Daniel 6:5

Translation
King James Version
Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
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KJV (with Strong's)
Then H116 said H560 these H479 men H1400, We shall not H3809 find H7912 any H3606 occasion H5931 against H5922 this H1836 Daniel H1841, except H3861 we find H7912 it against him concerning the law H1882 of his God H426.
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Complete Jewish Bible
Then these men said, "We're not going to find any cause for complaint against this Dani'el unless we can find something against him in regard to the law of his god."
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Berean Standard Bible
Finally these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel, unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”
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American Standard Version
Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
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World English Bible Messianic
Then these men said, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Then sayd these men, We shall not finde an occasion against this Daniel, except we finde it against him concerning the Law of his God.
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Young's Literal Translation
Then these men are saying, `We do not find against this Daniel any cause of complaint, except we have found it against him in the law of his God.'
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See also
Acts 24:13Acts 24:16Acts 24:20Acts 24:21Esther 3:81 Samuel 24:17John 19:6
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Daniel in Babylon
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In the KJVVerse 21,911 of 31,102

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SUMMARY

Daniel 6:5 stands as a profound testament to Daniel's unblemished character and unwavering devotion. Despite the intense malice and exhaustive efforts of his jealous adversaries—the high-ranking officials of the Medo-Persian kingdom—they were utterly unable to uncover any legitimate fault, corruption, or negligence in his administrative duties or personal conduct. This verse encapsulates their ultimate, frustrated conclusion: the only conceivable way to ensnare Daniel would be to exploit his absolute and uncompromising allegiance to "the law of his God," thereby strategically setting the stage for a direct and inevitable clash between human decree and divine authority.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This pivotal verse is strategically placed within the narrative immediately following Daniel's remarkable elevation to a position of supreme authority within the vast Medo-Persian Empire, second only to King Darius himself. Daniel 6:1-3 details how Daniel's extraordinary spirit and unparalleled administrative acumen distinguished him, leading the king to contemplate appointing him over the entire realm. This unprecedented promotion ignited a fervent jealousy among the other high-ranking officials, prompting them to conspire meticulously to undermine and discredit him. The preceding verses meticulously recount their exhaustive, yet utterly fruitless, search for any professional misconduct or personal failing. Consequently, Daniel 6:5 serves as the definitive declaration of their complete failure to find any secular "occasion" against him, thereby compelling them to shift their focus and target the very core of his unwavering faith.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The book of Daniel is set against the backdrop of the Babylonian and Persian exiles, with Daniel 6 specifically unfolding during the reign of Darius the Mede, a figure often identified by scholars as Cyrus the Great or a significant subordinate ruler. The Persian Empire, known for its vastness, was meticulously administered through a hierarchical system comprising satraps (provincial governors) and presidents. Paramount among their expectations was absolute loyalty to the king, and any perceived disloyalty or corruption was met with severe, often fatal, punishment. Culturally, the empire generally exhibited syncretistic tendencies, tolerating diverse religious practices as long as they did not overtly conflict with imperial authority. However, this tolerance possessed inherent limits, particularly when a specific religious practice implicitly challenged the absolute authority or claimed divinity of the monarch, a tension that would become starkly evident with the promulgation of the decree in Daniel 6:7.
  • Key Themes: Daniel 6:5 powerfully contributes to several overarching and profound themes woven throughout the book of Daniel. Firstly, it emphatically underscores the theme of unblemished integrity and righteous living, even within the compromising environment of a pagan court. It demonstrates that Daniel's excellence was not merely administrative proficiency but deeply rooted moral and spiritual rectitude. Secondly, it highlights the theme of persecution for righteousness' sake, as Daniel's adversaries are explicitly forced to target his faith rather than his performance, thereby foreshadowing the trials and tribulations faced by all who remain unyieldingly committed to God. Thirdly, and most significantly, it meticulously sets up the central conflict of divine sovereignty versus human authority, where Daniel's ultimate allegiance to "the law of his God" will inevitably clash with the king's decree, echoing the courageous stands taken by Daniel and his companions in earlier narratives, such as Daniel 1 and Daniel 3.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • occasion (Aramaic, ʻillâh', H5931): This Aramaic term (H5931) precisely refers to a "pretext" or a "charge" that is artificially manufactured or sought out. The fact that Daniel's enemies could find "no occasion" against him serves as a powerful testament to his impeccable conduct and highlights the inherently fabricated nature of their subsequent accusation. It unequivocally implies that their relentless search was not for genuine wrongdoing but for any conceivable excuse, however contrived, to bring about his downfall.
  • law (Aramaic, dâth', H1882): The Aramaic word (H1882) employed here signifies a "royal edict or statute," or more broadly, a "decree" or "law." In this specific context, it refers distinctly to the divine law—the sacred commandments and principles divinely revealed by God. The profound contrast drawn by Daniel's adversaries is critically important: they were utterly unable to find any fault with him concerning the king's law or his diligent administrative duties, but only concerning the "law of his God," thereby meticulously setting the stage for the direct confrontation between human and divine authority.
  • God (Aramaic, ʼĕlâhh', H426): This Aramaic term (H426) is the common and standard word for "God" found throughout the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, serving as the direct equivalent to the Hebrew ʼĕlôah. It refers specifically and exclusively to the one true God whom Daniel faithfully worshiped. The precise phrase "the law of his God" emphatically underscores Daniel's personal, unwavering, and exclusive devotion to Yahweh, clearly distinguishing his monotheistic faith from the prevalent polytheistic practices and idolatry of the Persian court.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Then said these men,": This introductory phrase formally presents the definitive conclusion reached by the conspiring presidents and satraps, who had been diligently and maliciously investigating Daniel. "These men" are the jealous and malevolent officials explicitly mentioned in Daniel 6:4, whose deep-seated malice fueled their exhaustive and ultimately futile search for any legitimate fault.
  • "We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel,": This declaration stands as an incredibly powerful and unsolicited testament to Daniel's unimpeachable integrity. Despite their thorough, highly motivated, and extensive search, they were utterly incapable of discovering any legitimate grounds for accusation regarding his professional conduct, administrative duties, or personal character. Daniel's blamelessness, even in the scrutinizing eyes of his bitter enemies, profoundly underscores his exemplary righteousness and unwavering faithfulness in all his responsibilities.
  • "except we find [it] against him concerning the law of his God.": This crucial and revealing clause unveils their desperate, cunning, and ultimately insidious strategy. Having failed to uncover any fault in Daniel's secular life or duties, they shrewdly realize that their only remaining recourse is to exploit his unwavering and absolute religious devotion. They correctly understand that Daniel's ultimate and non-negotiable allegiance is to God's law, and they meticulously plot to create a scenario where his profound faithfulness to God would be intentionally deemed a transgression against the state, thereby effectively transforming his greatest virtue into a fabricated crime.

