Daniel 6:26
in Daniel 6I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom, men are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will never end.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
KJV
I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
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This verse in Daniel 6
Commentary
12 notes on this verseVerses 25-27. "Then king Darius wrote unto all the peoples, tribes and language-groups who dwelt in all the earth, saying: 'Your peace be multiplied! I have enacted a decree that in all my empire and kingdom men are to dread and tremble before the God of Daniel. For it is He who is the living God and the One who abides forever, and His rule shall not be overthown, and His power shall eternally endure.
This site's exposition
May your prosperity abound
on Daniel 6:25-27
Darius writes “to the people of every nation and language,” as Nebuchadnezzar did, and decrees that men “tremble in fear before the God of Daniel”. He names Him “the living God,” whose “kingdom will never be destroyed,” who “performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth”.
This site's exposition
before the God of Daniel
Albert Barnes and Adam Clarke set this decree beside Daniel 3:29. Matthew Henry observed that this was one decree fit to be unalterable under the law of the Medes and Persians. Barnes noted that the empire joined Media, Persia and Babylonia, so the decree reached several kingdoms.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
A commentator
CyprianTreatise XII. Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 3:20 · Written before 258.
The foundation and strength of hope and faith is fear. In Psalm 111: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Of the same thing in the Wisdom of Solomon, … in the Proverbs, … in Isaiah, … in Genesis, … and in Psalm 2, … Then Darius the king wrote, "To all peoples, tribes and languages that are in my kingdom, peace be to you from my face. I decree and ordain that all those who are in my kingdom shall fear and tremble before the Most High God whom Daniel serves."
But the Chaldaeans and the Medes and Persians, having a somewhat wider knowledge, were instructed by the building of the Tower, and the deluge, and by what happened in the case of Hezekiah and Jonah, and by the Captivity, and by Daniel and the Three …
Then Darius wrote to all peoples, tribes and tongues, to those who dwell in all the earth, declaring peace to all and then through what was published by his decree, compelled them to worship God just as it says, "The decree which was set from my face in every realm of my kingdom that all should tremble and fear before the face of the God of Daniel because he himself is the living God, who endures forever and his kingdom shall not be destroyed and his dominion is forever. He assists and rescues and works wonders and signs in heaven and on the earth, who took Daniel from the mouth of the lions." [Daniel 6:26-27]
You see, today Babylon is the world, the satraps are its authorities, Darius is their king, the den is Hades, the lions are punishing angels. And so imitate the blessed Daniel who did not fear the satraps and do not obey a human decree, so that after being cast into the den of lions you may be guarded by the angel, and you may tame beasts, and you may be worshipped by them as a slave of God and no destruction may be found in you, but being alive you may be brought up from the den and may be found as a sharer of the resurrection and you may rule over your enemies and you may always give thanks to the living God. For to him be glory and might unto the endless age of ages. Amen.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He gives honour to God by a decree published to all nations, by which they are required to fear before him. And this is a decree which is indeed fit to be made unalterable, according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, for it is the everlasting gospel, preached to those that dwell on the earth, Rev. xiv. Fear God, and give glory to him.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
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.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
I make a decree that - men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel - As in the case of the three Hebrews, Dan 3:29. The true God was known by his servants, and by the deliverances he wrought for them. See his characters in this decree. 1. He is the living God, the Author and Giver of life; all others are dead gods. 2. He is steadfast for ever. All things change; but he is unchangeable. 3. He has a kingdom; for as he made all things, so he governs all things.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
