the title generally applied to the chief men of the state. The "princes of the provinces" ( 1 Kings 20:14 ) were the governors or lord-lieutenants of the provinces. So also the "princes" mentioned in Dan 6:1,3,4,6,7were the officers who administered the affairs of the provinces; the "satraps" (as rendered in RSV). These are also called "lieutenants" ( Esther 3:12 ; 8:9 ; RSV, "satraps"). The promised Saviour is called by ( Daniel 9:25 ) "Messiah the Prince" (Heb. nagid); compare Acts 3:15 ; 5:31 . The angel Micheal is called ( Daniel 12:1 ) a "prince" (Heb. sar, whence "Sarah," the "princes").

These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.