Daniel 6

Daniel · Chapter 6

Daniel 6:12

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.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.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.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.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.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
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.So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?” The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.”Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s interdict: Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto 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.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Daniel's enemies have caught him praying to his God. Before they name him, they have King Darius confirm out loud that his decree stands and cannot be changed. That locks the king into his own law before he knows who it will strike. Daniel 6:11Daniel 6:12Daniel 6:13Daniel 6:8

SpeakingThe presidents and princes who plotted against Daniel ask the question. King Darius gives the answer. Daniel 6:4Daniel 6:6Daniel 6:12

ToKing Darius, before whom the accusers speak. Daniel 6:12

Also involvedDaniel, a captive from Judah who held high office. He is named as the lawbreaker in the next verse. Daniel 6:2Daniel 6:3Daniel 6:13

The accusers remind the king that he signed a decree. It said anyone who asked a petition of any god or man except the king for thirty days would be thrown to the lions. The king agrees that the decree is firm under the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not change. Daniel 6:7Daniel 6:9Daniel 6:12

At the royal court of Darius, in the kingdom that had taken over Babylon. Daniel served there under Persian rule. Daniel 6:6Daniel overview

BABYLONIAMEDIABabylon 1SusaUlai

The eventsIn the reign of Darius, after Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians. This was within the thirty days of the decree. Daniel 6:1Daniel 6:28Daniel overviewDaniel 6:7

WrittenTraditional view: Daniel wrote the book in the 500s BC. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date its final form to about 167-164 BC, while others keep the traditional date. Daniel overview

HereThe accusers get the king to state that the decree is binding before they reveal it is aimed at Daniel. That way he cannot back out. Later the king tries to save Daniel, and they hold him to that same unchangeable law. Daniel 6:12Daniel 6:13Daniel 6:14Daniel 6:15

In the whole of ScriptureThe law of the Medes and Persians could not be altered, yet it could not stop God from shutting the lions' mouths. The chapter ends with Darius confessing that God's kingdom shall not be destroyed. That fits the book's message that the most High rules over the kingdoms of men. Daniel 6:12Daniel 6:22Daniel 6:26Daniel overviewEsther 1:19

For readersEnemies of the faithful often turn rulers and laws against them. Chaldeans did this to Daniel's friends, and accusers did it to Paul and Silas. Daniel's answer was to keep praying as before and to trust his God. Daniel 3:8Daniel 3:12Acts 16:19Acts 24:2Daniel 6:10Daniel 6:23

  • decreeאֱסָר
    Aramaic · e.sar · H0633

    The word means an interdict or 'decree of restriction.' It shows the order was a ban, a prohibition on asking anyone but the king. Strong's H0633Daniel 6:7

  • alterethעֲדָה
    Aramaic · a.dah · H5709

    The verb means to pass on or pass away. The law 'altereth not' because it will not pass away or be removed, and the accusers press this point again. Strong's H5709Daniel 6:8Daniel 6:15

  • lawדָּת
    Aramaic · dat · H1882

    This word can mean a king's decree or the law of God. The chapter sets the two side by side: the accusers planned to catch Daniel 'concerning the law of his God' by means of the king's law. Strong's H1882Daniel 6:5Daniel 6:12

  • trueיַצִּיב
    Aramaic · yats.tsiv · H3330

    The word means certain, sure, reliable. The king affirms that the matter is fixed beyond doubt, which seals his own trap. Strong's H3330Daniel 6:12Daniel 6:14

Takeaway

A king's law that 'altereth not' bound even the king, but it could not bind God. God delivered Daniel, whose kingdom 'shall not be destroyed.' Daniel 6:12Daniel 6:22Daniel 6:26

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.

The world around the text

Behind this verse

Laws that could not be changed
A law sealed by a Persian king could not be revoked, even by the king himself. The same rule appears in Esther. Daniel 6:8Daniel 6:15Esther 1:19Esther 8:8

About 605-536 BC. King of Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC). Where Daniel lived and served for about seventy years. The capital of the Babylonian empire, on the Euphrates south of modern Baghdad, in the land the Bible calls Shinar and Chaldea.

