Daniel 2:15

English Revised Version

he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Wherefore is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He asked Arioch, the king’s officer, “Why is the decree from the king so harsh?” Then Arioch explained the situation to Daniel.

Hebrew Names Version
he answered Aryokh the king's captain, Why is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Aryokh made the thing known to Daniyel.

King James Version
He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

English Standard Version
He declared to Arioch, the king's captain, "Why is the decree of the king so urgent?" Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel.

New American Standard Bible
he said to Arioch, the king's officer, "For what reason is the decree from the king so harsh?" Then Arioch informed Daniel of the matter.

New Century Version
saying, "Why did the king order such a terrible punishment?" Then Arioch explained everything to Daniel.

Amplified Bible
he said to Arioch, the king's captain, "Why is the decree from the king so harsh and urgent?" Then Arioch explained the matter to Daniel.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Yea, he answered and sayde vnto Arioch the kings captaine, Why is the sentence so hastie from the king? Then Arioch declared the thing to Daniel.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
he said to Arioch, the king's commander, "For what reason is the decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter.

Berean Standard Bible
"Why is the decree from the king so harsh?" he asked. At this time Arioch explained the situation to Daniel.

Contemporary English Version
and asked, "Why did the king give such cruel orders?" After Arioch explained what had happened,

Complete Jewish Bible
He said to Aryokh, "Since you are the king's official, let me ask: why has the king issued such a harsh decree?" Aryokh explained the matter to Dani'el.

Darby Translation
he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so rigorous from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

Easy-to-Read Version
and said, "Why did the king order such a severe punishment?" Then Arioch explained the whole story about the king's dreams, and Daniel understood.

George Lamsa Translation
Why is this decree from the king so urgent? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

Good News Translation
he asked Arioch why the king had issued such a harsh order. So Arioch told Daniel what had happened.

Lexham English Bible
He asked and said to Arioch, the royal official of the king, "Why is the decree from the king so severe?" Then Arioch explained the matter to Daniel.

Literal Translation
He answered and said to Arioch, the king's officer, Why is the decree so hasty from before the king? And Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He answered, and sayde vnto Arioch beinge then the kinges debyte: Why hath the kynge proclamed so cruell a sentence? So Arioch tolde Daniel the matter.

American Standard Version
he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Wherefore is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

Bible in Basic English
He made answer and said to Arioch, O captain of the king, why is the king's order so cruel? Then Arioch gave Daniel an account of the business.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain: 'Wherefore is the decree so peremptory from the king?' Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

King James Version (1611)
Hee answered and said to Arioch the Kings captaine, Why is the decree so hastie from the King? Then Arioch made the thing knowen to Daniel.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
He aunswered and sayde vnto Arioch the kinges captayne: why is the sentence so hastie from the king? Then Arioch tolde Daniel the matter.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Chief magistrate of the king, wherefore has the preemptory command proceeded from the king? So Arioch made known the matter to Daniel.

World English Bible
he answered Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he axide hym, that hadde take power of the kyng, for what cause so cruel a sentence yede out fro the face of the kyng. Therfor whanne Ariok hadde schewid the thing to Danyel,

Update Bible Version
he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

Webster's Bible Translation
He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why [is] the decree [so] hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

New English Translation
He inquired of Arioch the king's deputy, "Why is the decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter.

New King James Version
he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, "Why is the decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel.

New Living Translation
He asked Arioch, "Why has the king issued such a harsh decree?" So Arioch told him all that had happened.

New Life Bible
He said to Arioch, the king's captain, "Why is the king's law so hard?" Then Arioch told him what had happened.

New Revised Standard
he asked Arioch, the royal official, "Why is the decree of the king so urgent?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
he began to speak and said to Arioch the king's captain, - For what cause, is the decree raging forth from before the king? Then did Arioch make the matter known unto Daniel.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he asked him that had received the orders of the king, why so cruel a sentence was gone forth from the face of the king. And when Arioch had told the matter to Daniel,

Revised Standard Version
he said to Ar'i-och, the king's captain, "Why is the decree of the king so severe?" Then Ar'i-och made the matter known to Daniel.

