Daniel 2:14
New International Version
When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact.

New Living Translation
When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, came to kill them, Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion.

English Standard Version
Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.

Berean Standard Bible
When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, went out to execute the wise men of Babylon, Daniel responded with discretion and tact.

King James Bible
Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:

New King James Version
Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon;

New American Standard Bible
Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the captain of the king’s bodyguard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon;

NASB 1995
Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the captain of the king’s bodyguard, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon;

NASB 1977
Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the captain of the king’s bodyguard, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon;

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the captain of the king’s bodyguard, who had gone forth to kill the wise men of Babylon;

Amplified Bible
Then Daniel replied with discretion and wisdom to Arioch, the captain of the king’s bodyguard, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon;

Christian Standard Bible
Then Daniel responded with tact and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Daniel responded with tact and discretion to Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon.

American Standard Version
Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, who was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon;

Contemporary English Version
Arioch was the king's official in charge of putting the wise men to death. He was on his way to have it done, when Daniel very wisely went to him

English Revised Version
Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
While Arioch, the captain of the royal guard, was leaving to kill the wise advisers in Babylon, Daniel spoke to him using shrewd judgment.

Good News Translation
Then Daniel went to Arioch, commander of the king's bodyguard, who had been ordered to carry out the execution. Choosing his words carefully,

International Standard Version
Daniel responded with wisdom and discretion to Arioch, the king's executioner, who had gone out to execute the advisors of Babylon.

Majority Standard Bible
When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon, Daniel replied with discretion and tact.

NET Bible
Then Daniel spoke with prudent counsel to Arioch, who was in charge of the king's executioners and who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon.

New Heart English Bible
Then Daniel returned an answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, who was gone forth to kill the wise men of Babylon;

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:

World English Bible
Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Then Daniel has replied [with] counsel and discretion to Arioch chief of the executioners of the king, who has gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon.

Young's Literal Translation
Then Daniel hath replied with counsel and discretion to Arioch chief of the executioners of the king, who hath gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon.

Smith's Literal Translation
At that time Daniel turned back counsel and reason to Arioch, leader of the king's executioners, that went forth to kill to the wise of Babel:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Daniel inquired concerning the law and the sentence, of Arioch the general of the king's army, who was gone forth to kill the wise men of Babylon.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Daniel inquired, about the law and the sentence, of Arioch, the general of the king’s army, who had gone forth to execute the wise men of Babylon.

New American Bible
Then Daniel prudently took counsel with Arioch, the chief of the king’s guard, who had set out to kill the wise men of Babylon.

New Revised Standard Version
Then Daniel responded with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the king’s chief executioner, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Daniel meditated and took counsel, and then said to Arioch the commander of the king's guardsmen, who had gone out to slay the wise men of Babylon,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Then Daniel contemplated and he took counsel and said to Ariuk, the High Guard of the King, he who went out to kill the Wise Men of Babel:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and discretion to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, who was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Then Daniel answered with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the royal guard, who was gone forth to kill the wise men of Babylon; saying,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Dream Revealed to Daniel
14When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon, Daniel replied with discretion and tact. 15“Why is the decree from the king so harsh?” he asked. At this time Arioch explained the situation to Daniel.…

Cross References
Genesis 41:16
“I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”

Esther 4:14
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Acts 7:10
and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.

Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Acts 5:29
But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

1 Samuel 25:32-33
Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day! / Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.

Nehemiah 2:4
“What is your request?” replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven

Acts 4:19
But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.

Proverbs 16:1
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.

Acts 6:10
but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

1 Kings 3:28
When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.

Matthew 10:19-20
But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. / For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Proverbs 25:15
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

Luke 21:15
For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

Ecclesiastes 8:1
Who is like the wise man? Who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.


Treasury of Scripture

Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:

answered.

2 Samuel 20:16-22
Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee…

Ecclesiastes 9:13-18
This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: …

captain of the king's guard.

Genesis 37:36
And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.

Jeremiah 39:9
Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained.