Who ruled
  • King of BabylonNebuchadnezzar605-562 BC

    The king who besieged Jerusalem, carried Daniel and the temple vessels to Babylon, and later destroyed the city and temple. His own building inscriptions boast of the Babylon he built. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 24:12 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 25:1Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)

  • Last king of Babylon, and his son who ruled in his placeNabonidus and Belshazzar556-539 BC

    Nabonidus spent about ten years at the oasis of Tema in Arabia and left his son Belshazzar to rule in Babylon. That is why Belshazzar could only offer Daniel the place of "third ruler in the kingdom": he was himself second. Daniel 5:1Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:29Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Verse Account of Nabonidus

  • Received the kingdom after Babylon fellDarius the MedianFrom 539 BC

    Daniel says he "took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old" and set 120 princes over it. Records outside the Bible do not name him; he has been identified with Gubaru, the governor Cyrus set over Babylon, or with Cyrus himself. Daniel 5:31Daniel 6:1Daniel 9:1Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)

  • King of PersiaCyrus559-530 BC

    He united the Medes and Persians, took Babylon in 539 BC, and let the exiles go home to rebuild the temple, as Isaiah had named him beforehand. Daniel 1:21Daniel 6:28Daniel 10:1Ezra 1:1-4Isaiah 44:28-45:1Cyrus Cylinder

  • King of JudahJehoiakim609-598 BC

    Judah's king when Daniel was taken. Jeremiah warned him and his people that the land would serve Babylon seventy years. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 23:36-24:6Jeremiah 25:1-11

What was happening, 612 BC to 167 BC
  1. 612 BC
    WarNineveh falls

    Babylon and the Medes destroyed Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as Nahum and Zephaniah had foretold. Babylon became the great power of the region. Nahum 3:7Zephaniah 2:13Fall of Nineveh Chronicle (ABC 3)

  2. 605 BC
    WarBattle of Carchemish

    Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Carchemish on the Euphrates, in Jehoiakim's fourth year. The same year he came against Jerusalem and took the first captives, Daniel among them. Jeremiah 46:2Daniel 1:1-4Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)

  3. 597 BC
    WarJerusalem surrenders

    Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiachin, his nobles and craftsmen to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel went into exile with them. 2 Kings 24:10-17Ezekiel 1:2Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)

  4. 586 BC
    WarJerusalem and the temple destroyed

    Babylon's army burned the temple and the city and broke down its walls. Daniel later prays over "the desolations of Jerusalem" and asks God to shine on his "sanctuary that is desolate." 2 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 52:12-14Daniel 9:2Daniel 9:17

  5. c. 575 BC
    BuildingBabylon rebuilt in splendor

    Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon with great walls, palaces and the blue-glazed Ishtar Gate, and his inscriptions praise his own work. Compare his boast: "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?" Daniel 4:30Nebuchadnezzar's East India House InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 1.178-183

  6. 562 BC
    RulersNebuchadnezzar dies

    His son Evil-merodach became king and released Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 2 Kings 25:27-30Jeremiah 52:31-34

  7. c. 553-543 BC
    RulersNabonidus leaves Babylon to Belshazzar

    King Nabonidus stayed at Tema in Arabia for about ten years, and the yearly New Year festival in Babylon was not held. Belshazzar governed in Babylon. Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Daniel 5:1Daniel 7:1

  8. 550 BC
    WarCyrus unites the Medes and Persians

    Cyrus of Persia defeated Astyages king of the Medes, joining the two peoples in one kingdom. Daniel's vision names the ram's two horns as "the kings of Media and Persia," the higher coming up last. Daniel 8:3Daniel 8:20Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.127-130

  9. October 539 BC
    WarBabylon falls to Cyrus

    Cyrus's army entered Babylon without a long siege. Herodotus says the people were feasting when the city was taken. Daniel records that "in that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain." Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.191Cyrus Cylinder

  10. 538 BC
    God's peopleCyrus lets the exiles return

    In his first year over Babylon, Cyrus proclaimed that the Jews could go back and build the LORD's house in Jerusalem. Daniel "continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus." Ezra 1:1-42 Chronicles 36:22-23Daniel 1:21Cyrus Cylinder

  11. c. 536 BC
    God's peopleThe temple's foundation is laid

    The returned exiles rebuilt the altar and laid the foundation of the temple. In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel was still in the east, mourning and praying. Ezra 3:1-11Daniel 10:1-3

  12. 334-331 BC
    WarAlexander the Great conquers Persia

    Alexander of Macedon crossed into Asia and overthrew the Persian empire within four years. Daniel 8:21 names the rough goat as "the king of Grecia" and its great horn as "the first king." Daniel 8:5-8Daniel 8:21Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 1-3

