and over them, three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), so that these satraps would be accountable to them, and that the king would not suffer loss.
Parallel translations
- WEB and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account to them, and that the king should have no damage.
- KJV And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
- BSB and over them three administrators, including Daniel, to whom these satraps were accountable so that the king would not suffer loss.
- NKJV and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss.
- NLT The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Three administrators oversee the satraps, and Daniel is one of them, ensuring the king suffers no loss. Daniel is given high trust in the new government.
Overview
Daniel is appointed among the top officials charged with protecting the king's interests. His prominence reflects both his God-given competence and the Lord's providential care over him in exile. This elevation, however, will provoke the envy that drives the chapter's crisis.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Ezra 4:22Be careful that you not be slack doing so. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
- Esth 7:4For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for male and female slaves, I would have held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king’s loss.”
- Dan 5:16But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if you can read the writing, and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
- Dan 5:29Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
- Dan 2:48–49Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.
- Luke 16:2He called him, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’
- 1 Cor 4:2Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful.
- Prov 26:6One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
- Luke 19:13–27He called ten servants of his, and gave them ten mina coins, and told them, ‘Conduct business until I come.’
- 1 Sam 2:30“Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, should walk before me forever.’ But now Yahweh says, ‘Far be it from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me will be lightly esteemed.
- Prov 3:16Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
- Matt 18:23Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Daniel sees the stone cut without hands that shatters the kingdoms, and 'one like a son of man' given everlasting dominion — titles and visions Jesus claims as his own.
How Daniel 6:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.