Jeremiah 52:12,14
Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, which served the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem, …

Jump to Previous
Arioch Ar'i-Och Armed Babylon Bodyguard Captain Chief Commander Counsel Daniel Discernment Discretion Forth Good Guard Kill King's Prudence Sense Slay Wisdom Wise
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Arioch Ar'i-Och Armed Babylon Bodyguard Captain Chief Commander Counsel Daniel Discernment Discretion Forth Good Guard Kill King's Prudence Sense Slay Wisdom Wise
Daniel 2
1. Nebuchadnezzar, forgetting his dream,
5. requires it of the Chaldeans, by promises and threats.
10. They acknowledging their inability are judged to die.
14. Daniel obtaining some respite finds the dream.
19. He blesses God.
24. He staying the decree is brought to the king.
31. The dream.
36. The interpretation.
46. Daniel's advancement.














When Arioch
Arioch is identified as the commander of the king's guard, a position of significant authority and responsibility in the Babylonian empire. The name "Arioch" is of Akkadian origin, meaning "servant of the moon god," which reflects the polytheistic culture of Babylon. Historically, commanders like Arioch were entrusted with carrying out the king's orders, often involving life-and-death decisions. This highlights the gravity of the situation Daniel faced.

the commander of the king’s guard
The "commander of the king’s guard" was a high-ranking official responsible for the security of the king and the execution of his decrees. In the context of ancient Near Eastern monarchies, such a role was crucial for maintaining the king's power and authority. This phrase underscores the imminent danger Daniel and his companions were in, as the king's guard was tasked with executing the wise men.

had gone out to execute
The phrase "had gone out to execute" indicates the urgency and seriousness of the king's decree. The Hebrew root for "execute" conveys the idea of destruction or annihilation, emphasizing the lethal intent behind the king's command. This reflects the absolute power wielded by Babylonian kings and the precarious position of those who served them.

the wise men of Babylon
The "wise men of Babylon" were a group of scholars, astrologers, and magicians who served in the king's court. They were expected to provide counsel and interpret dreams, a common practice in ancient Mesopotamian cultures. The failure of these wise men to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream led to the king's harsh decree, setting the stage for Daniel's intervention.

Daniel replied
Daniel's response is pivotal. Despite the dire circumstances, he chooses to engage with Arioch. The Hebrew root for "replied" suggests a thoughtful and deliberate response, indicating Daniel's composure and faith. This moment marks the beginning of Daniel's demonstration of God-given wisdom and courage.

with discretion and tact
The phrase "with discretion and tact" highlights Daniel's prudent and wise approach. The Hebrew words used here convey a sense of prudence, insight, and understanding. Daniel's ability to navigate this dangerous situation with such skill is a testament to his character and reliance on God. It serves as an inspirational example of how believers can face challenges with wisdom and grace, trusting in God's guidance.

(14) Arioch.--See Note on Genesis 14:1.