  13. 323-301 BC
    WarAlexander's empire is divided

    Alexander died young, and after twenty years of war his generals divided his empire, chiefly into four kingdoms. Daniel 8:22 says "four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." Daniel 8:8Daniel 8:22Daniel 11:4Diodorus Siculus, Library 18-20Plutarch, Demetrius 28-30

  14. 167 BC
    WarAntiochus IV defiles the temple

    The Greek king Antiochus IV banned Jewish worship and set up a pagan altar on the altar of burnt offering. 1 Maccabees calls it "the abomination of desolation." Two centuries later Jesus spoke of "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" as still to come. 1 Maccabees 1:54-59Josephus, Antiquities 12.5.4Matthew 24:15

The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records of these years (the Babylonian Chronicles, the Cyrus Cylinder, Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Diodorus, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.

Original Aramaic words

This passage was written in Aramaic, the common language of the Babylonian and Persian empires, which the Jews of the exile also spoke. It uses the same alphabet as Hebrew.

EnglishAramaicSay itStrong'sMeaning
in thenבֵּ֠אדַיִןBE-da-yinH0116
then

אֱדַ֫יִן (e.da.yin) then, afterwards, thereupon, from that time Aramaic of az (אָז "then" H0227A)

they approachedקְרִ֨יבוּke-RI-vuH7127
to approach

קְרֵב (qe.rev) 1) to approach, come near 1a) (P'al) to approach 1b) (Pael) to offer, draw near 1c) (Aphel) to be summoned

and [were] sayingוְאָמְרִ֥יןve-'a-me-RINH0560
to say

אֲמַר (a.mar) (P'al) to say, to speak, to command, to tell, to relate Aramaic of a.mar (אָמַר "to say" H0559)

beforeקֳדָם־ko-dom-H6925
before

קֳדָם (qo.dam) 1) before, in front of 1a) before 1b) from before

king theמַלְכָּא֮mal-KA'H4430
king

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) king Aramaic of me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4428) § 1) king

concerningעַל־'al-H5922
since

עַל (al) 1) upon, over, on account of, above, to, against 1a) upon, over, on account of, regarding, concerning, on behalf of 1b) over (with verbs of ruling) 1c) above, beyond (in comparison) 1d) to, against (of direction)

[the] prohibition ofאֱסָ֣ר'e-SARH0633
injunction

אֱסָר (e.sar) interdict, decree, decree of restriction Aramaic of e.sar (אִסָּר "injunction" H0632)

king theמַלְכָּא֒mal-KA'H4430
king

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) king Aramaic of me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4428) § 1) king

¿ notהֲלָ֧אha-LA'H3809
not

לָא (la) no, not, nothing Aramaic of lo (לֹא "not" H3808)

a prohibitionאֱסָ֣ר'e-SARH0633
injunction

אֱסָר (e.sar) interdict, decree, decree of restriction Aramaic of e.sar (אִסָּר "injunction" H0632)

did you signרְשַׁ֗מְתָּre-SHAM-taH7560
to sign

רְשַׁם (re.sham) 1) to inscribe, sign 1a) (P'al) to inscribe, sign 1b) (P'al) 1b1) to be inscribed, be written 1b2) to be signed

thatדִּ֣יdiH1768
that

דִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because

everyכָל־khol-H3606
all

כֹּל (kol) 1) all, whole, the whole 1a) the whole of, all 1b) every, any, none

personאֱנָ֡שׁ'e-NASHH0606
man

אֱנָשׁ (e.nash) 1) man, human being 2) mankind (collective) Aramaic of e.nosh (אֱנוֹשׁ "human" H0582)

whoדִּֽי־di-H1768
that

דִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because

he will askיִבְעֵה֩yiv-'EHH1156
to ask

בְּעָא (be.a) 1) to ask, seek, request, desire, pray, make petition 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to ask, request 1a2) to seek (for favour)

fromמִן־min-H4481
from

מִן־ (min) 1) from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than 1a) from, out of (of place) 1b) from, by, as a result of, by reason of, at, according to, (of source) 1c) from (of time) 1d) beyond, more than (in comparisons)

anyכָּל־kol-H3606
all

כֹּל (kol) 1) all, whole, the whole 1a) the whole of, all 1b) every, any, none

godאֱלָ֨הּ'e-LAHH0426
god

אֱלָהּ (e.lah) 1) god, God 1a) god, heathen deity 1b) God (of Israel)