I make a decree - Compare Dan 3:29. That in every dominion of my kingdom - Every department or province. The entire kingdom or empire was made up of several kingdoms, as Media, Persia, Babylonia, etc. The meaning is, that he wished the God of Daniel to be honored and reverenced throughout the whole empire. Men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel - That they honor and reverence him as God. There is no certain evidence that he meant that he should be honored as the only God; but the probability is, that he meant that he should be recognized as a God of great power and glory, and as worthy of universal reverence. How far this pagan monarch might still regard the other deities worshipped in the empire as gods, or how far his own heart might be disposed to honor the God of Daniel, there are no means of ascertaining. It was much, however, that so great a monarch should be led to make a proclamation acknowledging the God of Daniel as having a real existence, and as entitled to universal reverence. For he is the living God - An appellation often given to God in the Scriptures, and probably learned by Darius from Daniel. It is not, however, absolutely certain that Darius would attach all the ideas to these phrases which Daniel did, or which we would. The attributes here ascribed to God are correct, and the views expressed are far beyond any that prevailed among the pagan; but still it would not be proper to suppose that Darius certainly had all the views of God which these words would convey to us now. And stedfast for ever - That is, he is always the same. He ever lives; he has power overall; his kingdom is on an immovable foundation. He is not, in his government, to cease to exist, and to be succeeded by another who shall occupy his throne. And his kingdom what shall not be destroyed ... - See the Dan 4:3, note ; Dan 4:34, note. […]
The words behind it
29 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מִן־ | min- | from | H4481 → | 109 times |
| קֳדָמַי֮ | kodamai | before me | H6925 → | 42 times |
| שִׂ֣ים | sim | it is made | H7761 → | 26 times |
| טְעֵם֒ | teem | a decree | H2942 → | 28 times |
| דִּ֣י׀ | di | that | H1768 → | 345 times |
| בְּכָל־ | bekhol | in all | H3606 → | 82 times |
| שָׁלְטָ֣ן | shaltan | [the] dominion of | H7985 → | 14 times |
| מַלְכוּתִ֗י | malkhuti | kingdom my | H4437 → | 57 times |
| לֶהֱוֹ֤ן | lehevon | they will be | H1934 → | 71 times |
| זָיְעִין֙ | zaain | trembling | H2112 → | |
| וְדָ֣חֲלִ֔ין | vedachalin | and fearing | H1763 → | 6 times |
| מִן־ | min- | from | H4481 → | 109 times |
| קֳדָ֖ם | kodam | before | H6925 → | 42 times |
| אֱלָהֵ֣הּ | ʾelaheh | God his | H426 → | 95 times |
| דִּי־ | di- | of | H1768 → | 345 times |
| דָֽנִיֵּ֑אל | daniyel | Daniel | H1841 → | 57 times |
| דִּי־ | di- | that | H1768 → | 345 times |
| ה֣וּא׀ | hu' | he | H1932 → | 22 times |
| אֱלָהָ֣א | ʾelaha' | [is] God the | H426 → | 95 times |
| חַיָּ֗א | chaiya' | <the> living | H2417 → | 7 times |
| וְקַיָּם֙ | vekaiyam | and enduring | H7011 → | |
| לְעָ֣לְמִ֔ין | lealemin | for ever | H5957 → | 20 times |
| וּמַלְכוּתֵהּ֙ | umalkhuteh | and kingdom his | H4437 → | 57 times |
| דִּֽי־ | di- | which | H1768 → | 345 times |
| לָ֣א | la' | not | H3809 → | 82 times |
| תִתְחַבַּ֔ל | titchabal | it will be destroyed | H2255 → | 6 times |
| וְשָׁלְטָנֵ֖הּ | veshaltaneh | and dominion his | H7985 → | 14 times |
| עַד־ | ʾad- | [is] to | H5705 → | 35 times |
| סוֹפָֽא׃ | sofa' | end the | H5491 → | 5 times |
מִן־from
min-H4481 →109 times
קֳדָמַי֮before me
kodamaiH6925 →42 times
שִׂ֣יםit is made
simH7761 →26 times
טְעֵם֒a decree
teemH2942 →28 times
דִּ֣י׀that
diH1768 →345 times
בְּכָל־in all
bekholH3606 →82 times
שָׁלְטָ֣ן[the] dominion of
shaltanH7985 →14 times
מַלְכוּתִ֗יkingdom my
malkhutiH4437 →57 times
לֶהֱוֹ֤ןthey will be
lehevonH1934 →71 times
זָיְעִין֙trembling
zaainH2112 →
וְדָ֣חֲלִ֔יןand fearing
vedachalinH1763 →6 times
מִן־from
min-H4481 →109 times
קֳדָ֖םbefore
kodamH6925 →42 times
אֱלָהֵ֣הּGod his
ʾelahehH426 →95 times
דִּי־of
di-H1768 →345 times
דָֽנִיֵּ֑אלDaniel
daniyelH1841 →57 times
דִּי־that
di-H1768 →345 times
ה֣וּא׀he
hu'H1932 →22 times
אֱלָהָ֣א[is] God the
ʾelaha'H426 →95 times
חַיָּ֗א<the> living
chaiya'H2417 →7 times
וְקַיָּם֙and enduring
vekaiyamH7011 →
לְעָ֣לְמִ֔יןfor ever
lealeminH5957 →20 times
וּמַלְכוּתֵהּ֙and kingdom his
umalkhutehH4437 →57 times
דִּֽי־which
di-H1768 →345 times
לָ֣אnot
la'H3809 →82 times
תִתְחַבַּ֔לit will be destroyed
titchabalH2255 →6 times
וְשָׁלְטָנֵ֖הּand dominion his
veshaltanehH7985 →14 times
עַד־[is] to
ʾad-H5705 →35 times
סוֹפָֽא׃end the
sofa'H5491 →5 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 1:33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
it leads to
- Daniel 2:44
In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms…
Reached by 4 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 1:8
But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.
- Daniel 7:13–14
In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led…
- Psalms 89:35–37
Once and for all I have sworn by My holiness— I will not lie to David—
- Daniel 2:44
Through
Daniel 7:14And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is…
it leads to
- Revelation 11:15
Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Daniel 7:27
Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 3:35
The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
- Revelation 11:15
Through
Daniel 4:3How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; His dominion endures from generation to generation.
it leads to
- Psalms 145:13
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful in all His words and kind in all His actions.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 145:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Daniel
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Carl Friedrich Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Daniel; Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 12; Cyprian, Treatise XII. Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 3:20; Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on Daniel 3.31.1; Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on Daniel 3.31.2-4; Jerome, St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER SIX; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.