entire empire.

So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom: This is a result clause. Because Daniel was so outstanding an administrator (6:3a), the king planned to promote him.

So: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as So can also be translated as “and,” as in the RSV. In this context, it introduces a result. Here are some other ways to translate this:

that (NIV)

That is why…

Translate this idea in a way that is natural in your own language.

the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as planned to set means “intended to appoint.” The king wanted to make Daniel the highest official in the land. Here are some other ways to translate this:

the king made plans to place him over the entire empire (NLT)

the king considered putting him in charge of the whole empire (GNT)

the king decided to let him govern the whole kingdom (CEV)

The phrase implies that the king had not yet formally appointed him to that office, but was intending to do so.Translator’s Handbook on Daniel.

over the whole kingdom: This phrase refers to the Persian empire. See 1:20b. Here is another way to translate this:

the entire empire (NLT)

Parallel DAN 6:3

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

Paragraph 6:3–5

6:3a

General Comment on 6:3a

6:3b