Daniel6
English Standard Version
1It to the , to throughout the ;
2 them , was , these should , the .
3 all the other and , an was in him. And the to him the .
4 the and the to a ground for against the , they ground for any , he was , and or was .
5 , We shall ground for we it in connection with the of his .
6 and came by to the and him, O , !
7 the of the , the and the , the and the are that the should an and an , that whoever or , to , O , shall into the of .
8 , O , the and the , so that it be , according to the of the and the , be .
9 the and .
10When that the had been , he to his where he had in his . He his a and and his , he had .
11 came by and making and his .
12 they and the , the , O ! Did you an , that who or you, O , shall into the of ? The and , The , according to the of the and , be .
13 they and the , , who is the from , , O , or the you have , but his a .
14 the , when he these , was and his . the went to him.
15 came by the and to the , , O , that it of the and or that the can be .
16 the , and was and into the of . The to , May your , , you!
17 was and the of the , and the it with his own and with the of his , might be concerning .
18 the to his and spent the ; were him, and him.
19 , at of , the and in to the of .
20As he to the where was, he in a of . The to , O , of the , has your , you , to you the ?
21 the , O , !
22My his and the ’ , and they have me, I was him; and you, O , I have .
23 the was , and that be of the . So was of the , and of was on him, he had in his .
24And the , who had were and into the of — , their , and their . And before they the of the , the them and their in .
25 to the , , and that in the : be to you.
26I a , that in my people are and the of , for he is the , ; his shall be , and his shall the .
27He and ; he and in and on , he who the of the .
28So during the of and the of the .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Daniel 6.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The malice of Daniel's enemies. (1-5). His constancy in prayer. (6-10). He is cast into the lion's den. (11-17). His miraculous preservation. (18-24). The decree of Darius. (25-28).
vv1-5
We notice to the glory of God, that though Daniel was now very old, yet he was able for business, and had continued faithful to his religion. It is for the glory of God, when those who profess religion, conduct themselves so that their most watchful enemies may find no occasion for blaming them, save only in the matters of their God, in which they walk according to their consciences.
vv6-10
To forbid prayer for thirty days, is, for so long, to rob God of all the tribute he has from man, and to rob man of all the comfort he has in God. Does not every man's heart direct him, when in want or distress, to call upon God? We could not live a day without God; and can men live thirty days without prayer? Yet it is to be feared that those who, without any decree forbidding them, present no hearty, serious petitions to God for more than thirty days together, are far more numerous than those who serve him continually, with humble, thankful hearts. Persecuting laws are always made on false pretences; but it does not become Christians to make bitter complaints, or to indulge in revilings. It is good to have hours for prayer. Daniel prayed openly and avowedly; and though a man of vast business, he did not think that would excuse him from daily exercises of devotion. How inexcusable are those who have but little to do in the world, yet will not do thus much for their souls! In trying times we must take heed, lest, under pretence of discretion, we are guilty of cowardice in the cause of God. All who throw away their souls, as those certainly do that live without prayer, even if it be to save their lives, at the end will be found to be fools. Nor did Daniel only pray, and not give thanks, cutting off some part of the service to make the time of danger shorter; but he performed the whole. In a word, the duty of prayer is founded upon the sufficiency of God as an almighty Creator and Redeemer, and upon our wants as sinful creatures. To Christ we must turn our eyes. Thither let the Christian look, thither let him pray, in this land of his captivity.
vv11-17
It is no new thing for what is done faithfully, in conscience toward God, to be misrepresented as done obstinately, and in contempt of the civil powers. Through want of due thought, we often do that which afterwards, like Darius, we see cause a thousand times to wish undone again. Daniel, that venerable man, is brought as the vilest of malefactors, and is thrown into the den of lions, to be devoured, only for worshipping his God. No doubt the placing the stone was ordered by the providence of God, that the miracle of Daniel's deliverance might appear more plain; and the king sealed it with his own signet, probably lest Daniel's enemies should kill him. Let us commit our lives and souls unto God, in well-doing. We cannot place full confidence even in men whom we faithfully serve; but believers may, in all cases, be sure of the Divine favour and consolation.
Key Words
דָּֽרְיָוֵשׁ: {Darejavesh, a title (rather than name) of several Persian kings}
קוּם: {to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)}
עַל: {above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications}
מַלְכוּ: dominion (abstractly or concretely)
אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפַּן: {a satrap or governorof amain province (of Persia)}
הָוָא: to exist; used in a great variety of applications (especially in connection with other words)
כֹּל: {properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)}
עֵלָּא: above
תְּלָת: three or third
סָרֵךְ: an emir
Cross References
Daniel 6Uses identical phrasing ('excellent spirit') from the queen's description of Daniel under Belshazzar.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Solomon's prayer dedicating the temple, commanding captives to pray toward Jerusalem and their land.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
New Testament summary of faithful saints who 'through faith... stopped the mouths of lions.'
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Illustrates the unalterable nature of the laws of the Medes and Persians.
Supported by JFB
David's practice of praying three times a day (evening, morning, noon) echoed by Daniel.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels Nebuchadnezzar's challenge to God's saving power in the fiery furnace narrative.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels the sending of God's angel to deliver his faithful servants from pagan executions.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels Haman's plot targeting Jewish laws that differ from those of the king.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Typological parallel of a stone placed and sealed over a pit containing God's servant.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Paul's testimony of God delivering him out of the mouth of the lion.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Darius's praise matches Nebuchadnezzar's praise of God's everlasting, indestructible dominion.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Proverb regarding a man diligent in business standing before kings rather than mean men.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The apostolic principle of obeying God rather than men when laws conflict.
Supported by John Calvin
Darius acknowledges the kingdom of God that shall never be destroyed, fulfilling Daniel's vision.
Supported by JFB