Daniel 6:17 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.

◄ Daniel 6:17 ►

New International Version
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 Daniel’s situation might not be changed.

New Living Translation
A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel.

English Standard Version
And a stone was brought and laid on 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.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.

New American Standard Bible
And 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 signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed regarding Daniel.

NASB 1995
A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.

NASB 1977
And a stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing might be changed in regard to Daniel.

Legacy Standard Bible
And 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 signet rings of his nobles so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.

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

Christian Standard Bible
A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
A stone was rolled over the pit, and it was sealed. Then Darius and his officials stamped the seal to show that no one should let Daniel out.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A stone was brought and placed over the opening of the den. The king put his seal on the stone, using his ring and the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel's situation could not be changed.

Good News Translation
A stone was put over the mouth of the pit, and the king placed his own royal seal and the seal of his noblemen on the stone, so that no one could rescue Daniel.

International Standard Version
A stone was brought and placed over the opening to the pit, and the king affixed a seal to it with his personal signet ring and with the signet rings of his officials so that no one would interfere with Daniel's situation.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
Then a stone was brought and placed over the opening to the den. The king sealed it with his signet ring and with those of his nobles so that nothing could be changed with regard to Daniel.

New Heart English Bible
A stone was brought, and placed on the opening 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.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
A stone was brought, and laid on 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.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And a stone has been brought and placed at the mouth of the den, and the king has sealed it with his signet, and with the signet of his great men, that the purpose is not changed concerning Daniel.

Young's Literal Translation
And a stone hath been brought and placed at the mouth of the den, and the king hath sealed it with his signet, and with the signet of his great men, that the purpose be not changed concerning Daniel.

Smith's Literal Translation
And one stone was brought and set upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his signet ring, and with the signet ring of his nobles, that the will shall not be changed upon Daniel.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den: which the king sealed with his own ring, and with the ring of his nobles, that nothing should be done against Daniel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And a stone was brought, and it was placed over the mouth of the den, which the king sealed with his own ring, and with the ring of his nobles, so that no one would act against Daniel.

New American Bible
To forestall any tampering, the king sealed with his own ring and the rings of the lords the stone that had been brought to block the opening of the den.

New Revised Standard Version
A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And they brought a large stone and laid it upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his princes, so that the sentence might not be changed concerning Daniel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they brought one great stone and they placed it over the mouth of the pit, and the King sealed it with his ring and with the ring of his Princes, that the matter would not change with Daniel

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they brought a stone, and put it on the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his ring, and with the ring of his nobles; that the case might not be altered with regard to Daniel.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Daniel in the Lions' Den
…16So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17A 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. 18Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Matthew 27:66
So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.

Esther 3:12
On the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal scribes were summoned and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded the royal satraps, the governors of each province, and the officials of each people, in the script of each province and the language of every people. It was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the royal signet ring.

Esther 8:8
Now you may write in the king’s name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”

Matthew 27:60
and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away.

Mark 15:46
So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.

John 19:39-42
Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus at night, also brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. / So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. / Now there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. ...

Genesis 29:3
When all the flocks had been gathered there, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.

2 Samuel 17:13
If he retreats to a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a pebble can be found there.”

1 Kings 21:8
Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.

2 Kings 18:37
Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.

Nehemiah 9:38
In view of all this, we make a binding agreement, putting it in writing and sealing it with the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.”

Job 14:17
My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.

Isaiah 29:11
And the entire vision will be to you like the words sealed in a scroll. If it is handed to someone to read, he will say, “I cannot, because it is sealed.”

Jeremiah 32:10-11
I signed and sealed the deed, called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales. / Then I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy with its terms and conditions, as well as the open copy—

Ezekiel 28:12
“Son of man, take up a lament for the king of Tyre and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

Treasury of Scripture

And a stone was brought, and laid on 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.

a stone.

Lamentations 3:53
They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.

Matthew 27:60-66
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…

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.

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Daniel 6

1. Daniel is made chief of the presidents.
4. They, conspiring against him, obtain an idolatrous decree.
10. Daniel, accused of the breach thereof, is cast into the lion's den.
18. Daniel is saved;
24. his adversaries devoured;
25. and God magnified by a decree.

Berean Study Bible

A stone was brought
The use of a stone to seal the den is reminiscent of ancient practices where stones were used to secure tombs or important sites. In Hebrew, the word for stone is "אֶבֶן" (even), which often symbolizes strength and permanence. This act of placing a stone over the den signifies the finality and seriousness of Daniel's situation, echoing the sealing of Jesus' tomb in the New Testament, which was also secured with a stone.

and placed over the mouth of the den
The "mouth of the den" refers to the entrance of the lions' den, a pit or cave-like structure. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, such dens were used for executions or imprisonments. The imagery of a "mouth" suggests a consuming force, yet it is also a place where God's miraculous deliverance is about to be revealed. This phrase sets the stage for God's intervention, highlighting the contrast between human intentions and divine power.

and the king sealed it with his own signet ring
The act of sealing with a signet ring was a common practice in ancient times to authenticate documents or secure objects. The king's signet ring, a symbol of authority and power, indicates that the decree concerning Daniel was irrevocable. In Hebrew, the word for seal is "חָתַם" (chatham), which conveys the idea of finality and unchangeability. This action underscores the seriousness of the situation and the king's reluctant compliance with the law he was manipulated into enforcing.

and with the rings of his nobles
The involvement of the nobles' rings in sealing the den suggests a collective agreement and shared responsibility among the ruling class. This detail highlights the political dynamics at play, where the nobles' influence over the king is evident. It also serves to emphasize the human opposition against Daniel, setting the stage for God's intervention to be even more dramatic and undeniable.

