DAN 6:7 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) All the high officials of the kingdom, the various leaders, the counsellors, and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish and enforce a law that for thirty days, whoever makes a request of any god or of any man other than you, your majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.

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 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects, and the satraps, the counselors, and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes a petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the den of lions.

UST We administrators and governors and district governors and advisors and other officials have all agreed that you should make a law that everyone must obey. We want you to command that for the next thirty days people may pray only to you. If anyone prays to anyone else, either to a human or to a god, he must be thrown into a pit of lions.

BSB All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions.

OEB No OEB DAN book available

WEBBE All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the local governors, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a strong decree, that whoever asks a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET To all the supervisors of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, counselors, and governors it seemed like a good idea for a royal edict to be issued and an interdict to be enforced. For the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than you, O king, should be thrown into a den of lions.

LSV Taken counsel have all the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects, and the satraps, the counselors, and the governors, to establish a royal statute, and to strengthen an interdict, that any who seeks a petition from any god and man until thirty days, except of you, O king, is cast into a den of lions.

FBV “We have all agreed—chief ministers, prefects, provincial governors, counselors, and local governors—that Your Majesty should issue a decree, legally enforced, 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.

T4T We administrators and governors and district governors and advisors and other officials have all agreed that you should make a law that everyone must obey. We want you to command that for the next thirty days people may pray only to you. If anyone prays to anyone else, either to a human or to a god, he must be thrown into a pit of lions.

LEB All of the administrators of the kingdom, and the prefects, the satraps, the counselors and the governors took counsel and have agreed to establish an edict of the king and to enforce a decree that _⌊whoever_⌋[fn] will seek a prayer from any god or human except from you for up to thirty days will be thrown into _⌊the lion pit_⌋.[fn]

6:7 Literally “all that”

6:7 Literally “pit of lions”

BBE All the chief rulers of the kingdom, the chiefs and the captains, the wise men and the rulers, have made a common decision to put in force a law having the king's authority, and to give a strong order, that whoever makes any request to any god or man but you, O King, for thirty days, is to be put into the lions' hole.

Moff The presidents of the kingdom, the prefects, the satraps, the councillors, and the governors, have all agreed that the king should lay down a law, issuing a strict edict that no one shall offer a prayer to any god or man for thirty days, except to yourself, O king, on pain of being flung into the den of lions.

JPS (6-8) All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the ministers and the governors, have consulted together that the king should establish a statute, and make a strong interdict, 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.

ASV All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, 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.

DRA All the princes of the kingdom, the magistrates, and governors, the senators, and judges have consulted together, that an imperial decree, and an edict be published: That whosoever shall ask any petition of any god, or man, for thirty days, but of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

YLT Taken counsel have all the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects, and the satraps, the counsellors, and the governors, to establish a royal statute, and to strengthen an interdict, that any who seeketh a petition from any god and man until thirty days, save of thee, O king, is cast into a den of lions.

Drby All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects, and the satraps, the counsellors, and the governors have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any [fn]god or man for thirty days, except of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

6.7 Elohim

RV All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, 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.
(All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee/you, Oh king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. )

SLT All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and satraps, and counselors and governors, will counsel together to set up a statute of the kingdom, and to make strong an interdict that whoever shall seek a request from any God and man even to thirty days, except from thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

Wbstr All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whoever 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.

KJB-1769 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.[fn]
(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/you, Oh king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. )

6.7 decree: or, interdict

KJB-1611 [fn]All the Presidents of the kingdome, the gouernours, and the Princes, the counsellers and the captaines haue consulted together to establish a royall statute, and to make a firme decree, that whosoeuer shall aske a petition of any God or man for thirty dayes, saue of thee, O King, hee shall be cast into the denne of Lions.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation and footnotes)

6:7 Or, interdict.

Bshps All the rulers of thy kingdome, the officers and gouernours, the counsellers and dukes, haue consulted together to make a decree for the king, & to establish a statute, That who so desireth any petition either of any god or man within these thirtie dayes, except of thee O king, he shalbe cast into the lions denne.
(All the rulers of thy/your kingdom, the officers and governors, the counsellors and dukes, have consulted together to make a decree for the king, and to establish a statute, That whoso/whoever desireth/desires any petition either of any god or man within these thirty days, except of thee/you Oh king, he shall be cast into the lions den.)

Gnva All the rulers of thy kingdome, the officers and gouernours, the counsellers, and dukes haue consulted together to make a decree for the King and to establish a statute, that whosoeuer shall aske a petition of any god or man for thirtie dayes saue of thee, O King, he shalbe cast into the denne of lyons.
(All the rulers of thy/your kingdom, the officers and governors, the counsellors, and dukes have consulted together to make a decree for the King and to establish a statute, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days save of thee/you, Oh King, he shall be cast into the den of lions. )

Cvdl All the great estates off the realme: as ye prynces, dukes, senatours and iudges, are determed to put out a commaundement off ye kynge, and to make a sure statute: namely, that who so desyreth eny peticion, ether of eny god or man (with in this xxx. dayes) excepte it be only off the, O kynge: the same person maye be cast in to the Lyons denne.
(All the great estates off the realm: as ye/you_all princes, dukes, senators and judges, are determed to put out a commandment off ye/you_all king, and to make a sure statute: namely, that whoso/whoever desireth any petition, either of any god or man (with in this 30 days) except it be only off them, Oh king: the same person may be cast in to the Lions den.)