Young's Literal Translation
He hath answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, `Wherefore [is] the sentence so urgent from before the king?' Then Arioch hath made the thing known to Daniel,

Contextual Overview

¹⁴ 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; ¹⁵ he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Wherefore is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. ¹⁶ And Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would shew the king the interpretation. ¹⁷ Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: ¹⁸ that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. ¹⁹ Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. ²⁰ Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: ²¹ And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: ²² he revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. ²³ I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast now made known unto me what we desired of thee: for thou hast made known unto us the king's matter.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

made: Daniel 2:9

Reciprocal: Daniel 2:24 - Arioch John 13:27 - That

Cross-References

Genesis 2:2
And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Genesis 2:8
And the LORD God planted a garden eastward, in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Job 31:33
If like Adam I covered my transgressions, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom;

Psalms 128:2
For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

Ephesians 4:28
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain,.... Or governor m; over the persons before mentioned; either the king's guard or militia, or cooks or executioners: before, the manner in which Daniel answered is observed; here, the matter of it, as follows:

why is the decree so hasty from the King? or, "why this rash", hasty, or cruel (as the Vulgate Latin version) decree from the king? for so it was: what is the cause and reason of it?

then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel; who before was ignorant of it; he was not with the wise men before the king; either they did not care he should go with them, and therefore called him not; or he did not choose to go himself, being under no temptation by the rewards offered, and especially having no summons from the king himself: this being his case, Arioch informs him of the whole affair; how that the king had dreamed a dream, and forgot it; and had sent for the wise men to tell him both it and the interpretation; but they not being able to do it, and declaring also that it was impossible to be done, the king had given orders to slay all of that character.

m שליטא "dominatori", Junius &, Tremellius, Piscator, Broughtonus,

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain - The word “captain” - a different word from what occurs in Daniel 2:14, שׁליטא shallı̂yṭa' - denotes one who has rule or dominion; one who is powerful or mighty; and it would be applied only to one who sustained a post of honor and responsibility. See the use of the word שׁלט shālaṭ, as meaning “to rule,” in Nehemiah 5:15; Ecclesiastes 2:19; Ecclesiastes 6:2; Ecclesiastes 8:9; Esther 9:1; Psalms 119:133. The word here used is the same which occurs in Daniel 2:10, where it is rendered “ruler.” It doubtless denotes here an officer of rank, and designates one of more honorable employment than would be denoted by the word “executioner.” It should be said on these verses Daniel 2:14-15, however, that the office of executioner in the East was by no means regarded as a dishonorable office. It was entrusted to those high in rank, and even nobles considered it an honor, and often boasted of it as such, that among their ancestors there were those who had in this way been entrusted with executing the commands of their sovereign. Hanway and AbdulKerim both say that this office conferred honor and rank. Tournefort says, that in Georgia “the executioners are very rich, and men of standing undertake this employment; far different from what occurs in other parts of the world, in that country this gives to a family a title of honor. They boast that among their ancestors there were many who were executioners; and this they base on the sentiment, that nothing is more desirable than justice, and that nothing can be more honorable than to be engaged in administering the laws.” See Rosenmuller, Morgenland, 1079.

Why is the decree so hasty from the king? - Implying that all the effort had not been made which it was possible to make to solve the mystery. The idea is, that a decree of such a nature, involving so many in ruin, ought not to have proceeded from the king without having taken all possible precautions, and having made all possible efforts to find those who might be able to disclose what the king desired. It was to Daniel a just matter of surprise that, after the favor and honor with which he had been received at court Daniel 1:19-20, and the confidence which had been reposed in him, a command like this should have been issued. so comprehensive as to embrace him and his friends, when they had done nothing to deserve the displeasure of the king.

Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel - The statement respecting the dream; the trouble of the king; the consultation of the magicians; their inability to explain the dream, and the positive command to put all the pretenders to wisdom to death. It is clear that Daniel had not before been informed of these things.