so that nothing would be changed regarding Daniel
This phrase underscores the intent to make Daniel's fate certain and unalterable. The use of the word "changed" (Hebrew: "שָׁנָה" - shanah) implies a fixed decree, reflecting the Medo-Persian law's reputation for being unchangeable. However, this sets up a powerful contrast with God's sovereignty, as the unchangeable human decree is about to be overturned by divine intervention. This highlights the theme of God's ultimate authority over human affairs, a central message in the Book of Daniel.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(17) Sealed it.--This sealing both by the king and his nobles appears to have been due to the fear that the nobles had (Daniel 6:16) of the king's attempting to rescue Daniel. The nobles also would be unable to put Daniel to death in the event of his escaping the fury of the lions.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 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. The Septuagint text begins, according to Tischendorf, with a passage elsewhere considered, "And the king was grieved, and commanded to cast Daniel into the den of lions, according to the decree which he had made concerning him." This is repeated from the fourteenth verse, where it appears alike in the Chisian Manuscript and in the version of Paul of Tella, "Then Daniel was cast into the den of lions, and a stone was brought and placed at the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signets of his lords, in order that Daniel might not be raised by them or delivered by the king out of the den." The reason assigned for the double sealing of the stone, while a very probable one, is from its very probability to be suspected; it is most likely an explanatory marginal remark, that has slipped into the text. It will be observed that the clause with which the Septuagint Version of this verse begins is the equivalent of the opening clause of the preceding verse. Theodotion's rendering does not differ from the Massoretic reading. From the similarity of the dialects, the resemblance of the Peshitta to the Massoretic is even closer. There are few criticisms of Daniel more unfair than that founded on the assumption that the writer had a bottle-shaped dungeon in his mind, that might be covered over as a well by one large stone. Nothing in the words used implies this. While gob certainly means a "pit" or a "cistern," it was by no means necessarily of small size or covered over with one stone, so that within it would be darkness. There were probably walls rising from the sides of the pit which formed the den; in that wall there would be naturally an aperture through which food could be passed to the lions. Through this door was Daniel cast, and when he had been so cast in, a stone was rolled up to the aperture and sealed. There is no necessity for arguing, as Hitzig and von Lengerke do, against this incident. The passage the former refers to in Xenophon's 'Anabasis' (v. 5.25) applies to dwellings of human beings, and even if we could transfer its description to the present case, it would not damage our argument. In these dwellings Xenophon tells us "were goats, sheep, oxen, birds, and their young; all the cattle are fed within with green fodder." These critics forget that lions' dens were in use not only among the Assyrians and Babylonians, but also among the Greek monarchs, and so, even if the writer was of the late date attributed to him by critics, still he would not speak nonsense about what he could not fail to know something. Hitzig sees in Daniel being let down into the den of lions an imitation of what befell Joseph at the hands of his brethren. Certainly the same word is used in the Targum of Onkelos, Genesis 37:22, but identity of name does not prove identity of thing. No one could argue that the pit of a theatre was necessarily dark, dirty, and damp, because a coal-pit is. That Reuben persuaded his brethren to put Joseph in the pit in order to save him alive, and the rulers had Daniel put in the lions' den in order to destroy him, is nothing to the purpose, it would seem; that there were lions in the pit or den in which Daniel was placed, and no venomous beast in that into which Joseph was let down, is also of no moment. The further fact that this letting down into the pit occurs in the beginning of Joseph's career, and in Daniel's case it is near the end of a long and prosperous life, is not noticed. The life of Daniel must be proved to be written in imitation of the life of Joseph, so any means are good enough to secure this predetermined conclusion. While this resemblance is only superficial, there is another resemblance that is, at all events, full of interest. In later history there was another sealing of the stone that was rolled to the mouth of a grave - it may be noted that gob is used for a "grave" also - and fear here also was lest the innocently condemned might be taken away.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

A
חֲדָ֔ה (ḥă·ḏāh)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 2298: As card, one, single, first, at once

stone
אֶ֣בֶן (’e·ḇen)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 69: A stone

was brought
וְהֵיתָ֙יִת֙ (wə·hê·ṯā·yiṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hofal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 858: To arrive

and placed
וְשֻׂמַ֖ת (wə·śu·maṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7761: To set, make

over
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5922: Above, over, upon, against

the mouth
פֻּ֣ם (pum)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6433: The mouth

of the den,
גֻּבָּ֑א (gub·bā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 1358: A pit, den

and the king
מַלְכָּ֜א (mal·kā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430: A king

sealed it
וְחַתְמַ֨הּ (wə·ḥaṯ·mah)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 2857: To seal

with his own signet ring
בְּעִזְקְתֵ֗הּ (bə·‘iz·qə·ṯêh)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5824: A signet-ring

and with the rings
וּבְעִזְקָת֙ (ū·ḇə·‘iz·qāṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5824: A signet-ring

of his nobles,
רַבְרְבָנ֔וֹהִי (raḇ·rə·ḇā·nō·w·hî)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7261: Lord, noble

so that
דִּ֛י (dî)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 1768: Who, which, that, because

nothing
לָא־ (lā-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3809: Not, no

concerning Daniel
בְּדָנִיֵּֽאל׃ (bə·ḏā·nî·yêl)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1841: Daniel -- 'God is my judge', an Israelite leader in Babylon

could be changed.
תִשְׁנֵ֥א (ṯiš·nê)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 8133: To change

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OT Prophets: Daniel 6:17 A stone was brought and laid (Dan. Da Dn)