Daniel 6

King James Version

Full text for Daniel Chapter 6

1¶ It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

2And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel [was] first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

3Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit [was] in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

4Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he [was] faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

5Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find [it] against him concerning the law of his God.

6¶ Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

7All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

8Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

9Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

11¶ Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

12Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask [a petition] of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing [is] true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

13Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which [is] of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

14Then the king, when he heard [these] words, was sore displeased with himself, and set [his] heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

15Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians [is], That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

16Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast [him] into the den of lions. [Now] the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

17And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

18¶ Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

19Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

20And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: [and] the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

21Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

22My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

23Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

24And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast [them] into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

25¶ Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

26I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he [is] the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end.

27He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

28So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King Darius promoted Daniel to a high position, which incited jealousy among other officials. They conspired by tricking the king into signing an unchangeable decree forbidding prayer to any god but Darius for thirty days. Daniel, remaining faithful, continued his customary prayers and was subsequently cast into the lion's den. God miraculously delivered Daniel, leading Darius to punish his accusers and issue a decree honoring Daniel's God throughout the kingdom.

Medium Summary

Darius appointed Daniel as a chief president, intending to set him over the entire kingdom due to his excellent spirit, which provoked jealousy among other officials. Unable to find fault in Daniel's administration, they devised a plan to exploit his religious devotion. They manipulated Darius into signing an unchangeable decree prohibiting prayer to any god or man for thirty days, save the king, under penalty of the lion's den. Despite knowing the decree, Daniel continued his regular prayers towards Jerusalem. His accusers reported him to the king, who, though distressed and attempting to save Daniel, was bound by the law of the Medes and Persians. Daniel was cast into the den, but God sent an angel to shut the lions' mouths, preserving him unharmed. Overjoyed, Darius ordered Daniel's accusers and their families to be thrown into the den, where they were instantly devoured. Consequently, Darius issued a kingdom-wide decree, commanding reverence for Daniel's living God.

Long Summary

King Darius established a new administrative structure, appointing 120 princes and three presidents, with Daniel as the foremost among them. Daniel's exceptional spirit and faithfulness led the king to consider elevating him over the entire realm, which incited envy among the other presidents and princes. Unable to find any fault in Daniel's administration, they devised a plan to exploit his unwavering devotion to his God. They approached Darius with flattery, proposing a royal decree that would forbid any petition to any god or man, save the king, for thirty days, punishable by being cast into the den of lions. Darius, unaware of their true motive, signed this unchangeable law of the Medes and Persians. Upon learning of the decree, Daniel, with his windows open towards Jerusalem, continued his practice of kneeling and praying three times a day, giving thanks to his God. His adversaries observed him and promptly reported his transgression to the king, reminding Darius of the immutable nature of the signed decree. The king was deeply distressed and labored until sunset to find a way to deliver Daniel, but he was ultimately constrained by his own law. Daniel was then cast into the lion's den, with Darius expressing a hopeful declaration that Daniel's God would deliver him. The den was sealed, and the king spent a night of fasting and sleeplessness. Early the next morning, Darius rushed to the den and called out to Daniel, who confirmed that God had sent an angel to shut the lions' mouths, preserving him due to his innocence. The king was exceedingly glad and commanded Daniel's retrieval, finding him completely unharmed. Darius then ordered that Daniel's accusers, along with their wives and children, be cast into the same den, where the lions immediately overpowered and destroyed them. Following these events, King Darius issued a universal decree, proclaiming the God of Daniel as the living, eternal, and delivering God, commanding all people within his dominion to fear and tremble before Him. Daniel subsequently prospered throughout the reigns of Darius and Cyrus.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Favor and Human JealousyDaniel's exceptional spirit and the king's favor led to his promotion, which in turn provoked intense jealousy and conspiracy among other high-ranking officials.
  • Unwavering FaithfulnessDespite a royal decree threatening death, Daniel steadfastly continued his customary prayers to God, demonstrating an unyielding commitment to his religious principles over human law.
  • Immutable LawThe chapter highlights the unchangeable nature of the law of the Medes and Persians, which even the king could not alter once signed, creating a dilemma for Darius regarding Daniel's fate.
  • Miraculous DeliveranceGod intervened directly by sending an angel to shut the mouths of the lions, preserving Daniel unharmed in the den as a testament to his innocence and belief.
  • Justice and RetributionDaniel's accusers, who sought his death, were themselves subjected to the very punishment they intended for him, along with their families, demonstrating swift divine and royal justice.
  • Proclamation of God's SovereigntyFollowing Daniel's deliverance, King Darius issued a decree throughout his vast kingdom, acknowledging and commanding reverence for Daniel's God as the living, eternal, and delivering God.