Literary Devices

The verse masterfully employs several significant literary devices that enrich its meaning and impact. Irony is profoundly prominent, as Daniel's enemies, in their relentless and malicious pursuit to discredit him, inadvertently and ironically highlight his impeccable character. Their utter inability to find any fault, save for his unwavering devotion to God, serves as a powerful, albeit unintended, commendation of his integrity. This also functions as potent Foreshadowing, meticulously setting the stage for the infamous royal decree that will imminently force Daniel to make an agonizing choice between human law and divine command, thereby instigating the central and dramatic conflict of the entire chapter. Furthermore, a clear and impactful Contrast is established between human law (which Daniel upheld flawlessly and without blemish) and divine law (which became the sole and decisive point of contention), emphatically emphasizing the ultimate and supreme authority of God's commands in Daniel's life.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Daniel 6:5 profoundly illustrates the inherent and often stark tension between worldly power and divine allegiance, a recurring and foundational theme woven throughout the entire biblical narrative. It powerfully showcases that true righteousness frequently invites opposition, not because of any genuine wrongdoing, but precisely because it stands as a radiant and uncompromising contrast to the fallen and corrupt world. Daniel's blamelessness, even in the face of intense and malicious scrutiny, serves as an enduring model of integrity, demonstrating that a life wholly committed to God can withstand the most rigorous examination, even from hostile and determined adversaries. This verse underscores the fundamental principle that when human laws or societal expectations directly conflict with God's clear and immutable commands, ultimate and non-negotiable loyalty must reside with the divine, a profound conviction that would ultimately lead Daniel to the lion's den.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Daniel 6:5 offers both a profound challenge and a deep encouragement for believers in every age. It compels us to undertake a rigorous examination of the integrity of our own lives, particularly within our professional spheres, public interactions, and personal conduct. Daniel's adversaries, despite their deep-seated malice and exhaustive efforts, were utterly unable to find any legitimate fault in his work or personal character, forcing them to attack his faith directly. This narrative calls us to earnestly strive for such an unblemished testimony that our integrity is beyond reproach, even by those who harbor ill will towards us. Furthermore, it serves as a powerful reminder that our ultimate and non-negotiable allegiance belongs solely to God. When societal pressures, cultural norms, or human laws directly conflict with God's clear and immutable commands, our faithfulness to "the law of his God" must unequivocally take precedence. This unwavering commitment may indeed lead to opposition, ridicule, or even persecution, but Daniel's experience assures us that God faithfully honors, protects, and ultimately vindicates those who prioritize Him above all else.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what specific areas of your life (e.g., work, community involvement, family dynamics) can you intentionally strive for greater integrity, such that even potential adversaries would find no legitimate fault in your conduct?
  • Are there current or foreseeable situations where your unwavering commitment to "the law of your God" might bring you into direct conflict with prevailing societal norms, expectations, or human decrees? How are you spiritually and practically prepared to navigate such conflicts with faithfulness and grace?
  • How does Daniel's courageous example of standing firm in his faith, even when facing severe opposition and the threat of dire consequences, personally encourage and strengthen your resolve to honor God in all circumstances?

