Word Studies - Part 6

Daniel 6:26 – I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. (NKJV)

Strong’s # 7011 qayyam (kah-yawm´)


Lexicons/Bible Dictionaries

Strong’s – from the word quwm, which means to make stand; to appoint, to establish permanent, sure

Word Study (OT) – something assured, or enduring; never comes to an end, deteriorates, or fails

Brown-Driver-Briggs – enduring

Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament – enduring

NIV Hebrew – enduring

NASB Hebrew – enduring, assured

NIDOTTE – unbreakable, everlasting


Translations

KJV – I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

NASB95 – I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; for He is the living God and enduring forever, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever.

ESV – I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.

NLT – I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end.

AMP – I make a decree that in all my royal dominion men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for He is the living God, enduring and steadfast forever, and His kingdom shall not be destroyed and His dominion shall be even to the end [of the world].

NIV – I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end”.

MSG – I decree that Daniel’s God shall be worshiped and feared in all parts of my kingdom. He is the living God, world without end. His kingdom never falls. His rule continues eternally.

NRSV – I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: For he is the living God, enduring forever. His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion has no end.

Darby – I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

Young’s – From before me is made a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom they are trembling and fearing before the God of Daniel, for He [is] the living God, and abiding to the ages, and His kingdom that which [is] not destroyed, and His dominion [is] unto the end.


Commentaries

McGee – In this passage there is a contrast between the Living God of David, and the idols with the key point in this verse being that while idols will eventually rot, and are incapable of making promises or keeping their word, the Living God is steadfast and unchanging, He can be trusted and depended on eternally.

Expositor’s – This verse emphasizes that Daniel’s God is alive as evidenced by His interaction in history, His responses to situations, and His provision and justice for His people. It emphasizes God’s eternal rule that will never pass away, and His miraculous deliverance of His people. God is steadfast as He does not change the way He interacts with His people based on a whim.

Longman – While Darius is forced to abide by a law He cannot overthrow that was made rashly, one has no such concerns with the true King of Israel who is consistent and whose ways are enduring. God cannot be overruled, tricked, or manipulated by human effort.

Russell – God’s kingdom and sovereignty are certain and steadfast, God rules a dominion that is constant and everlasting as He is the God who is unchanging and unchangeable.

Montgomery – The dominion of man is not enduring, yet the dominion of God is, and this passage contrasts the unchanging and enduring dominion of God with the changing and failing dominion of man.

Leupold – Even though the decree of Darius sounds scriptural, one must always be cautious that which is not scripture, regardless of how good it sounds. The truth of God is enduring, and while the truth of humanity passes away, the truth of God remains forever.

Goldengay – Darius acknowledges that only the Living God is enduring and eternal, and the result is that God is now the center of worship rather than His worship simply being tolerated.


Word Application

The world currently is a wasteland of quick, temporary solutions, and instant gratification. It is currently more difficult in a court of law to dissolve a business arrangement than a marriage in which a couple vowed before God to be united as one as long as they both shall live. Society does not comprehend long-term commitment. This society of instant solutions is capable of changing one’s look through plastic surgery, one’s habits through life coaches, and one’s mental state through psychology or psychiatry. Society teaches that change is good, and must be embraced. Therefore it is clear why society is unable to comprehend the steadfast, unchanging, unchangeable, eternal God.
The Lord Almighty cannot be categorized or limited to fit into the comprehension of modern society. Rather God defies society’s restrictions by remaining faithful to His people, and not changing the rules as He goes along. Almost two thousand years ago God instructed that one could be saved through faith in Jesus Christ alone, and that has not changed. In a world of shifting terms and conditions, God has remained constant, and His requirement for salvation will never change, He has promised that. One can rely on God completely, trust Him absolutely, and be confident that He is the unchanging Eternal God.
Finally, in a world of subjective truth, the Lord God can be trusted to consistently and continually speak only the truth. In fact, God cannot lie as He is truth itself. God’s standard does not change, and His commitment to the truth does not change. As Darius learned, only the Living God of Daniel is steadfast, is enduring and eternal, all else passes away.