Daniel 6:1

Authorized King James Version

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
שְׁפַר֙
to be beautiful
#2
קֳדָ֣ם
It pleased
before
#3
דָּרְיָ֔וֶשׁ
Darius
darejavesh, a title (rather than name) of several persian kings
#4
וַהֲקִים֙
to set
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
#5
עַל
over
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#6
מַלְכוּתָֽא׃
kingdom
dominion (abstractly or concretely)
#7
לַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֖א
princes
a satrap or governor of a main province (of persia)
#8
מְאָ֣ה
an hundred
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
#9
וְעֶשְׂרִ֑ין
and twenty
twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth
#10
דִּ֥י
that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of
#11
לֶהֱוֺ֖ן
which should be
to exist; used in a great variety of applications (especially in connection with other words)
#12
בְּכָל
over the whole
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#13
מַלְכוּתָֽא׃
kingdom
dominion (abstractly or concretely)

Analysis

The kingdom of God theme here intersects with the progressive revelation of God's rule from creation to consummation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of development from creation mandate through Davidic kingdom to eschatological fulfillment. The phrase emphasizing kingdom relates to eschatology and the ultimate purpose of God's redemptive plan and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's reign from creation through the millennial kingdom.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on kingdom of God particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show imperial and royal imagery familiar to subjects of ancient monarchies, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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