FAQ

What does Daniel's blamelessness in this verse teach us about living in a hostile environment?

Answer: Daniel's blamelessness teaches us a profound lesson about living with integrity and excellence, even within a hostile or overtly pagan environment. His enemies' utter inability to find any legitimate fault in his administrative duties or personal conduct powerfully underscores the transformative and protective power of a life submitted to God. It demonstrates that our conduct can serve as a compelling and unassailable testimony, leaving no valid room for accusation, thereby forcing adversaries to attack our faith directly if they wish to undermine us. This unwavering integrity not only safeguards our witness but also brings glory to God, even when it leads to persecution, as vividly illustrated throughout Daniel 6.

Why was "the law of his God" the only "occasion" they could find against Daniel?

Answer: "The law of his God" was the only "occasion" they could find against Daniel precisely because his life was otherwise exemplary and demonstrably beyond reproach in all secular and administrative matters. His enemies, driven by intense jealousy and a fervent desire to remove him from power, meticulously and exhaustively searched for any form of corruption, negligence, or disloyalty to the king's decrees, but found absolutely none. Daniel's commitment to God's law was absolute and non-negotiable, meaning he would not compromise his spiritual practices or divine commands for any human edict or political expediency. This unwavering and absolute devotion was the sole "vulnerability" they could exploit, as they correctly surmised that Daniel would obey God rather than men, thereby setting up the direct and unavoidable challenge to his faith, as meticulously detailed in the subsequent verses leading to the infamous decree in Daniel 6:7.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Daniel 6:5, with its poignant depiction of a blameless man whom adversaries could only accuse concerning his profound devotion to God, serves as a powerful and direct foreshadowing of the ultimate blamelessness of Jesus Christ. Just as Daniel's enemies, despite their relentless malice, could find no legitimate fault in him, so too did the religious and political leaders of Jesus' day search in vain for any legitimate charges against Him. Pilate, the Roman governor, repeatedly and emphatically declared, "I find no guilt in him" (John 18:38 and John 19:4), echoing the very testimony of Daniel's frustrated accusers. Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, lived a life utterly without sin (1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15), thereby fulfilling the ideal of integrity and moral perfection that Daniel exemplified. His "occasion" for condemnation was not a violation of human law, but rather His divine claim and His unwavering, perfect obedience to the "law of His God"—the perfect will of the Father (John 8:46). Ultimately, both Daniel and Christ faced persecution not for any wrongdoing, but for their perfect righteousness and unyielding devotion to God, with Christ's unjust condemnation leading to the glorious salvation of all who believe (Isaiah 53:9; Philippians 2:8). Daniel's miraculous vindication from the lion's den powerfully points to Christ's ultimate and decisive victory over death and the grave, demonstrating that God faithfully preserves, vindicates, and eternally exalts His faithful servants.

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Commentary on Daniel 6 verses 1–5