Wycl Alle the princes of thi rewme, and magistratis, and duykis, senatours, and iugis, han maad a counsel, that a decree and comaundement of the emperour go out, that ech man that axith ony axyng of what euer god and man, til to thretti daies, no but of thee, thou kyng, he be sent in to the lake of liouns.
(All the princes of thy/your realm, and magistraights, and dukes, senators, and judges, have made a council/counsel, that a decree and commandment of the emperor go out, that each man that axith any asking of what ever god and man, till to thirty days, no but of thee/you, thou/you king, he be sent in to the lake of lions.)

Luth Da kamen die Fürsten und Landvögte häufig vor den König und sprachen zu ihm also: Herr König Darius, GOtt verleihe dir langes Leben!
(So came the prince(s)/ruler(s) and bailiffs frequently before/in_front_of the king and said to/for him also: Lord king Darius, God verleihe you/to_you(sg) long life!)

ClVg consilium inierunt omnes principes regni tui, magistratus, et satrapæ, senatores, et judices, ut decretum imperatorium exeat, et edictum: ut omnis, qui petierit aliquam petitionem a quocumque deo et homine usque ad triginta dies, nisi a te, rex, mittatur in lacum leonum.
(advice inierunt everyone leaders of_the_kingdom yours(sg), magistrate, and satrapæ, senatores, and judges, as decretum commandsorium come_out, and edictum: as omnis, who/which petierit some asksionem from wherever deo and man until to thirty days, except from you(sg), king, mittatur in/into/on lake lion. )

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 6:6–9

This paragraph indicates what the officials did as a result of what they had concluded in the previous paragraph. They went and spoke to the king in order to trap Daniel in connection with the laws of his God.

6:7a

All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed

All the overseers of the kingdom, the administrators, the governors, the advisers, and the top officials have agreed together
All of us who serve the king, the supervisors, the high officials, the king's counselors, and the other officials have had a meeting and want

All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed: The officials were talking about themselves. In some languages it may be natural to make this explicit:

We ^(excl) the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors

We are all agreed, presidents of the realm, magistrates, satraps, councillors and governors (NJB)

Scholars are uncertain of the exact function of each of these officials. They are also unsure if the names are listed according to rank. The main point is that the text refers to all the important members of the administration, the government officials. In some languages you may not have so many different names for officials. In that case you may have to translate a shorter list and use more general terms for officials. For example:

All of your officials, leaders, advisors and governors (CEV)

All of us who administer your empire—the supervisors, the governors, the lieutenant governors, and the other officials (GNT)

royal administrators: This term refers to the high officials who supervised the satraps. Not including Daniel, there were only two of them. See the Notes at 6:2a. Translate the term here as you did there. For example:

chief officials of the kingdomNouvelle Version Segond, the BFrCL88 is similar.

administrators (NLT)

supervisors (GNT)

prefects: The prefects were also government officials but their specific role is uncertain. See the Notes at 3:2a. Translate the term here in the same way you did there. For example:

advisors (CEV)

magistrates (NJB)

satraps: See the Notes at 6:1 and 6:2a. Translate the term here as you did there. For example:

governors (NCV)

advisers: See the Notes at 3:24b, 3:27a.The same word is used in 3:24b, 27a, 4:36. Translate here as you did there. For example:

counselors (RSV)

governors: See the Notes at 3:2a. Translate here as you did there and at 3:27.

have agreed: The Aramaic verb that the BSB translates have agreed means “have taken counsel together.” Here are some other ways to translate this:

are in agreement

have taken counsel and all are agreed (REB)

are unanimous

6:7b

that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree

that you, the king, should make a new law that everyone must obey:
you to make a new law and enforce it strictly.

that the king should establish an ordinance: The officials asked the king to make a new law. They spoke in a polite way in order to influence the king to do what they wanted. Only the king had the authority to make a law official. Here are some other ways to translate this:

that Your Majesty should issue an order (GNT)

the king should make a statute (GW)

you should make a law (CEV)

ordinance: The word that the BSB translates as ordinance here refers to a law that was to be in effect for a specific period of time. Use a term that can refer to a temporary order such as this one. For example:

decree (REB)

edict (NIV)

law (CEV)

and enforce a decree: This phrase explains more about the law. The officials wanted to be able to punish those who disobeyed it. Here are some other ways to translate this:

that will be strictly enforced (NLT)

and enforce it strictly (GNT)

for everyone to obey (NCV)

decree: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as decree refers to a law that prohibits something.HALOT, 1821. The word occurs in 6:8,10,13,15. You can translate this as:

interdict (RSV)

ban

prohibition

However, make sure that you do not imply that the men were talking about two laws. The term decree refers to the same law as the word “ordinance” in the previous clause. In some languages it may be better to use a pronoun that refers back to the law in the previous clause. For example:

and enforce it strictly (GNT)