Verse 14. - Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon. The text here does not seem to have differed much from the Egyptian recension, the translation of which we have in the Septuagint Version. "Then Daniel spake with the counsel and knowledge which were his to Arioch the chief executioner [ἀρχὶ μαγείρῳ, 'chief butcher,' used by Plutarch for 'chief cook'] of the king, to whom it was appointed to lead out the wise men (σοφιστὰς) of Babylonia." The text before the Septuagint translators seems to have had דילֵה (deeleh), "which to him," equivalent to "which he had." The LXX. text had פקד instead of נפק. Something may be said for this reading, as the ל of the succeeding word may have occasioned the disappearance of the ד, which might be regarded as a ל defectively written. Theodotion agrees perfectly with the Massoretic text. The Peshitta is somewhat of a paraphrase in regard to the first clause, "Then Daniel pacified and consulted, and said to Arioch the chief of the king's guard, who had gone out to slay the wise men of Babylon." It would seem as if there had been some confusion of the words here, though the meaning is not far from that of the other version. The Vulgate Version differs, "Then Daniel asked about the law and sentence (sentientia) at Arioch, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon." The slate of matters implied here reveals to us the fact that several links of the story are awanting. There seems to have been absolute secrecy as to what had taken place in the royal council-chamber, and how absolute had been the failure of the Chaldean wise men to satisfy the demands of the king. We could imagine the strange turmoil that this would have caused in the college of young cadets of the various guilds of soothsayers and augurs, had it been announced that these great heads of their various orders had failed. News may have come of the wrath of the king, and close behind the angry sentence of extirpation, passed not only on those who had been the immediate occasions of the king's wrath, but on all the gull, is of wise men in Babylon. This must have filled those who belonged to the various guilds implicated, not only with terror, but with amazement. It was next brought to them that they, though only in the lower stages of these famous guilds, were doomed to a common destruction with the past masters of the craft. That this was allowed to reach these subalterns proves that popular opinion had not gone with the fiery edict of the king. Above all, Arioch, captain "of the guard" - "of the cut-throats," as the Spanish translators have rendered it; "chief butcher," as both Theodotion and the Septuagint render his title - acts as if he is not in favour of it. lie is compelled to do the king's bidding; but he is evidently bent on going about the realtor in such a leisurely fashion that the great body of the condemned may escape. We may stay to notice that the name Arioch is a genuine Babylonian name, Eri Aku, "Servant of the moon-god." Professor Bevan declares it is borrowed from Genesis 14:1, as his title is from Genesis 37:36. It is singular that when the author's acquaintance with the earlier Scriptures was so full and accurate, he should drop into the blunders he is accused cf. In Genesis the executioner does not execute anybody; in Daniel he is represented as engaged in organizing the massacre. Daniel seems not to have waited till the terrible band of guardsmen-executioners arrived at the college where he and his friends were living, he goes direct to the chief of the band. The fact that he is not cut down immediately on his approach seems to argue that even the common guardsmen shrank from the duty imposed on them. Their horror and shrinking were perfectly natural. Let us suppose a company in a regiment of Irish Roman Catholics ordered to shoot down their own priests, and we may have some idea of the feelings of these soldiers. These augurs and soothsayers, these astrologers and magicians, had been their counsellors; they had been their intercessors with their deities. If they were all slaughtered, would not the sheer blank in their own lives be immense? There would be no one now to tell them, however falsely, of the future: no one to tell them what to do to propitiate the gods. But more, the gods might well be supposed to be enraged by the slaughter of so many of their special servants, and might be expected to pour down vengeance on the whole nation as well as on the king who had commanded it, but most of all on those who, under whatever compulsion, raised their sacrilegious hands against the priests of the holy gods. It is even not improbable that, once the immediate paroxysm of his fury had passed, Nebuchadnezzar would be appalled at what he had himself ordered, and would connive at delay, in the hope that, though late, these wise men might come to reason and tell him what he wished. Daniel seems to find no difficulty in gaining access to the presence of Arioch. There are men who have a magnetic power over their fellows, and bend every one to their way, and still gain their affection. And Daniel seems pre-eminently to have been a man of this type. Personal good looks and suave manners had their own share, but something more was needed to carry a condemned man through the ranks of guards right into the presence of their chief. This is made all the more striking when we bear in mind that preparations were being made for the great massacre.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When
בֵּאדַ֣יִן (bê·ḏa·yin)
Preposition-b | Adverb
Strong's 116: Then, thereupon

Arioch,
לְאַרְי֕וֹךְ (lə·’ar·yō·wḵ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 746: Arioch -- king of Ellasar

the commander
רַב־ (raḇ-)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7229: Abundant

of the king’s
מַלְכָּ֑א (mal·kā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430: A king

guard,
טַבָּחַיָּ֖א (ṭab·bā·ḥay·yā)
Noun - masculine plural determinate
Strong's 2877: A lifeguardsman

had gone out
נְפַ֣ק (nə·p̄aq)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5312: To go or come out or forth

to execute
לְקַטָּלָ֔ה (lə·qaṭ·ṭā·lāh)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6992: To kill

the wise men
לְחַכִּימֵ֖י (lə·ḥak·kî·mê)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2445: Wise, a Magian

of Babylon,
בָּבֶֽל׃ (bā·ḇel)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 895: Babylon -- an eastern Mediterranean empire and its capital city

Daniel
דָּנִיֵּ֗אל (dā·nî·yêl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1841: Daniel -- 'God is my judge', an Israelite leader in Babylon

replied
הֲתִיב֙ (hă·ṯîḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8421: To return

with discretion
עֵטָ֣א (‘ê·ṭā)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5843: Prudence

and tact.
וּטְעֵ֔ם (ū·ṭə·‘êm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2942: Flavor, judgment, account


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OT Prophets: Daniel 2:14 Then Daniel returned answer with counsel (Dan. Da Dn)
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