Daniel 6
King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context
About this chapter
AI-assisted, sourcedDarius sets three presidents over his princes, "of whom Daniel was first," and the others, finding no fault in him, persuade the king to sign a decree that no one may petition any god or man but the king for thirty days. Daniel keeps praying "three times a day" toward Jerusalem and is thrown into the den of lions. God sends his angel and shuts the lions' mouths, and King Darius writes to all people that all should "fear before the God of Daniel." Daniel 6:1Daniel 6:2Daniel 6:4Daniel 6:7Daniel 6:9Daniel 6:10Daniel 6:16Daniel 6:22Daniel 6:25Daniel 6:26
Who, where, when, and the key verses
Who
King Darius; the presidents and princes who plot against Daniel; and Daniel, "of the children of the captivity of Judah." Daniel 6:1Daniel 6:4Daniel 6:13
Where
The kingdom of Darius. Daniel prays in his house with his windows "open in his chamber toward Jerusalem," and is cast into the den of lions. Daniel 6:1Daniel 6:10Daniel 6:16Jerusalem
When
Under Darius the Median, after the fall of Belshazzar. Traditionally written by Daniel in the 500s BC. Many critical scholars date the book's final form to about 167-164 BC. Daniel 5:31Daniel 6:28Daniel overview
How it fits
Chapter 5 ended with "Darius the Median took the kingdom"; this chapter is set in his reign. Chapter 7 turns to Daniel's own visions, beginning "In the first year of Belshazzar." Daniel 5:31Daniel 6:1Daniel 7:1
Key verses
- Verse 4
His enemies "could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful." Their only hope was "concerning the law of his God." Daniel 6:4Daniel 6:5
- Verse 10
Knowing the decree was signed, Daniel "kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." Psalm 55:17 speaks of praying "evening, and morning, and at noon." Daniel 6:10Psalms 55:17
- Verse 22
"My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths." Hebrews 11:33 counts among the faithful those who "stopped the mouths of lions." Daniel 6:22Daniel 6:23Hebrews 11:33
Takeaway
Keep faithful habits of prayer even when they cost you, and live so blamelessly that the only charge anyone can bring is your faithfulness to God. Daniel 6:4Daniel 6:5Daniel 6:10Daniel 6:23
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-29.
No fault found in Daniel
1It 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.
The king's decree
6Then 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.
Daniel keeps praying
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. 11Then 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.
The lions' den
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. 18Then 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.
A decree to fear the God of Daniel
25Then 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.