Daniel 6:17

And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

And a {H2298} stone {H69} was brought {H858}, and laid {H7761} upon {H5922} the mouth {H6433} of the den {H1358}; and the king {H4430} sealed {H2857} it with his own signet {H5824}, and with the signet {H5824} of his lords {H7261}; that the purpose {H6640} might not {H3809} be changed {H8133} concerning Daniel {H1841}.

A stone was brought to block the opening of the pit, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing concerning Dani'el could be changed.

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed.

And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

Daniel 6:17 KJV describes a critical moment in the narrative of Daniel in the lions' den, emphasizing the finality and authority behind the decree to execute him.

Context

Following a plot by jealous satraps and administrators, Daniel was condemned to be thrown into the lions' den for praying to God, in violation of a newly enacted royal decree. King Darius, though deeply distressed and having tried to rescue Daniel (Daniel 6:14), was bound by the unchangeable law of the Medes and Persians. This verse details the sealing of the den, an act that underscored the perceived irrevocability of the judgment against Daniel.

Key Themes

  • Irrevocability of Human Decrees: The act of sealing the den with the king's and his lords' signets was a public declaration that the sentence could not be reversed or tampered with. It demonstrated the perceived ultimate authority of the Medo-Persian legal system.
  • The Extent of Daniel's Predicament: The sealing signified Daniel's seemingly inescapable fate. Humanly speaking, there was no hope of escape or intervention once the den was sealed.
  • Symbol of Finality: The stone and seals served as a physical barrier and a legal assurance that no one could interfere with the outcome, nor could Daniel escape. This mirrors other biblical accounts where seals signify finality, such as the sealing of Jesus's tomb.

Linguistic Insights

The term "signet" (Hebrew: 'izzəqāh) refers to a ring or seal used to impress a distinctive mark, serving as a signature or stamp of official authority. By using both the king's signet and those of his lords, the decree's enforcement was doubly validated and legally binding, ensuring that "the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel." This highlights the meticulousness with which the human system sought to guarantee Daniel's demise in the lions' den.

Practical Application

Daniel 6:17 sets the stage for one of the Bible's most dramatic demonstrations of divine intervention. Even when human systems declare a situation irreversible and sealed, God's power is not limited. This verse reminds us that no circumstance, however bleak or sealed by human authority, is beyond God's ability to act. It encourages faith that God can work miracles even when all hope seems lost, as He did when He sent His angel to shut the lions' mouths.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Lamentations 3:53

    They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.

  • Acts 12:4

    And when he had apprehended him, he put [him] in prison, and delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

  • Acts 16:23

    And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast [them] into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

  • Acts 16:24

    Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

  • Matthew 27:60

    And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

  • Matthew 27:66

    So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

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