We are told concerning Daniel,

I. What a great man he was. When Darius, upon his accession to the crown of Babylon by conquest, new-modelled the government, he made Daniel prime-minister of state, set him at the helm, and made him first commissioner both of the treasury and of the great seal. Darius's dominion was very large; all he got by his conquests and acquests was that he had so many more countries to take care of; no more can be expected from himself than what one man can do, and therefore others must be employed under him. He set over the kingdom 120 princes (Dan 6:1), and appointed them their districts, in which they were to administer justice, preserve the public peace, and levy the king's revenue. Note, Inferior magistrates are ministers of God to us for good as well as the sovereign; and therefore we must submit ourselves both to the king as supreme and to the governors that are constituted and commissioned by him, Pe1 2:13, Pe1 2:14. Over these princes there was a triumvirate, or three presidents, who were to take and state the public accounts, to receive appeals from the princes, or complaints against them in case of mal-administration, that the king should have no damage (Dan 6:2), that he should not sustain loss in his revenue and that the power he delegated to the princes might not be abused to the oppression of the subject, for by that the king (whether he thinks so or no) receives real damage, both as it alienates the affections of his people from him and as it provokes the displeasure of his God against him. Of these three Daniel was chief, because he was found to go beyond them all in all manner of princely qualifications. He was preferred above the presidents and princes (Dan 6:3), and so wonderfully well pleased the king was with his management that he thought to set him over the whole realm, and let him place and displace at his pleasure. Now, 1. We must take notice of it to the praise of Darius that he would prefer a man thus purely for his personal merit, and his fitness for business; and those sovereigns that would be well served must go by that rule. Daniel had been a great man in the kingdom that was conquered, and for that reason, one would think, should have been looked upon as an enemy, and as such imprisoned or banished. He was a native of a foreign kingdom, and a ruined one, and upon that account might have been despised as a stranger and captive. But, Darius, it seems, was very quick-sighted in judging of men's capacities, and was soon aware that this Daniel had something extraordinary in him, and therefore, though no doubt he had creatures of his own, not a few, that expected preferment in this newly-conquered kingdom, and were gaping for it, and those that had been long his confidants would depend upon it that they should be now his presidents, yet so well did he consult the public welfare that, finding Daniel to excel them all in prudence and virtue, and probably having heard of his being divinely inspired, he made him his right hand. 2. We must take notice of it, to the glory of God, that, though Daniel was now very old (it was above seventy years since he was brought a captive to Babylon), yet he was as able as ever for business both in body and mind, and that he who had continued faithful to his religion through all the temptations of the foregoing reigns in a new government was as much respected as ever. He kept in by being an oak, not by being a willow, by a constancy in virtue, not by a pliableness to vice. Such honesty is the best policy, for it secures a reputation; and those who thus honour God he will honour.

II. What a good man he was: An excellent spirit was in him, Dan 6:3. And he was faithful to every trust, dealt fairly between the sovereign and the subject, and took care that neither should be wronged, so that there was no error, or fault, to be found in him, Dan 6:4. He was not only not chargeable with any treachery or dishonesty, but not even with any mistake or indiscretion. He never made any blunder, nor had any occasion to plead inadvertency or forgetfulness for his excuse. This is recorded for an example to all that are in places of public trust to approve themselves both careful and conscientious, that they may be free, not only from fault, but from error, not only from crime, but from mistake.

III. What ill-will was borne him, both for his greatness and for his goodness. The presidents and princes envied him because he was advanced above them, and probably hated him because he had a watchful eye upon them and took care they should not wrong the government to enrich themselves. See here, 1. The cause of envy, and that is every thing that is good. Solomon complains of it as a vexation that for every right work a man is envied of his neighbour (Ecc 4:4), that the better a man is the worse he is thought of by his rivals. Daniel is envied because he has a more excellent spirit than his neighbours. 2. The effect of envy, and that is every thing that is bad. Those that envied Daniel sought no less than his ruin. His disgrace would not serve them; it was his death that they desired. Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous, but who can stand before envy? Pro 27:4. Daniel's enemies set spies upon him, to observe him in the management of his place; they sought to find occasion against him, something on which to ground an accusation concerning the kingdom, some instance of neglect or partiality, some hasty word spoken, some person borne hard upon, or some necessary business overlooked. And if they could but have found the mote, the mole-hill, of a mistake, it would have been soon improved to the beam, to the mountain, of an unpardonable misdemeanour. But they could find no occasion against him; they owned that they could not. Daniel always acted honestly, and now the more warily, and stood the more upon his guard, because of his observers, Psa 27:11. Note, We have all need to walk circumspectly, because we have many eyes upon us, and some that watch for our halting. Those especially have need to carry their cup even that have it full. They concluded, at length, that they should not find any occasion against him except concerning the law of his God Dan 6:5. It seems then that Daniel kept up the profession of his religion, and held it fast without wavering or shrinking, and yet that was no bar to his preferment; there was no law that required him to be of the king's religion, or incapacitated him to bear office in the state unless he were. It was all one to the king what God he prayed to, so long as he did the business of his place faithfully and well. He was at the king's service usque ad aras - as far as the altars; but there he left him. In this matter therefore his enemies hoped to ensnare him. Quaerendum est crimen laesae religionis ubi majestatis deficit - When treason could not be charged upon him he was accused of impiety. Grotius. Note, It is an excellent thing, and much for the glory of God, when those who profess religion conduct themselves so inoffensively in their whole conversation that their most watchful spiteful enemies may find no occasion of blaming them, save only in the matters of their God, in which they walk according to their consciences. It is observable that, when Daniel's enemies could find no occasion against him concerning the kingdom, they had so much sense of justice left that they did not suborn witnesses against him to accuse him of crimes he was innocent of, and to swear treason upon him, wherein they shame many that were called Jews and are called Christians.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–5. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER SIX
Verse 5. "Therefore those men said: 'We will not find any pretext against Daniel, except perhaps in the law of his God.'" Blessed indeed is a life so led that even enemies can find no cause for accusation, except perhaps in matter pertaining to God's law.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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