Daniel 6:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

NIV: When 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?"

NASB: And when he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king began speaking and said to Daniel, 'Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?'

CSB: When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. "Daniel, servant of the living God," the king said, "has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?"

NLT: When he got there, he called out in anguish, 'Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?'

KJV: And 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?

NKJV: And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

As Darius neared the lions' den, he called out in an anxious voice to Daniel. Darius was tricked into passing an irrevocable law that jealous advisors created as a trap for Daniel (Daniel 6:4–16). Normally, one might expect the king to be angry or distraught, but not especially nervous. Sealing Daniel into a pit filled with captured lions should have meant his gruesome death. But Darius respected Daniel (Daniel 6:1–3). Darius knew of Daniel's faithfulness (Daniel 1:8, 17, 20) and likely knew how others who worshipped Daniel's God had been rescued from execution (Daniel 3:24–26). When Daniel was cast into the lions' den, Darius told him, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!" (Daniel 6:16). His nervousness here is driven by hope: that Daniel's faith could result in a miraculous rescue. This hope was likely tempered with sorrow. Darius hoped Daniel was alive but expected to be greeted by silence.

It was Daniel's consistent service to his Lord that let scheming enemies spring their trap (Daniel 6:4–5, 10). Darius fully realized that Daniel's faithfulness was what led him into this situation. Daniel's testimony had influenced the pagan king deeply. The originally pagan Thessalonian Christians had turned from idols to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Although Darius had not turned from his idols, at least by this time, he had seen enough to speak of Daniel's God with anticipation.

Daniel 6:19–28 concludes Daniel's encounter in the lions' den. This passage includes Daniel's fate and Darius's reaction. The story comes to a joyful conclusion, rather than the messy end intended for Daniel by his conspiring enemies. They, instead, suffer the fate they planned for an innocent man. The last verses include an endorsement of Daniel's faith, coming directly from Darius.

Babylon's new ruler organizes his territory under 120 satraps and three governors. He intends to make Daniel the most powerful of these, but jealous rivals develop a plot. Knowing Daniel's only "weakness" is loyalty to God, they trick the king into passing an irrevocable law banning prayer. Daniel knows about the law but chooses obedience to God rather than to men. Darius is anguished yet he dutifully follows the law. When Daniel miraculously survives a night in a den full of lions, Darius is elated. He condemns the conspirators to death, and the same lions tear them apart. Darius then proclaims honor on behalf of Daniel's God.

At the end of chapter 5, Belshazzar has died and control over Babylon has come to someone identified as "Darius the Mede." Darius organizes his territory under 120 satraps and three governor-level officials. Daniel is identified as one of the three high administrators. After jealous rivals fail to kill Daniel, he continues to prosper in his role. The following chapter begins an extensive record of prophetic visions. The first is a flashback to something Daniel saw during the rule of Belshazzar.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.