6:7c

that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man

For the next thirty days, anyone who prays to a god or man/human
For the next month, no one may pray to any god or person

In Daniel 6:7c the officials told the king what the law should say. In some languages it may be good to start a new sentence here. For example:

The decree should state… (GW)

Give orders… (GNT)

that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as petitions is literally “requests a request.” In this context, it means “prays a prayer.” There are two ways to indicate the content of the decree:

You can state this positively:
that whoever prays to anyone (NRSV)
You can state it negatively:
no one should pray to…

The Persians used to pray both to gods and to people who represented gods, like the king. In some languages it may not be natural use the verb “pray” in this way. If that is true in your language, you may have to use a different verb for “pray” as the BSB has done. Some other ways to do this are:

no one may request anything

whoever asks for anything (GW)

for thirty days: This phrase indicates that this new law would be in force for thirty days. After that time, it would no longer apply.

any god: See the Notes at 2:11b; 5:4, 2:23a. The Persians worshiped many different kinds of gods. In some languages, the word god only refers to the one true God. If that is true in your language, you may have to use a different term here. For example:

to any divine/supernatural being

to any spirit

to anyone/anything we worship

man: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as man here refers to people in general.

human (NRSV)

person (GW)

6:7d

except you, O king,

other than to you, our king,
but only to you, the king.

except you, O king: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as except introduces the one exception to the law. People could make their prayers and requests to the king. The officials intended to compliment the king by treating him like a god.Goldingay (p. 128) notes that the Persian king was not thought of as divine in the same way as the Egyptian Pharaoh was thought of by his people. However, in the court, people showed him respect in a ceremonial way as one would show respect to a god. The king was considered as a manifestation or representative of deity as well as a mediator with deity. Other ways you can translate this phrase are:

except to your Majesty (NLT)

other than you, O king (NET)

In some languages it may be natural to translate this as a positive statement. For example:

They may/must pray to you alone, our king.

Only to you may they pray, O king.

Translate this idea in a way that is natural in your language. See the General Comment on 6:7c–e.

O king: Use a form that is natural in your language to show respect to an important person. For example:

Sir/Sire

Honorable one

our^(excl) king

6:7e

will be thrown into the den of lions.

is to be tossed/pushed into the den of lions.
If he disobeys, he must be punished. Let your men throw him into the pit where the lions live so they can eat him!

will be thrown into the den of lions: The punishment for praying to any god or person other than the king was to be death. The king’s men would force the offender to enter the den where lions were kept. It is implied that the lions would certainly kill and eat him.

The verb will be thrown is passive. In some languages it may be more natural to translate this as an active clause. For example:

they (indefinite) will throw him/them into the den of lions

your soldiers will cause them to fall into the pit where lions live

be thrown: In this context, the verb be thrown indicates that the men would lift the offenders up and drop them into the den. In some languages, you may have to use a different verb. Translate this idea in a way that is most natural in your language. For example:

be dropped

be forced to enter

be caused to fall

the den of lions: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as den here refers to a large room below the ground. There was probably an opening at the top where food could be dropped to the lions. The king kept lions here as a way to execute criminals. In some languages it may not be natural to translate the definite article the since the author has not referred to this den before. You can translate this:

a pit (GNT)

a large hole

lions: The lion is a large and powerful animal of the cat family. It has a brownish yellow skin and a tufted tail, and the male has a shaggy mane. Lions hunt and kill other animals for food. The king punished people by throwing them into the pit where he kept lions. The lions would kill and eat the people. In some languages, people may not be familiar with lions. If that is true in your language, see KBT for different ways to translate unknown terms.

General Comment on 6:7a–e

This is a long and complex sentence. In some languages it may be natural to break it into two or more shorter sentences. For example:

^7aAll the officials, governors, satraps, advisers and mayors agree that ^7bthe king should make a statute and enforce a decree. ^7cThe decree should state that for the next 30 days whoever asks for anything from any god or person ^7dexcept you, Your Majesty, ^7ewill be thrown into a lions’ den. (GW)

^7aAll of your officials, leaders, advisors, and governors agree that ^7byou should make a law ^7c-dforbidding anyone to pray to any god or human except you for the next thirty days. ^7eEveryone who disobeys this law must be thrown into a pit of lions. (CEV)

General Comment on 6:7

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

^c-eThe law should state that they will throw into the lion pit anyone who prays to any god or person except you, the king, during the next thirty days,

^b-eGive orders, King Darius, that for the next thirty days this law will be in force: your soldiers will throw to the lions anyone who prays to any god or human except you.

General Comment on 6:7c–e

The content of the decree is given as indirect speech. In some languages it may be more natural to give the content directly. For example:

The decree should say this: ‘Anyone who prays to any god or human being except for King Darius shall be thrown into the lions’ day. This is in force for thirty days.’

should issue the following decree: For thirty days no one is to pray to any god or human being apart from King Darius. Anyone who disobeys will be thrown to the lions.

Parallel DAN 6:7