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.

DANIEL 6:7KJV
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Daniel 6:7 (KJV)

What does Daniel 6:7 mean?

Daniel 6:7 describes how all the top officials of the Persian kingdom came together and persuaded the king to make a strict law: for thirty days, no one could pray to any god or person except the king himself, and anyone who broke this rule would be thrown into a den of lions. This law was meant to trap anyone who continued their usual religious practices, especially Daniel.

In this verse, the officials—presidents, governors, princes, counsellors, and captains—are speaking to King Darius. Their goal is to convince the king to sign a law that targets Daniel’s faithfulness to his God. The verse shows the officials’ unity and determination, as well as the seriousness of the punishment they propose. This sets up the conflict in the story, where Daniel’s loyalty to God is put to the test.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 6:7

  • "All" (כֹּל, kol; H3606): The word emphasizes that every level of leadership was involved, suggesting a united front against Daniel, not just a few jealous rivals.
  • "Ask" (בָּעָה, ba’a; H1156) and "petition" (בָּעוּ, ba’u; H1159): These words both relate to making a request or prayer, highlighting that the law covers any kind of appeal, whether religious or personal.
  • "Den" (גֹּב, gov; H1358) and "lions" (אַרְיֵה, aryeh; H744): The specific mention of a lion’s den as punishment underlines the deadly seriousness of the decree and the dramatic risk Daniel would face.

Why Daniel 6:7 matters

  • Daniel 6:7 clarifies that the plot against Daniel was not just the idea of a few men, but presented as the consensus of all the kingdom’s leaders, making the threat seem official and unavoidable.
  • The verse shows how the officials manipulated the king’s pride, suggesting that only he should be prayed to, which helps explain why the king agreed to such a harsh law.
  • Understanding this verse helps readers see the setup for Daniel’s later actions and the miracle that follows, making the story’s tension and stakes much clearer.