אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנִין (a.chash.dar.pan)
a.chash.dar.pan
satrap
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun achashdarpan refers to a satrap, or governor of a Persian province. It appears only three times in the Hebrew Bible, all within the book of Daniel, where it describes high-ranking officials in the Babylonian and Persian courts.
As a loanword from Persian, the term carries the weight of imperial administration rather than local tribal leadership. In Daniel 6:7, these satraps conspire to trap King Darius by exploiting his devotion to God, highlighting their political power and influence within the empire’s hierarchy.
The word underscores the foreign context of Daniel’s narrative, reminding readers that God’s people lived under distant, powerful rulers. Its limited use emphasizes specific moments of conflict between divine loyalty and imperial authority.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word achashdarpan describes a high-ranking official in the Persian Empire, often translated as satrap or governor. In the book of Daniel, these figures represent the immense power of foreign governments that ruled over God’s people. They were not local tribal leaders but administrators appointed by kings to maintain order and collect taxes across vast territories.
When you read about these officials in Daniel 6, you see them using their authority to trap King Darius through a religious decree. This shows how political power can be turned against faith when loyalty to the state conflicts with devotion to God. Yet, even in such hostile environments, God remains sovereign over the actions of these powerful men.
For your life today, this reminds us that we may face pressures from systems or authorities that demand our ultimate allegiance. The story of Daniel encourages you to remain faithful to God, knowing that He is greater than any earthly ruler or institution. Your trust in Him provides a steady foundation when cultural or political forces seem overwhelming.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- satraps/ the2×
- <obj.>/ satraps/ the1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לַֽ/אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֡/א1×
- אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֡/א1×
- אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּ֞/א1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 3:2
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the local governors, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
This verse lists the satraps among other officials gathered for Nebuchadnezzar's idol dedication, showing their role in enforcing imperial religious conformity.
-
Daniel 3:3
Then the local governors, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces were gathered together to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Here the satraps stand before the image, demonstrating their public participation in the king's demand for worship and their alignment with his authority.
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Daniel 3:27
The local governors, the deputies, and the governors, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power on their bodies. The hair of their head wasn’t singed. Their pants weren’t changed. The smell of fire wasn’t even on them.
The satraps witness the miracle of the fiery furnace, serving as eyewitnesses to God's protection when human power fails to harm His servants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does achashdarpan mean in the Bible?
Why is this word only found in Daniel?
How do satraps relate to modern leadership?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
Daniel 3 verses
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the local governors, the deputies, and the governors, the judges,…
Daniel 3:3Then the local governors, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs,…
Daniel 3:27The local governors, the deputies, and the governors, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these…