Daniel6
New International Version
1It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom,
2with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss.
3Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
4At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.
5Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
6So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever!
7The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den.
8Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
9So King Darius put the decree in writing.
10Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
11Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.
12So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”
13Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.”
14When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.
15Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”
16So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed.
18Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.
19At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den.
20When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
21Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!
22My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
23The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
24At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
25Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: “May you prosper greatly!
26“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.
27He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”
28So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
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