and personוֶֽאֱנָ֜שׁve-'e-NASHH0606
man

אֱנָשׁ (e.nash) 1) man, human being 2) mankind (collective) Aramaic of e.nosh (אֱנוֹשׁ "human" H0582)

untilעַד־'ad-H5705
till

עַד (ad) prep 1) even to, until, up to, during conj 2) until, up to the time that, ere that

daysיוֹמִ֣יןyo-MINH3118
day

יוֹם (yom) 1) day 2) day always refers to a twenty-four hour period when the word is modified by a definite or cardinal number

thirtyתְּלָתִ֗יןte-la-TINH8533
thirty

תְּלָתִין (te.la.tin) thirty Aramaic of she.lo.shim (שְׁלֹשִׁים "thirty" H7970)

exceptלָהֵן֙la-HENH3861
except

לָהֵן (la.hen) 1) therefore 2) except, but 2a) except (with negative) 2b) however, but

from youמִנָּ֣ךְmi-NAKHH4481
from

מִן־ (min) 1) from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than 1a) from, out of (of place) 1b) from, by, as a result of, by reason of, at, according to, (of source) 1c) from (of time) 1d) beyond, more than (in comparisons)

king Oמַלְכָּ֔אmal-KA'H4430
king

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) king Aramaic of me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4428) § 1) king

he will be thrownיִתְרְמֵ֕אyit-re-ME'H7412
to cast

רְמָא (re.mah) 1) to cast, throw 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to cast 1a2) to throw 1a2a) of tribute (fig) 1b) (Peil) 1b1) to be cast 1b2) to be placed, be set 1c) (Ithp'el) to be cast

to [the] den ofלְג֖וֹבle-GOVH1358
den

גֹּב (gov) pit, den (of lions)

lions theאַרְיָותָ֑א'ar-yo-TA'H0744
lion

אַרְיֵה (ar.yeh) lion Aramaic of ar.yeh (אַרְיֵה "lion" H0738B)

[was] replyingעָנֵ֨ה'a-NEHH6032
to answer

עֲנָה (a.nah) 1) to answer, respond 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to answer, make reply 1a2) to respond

king theמַלְכָּ֜אmal-KA'H4430
king

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) king Aramaic of me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4428) § 1) king

and sayingוְאָמַ֗רve-'a-MARH0560
to say

אֲמַר (a.mar) (P'al) to say, to speak, to command, to tell, to relate Aramaic of a.mar (אָמַר "to say" H0559)

[is] certainיַצִּיבָ֧אya-tzi-VA'H3330
certain

יַצִּיב (yats.tsiv) n 1) the truth adv 2) surely, reliably, truly adj 3) reliable, true, certain, sure

word theמִלְּתָ֛אmi-le-TA'H4406
word

מִלָּה (mil.lah) 1) word, thing 1a) word, utterance, command 1b) thing, affair, matter

according to [the] law ofכְּדָת־ke-dot-H1882
law

דָּת (dat) 1) decree, law 1a) a decree (of the king) 1b) law 1c) law (of God)

[the] Medesמָדַ֥יma-DAIH4076G
Mede

מָדַי (ma.day) also called Mede frequently Aramaic of me.dan (מְדָן "Medan" H4091) § Medes = "middle land" 1) the territory inhabited by the Medes 2a) located northwest of Persia proper, south and southwest of the Caspian Sea, east of Armenia and Assyria, and west and northwest of the great salt desert of Iram

and [the] Persiansוּפָרַ֖סu-fa-RASH6540
Persia

פָּרַס (pa.ras) Aramaic of pa.ras (פָּרַס "Persia" H6539) § Persia = "pure" or "splendid" the empire Persia; encompassed the territory from India on the east to Egypt and Thrace on the west, and included, besides portions of Europe and Africa, the whole of western Asia between the Black Sea, the Caucasus, the Caspian and the Jaxartes on the north, the Arabian desert, the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean on the south 1a) Persia proper was bounded on the west by Susiana or Elam, on the north by Media, on the south by the Persian Gulf and on the east by Carmania Persian, of Persia "pure" or "splendid"

whichדִּי־di-H1768
that

דִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because

notלָ֥אla'H3809
not

לָא (la) no, not, nothing Aramaic of lo (לֹא "not" H3808)

it will pass awayתֶעְדֵּֽא׃te'-DE'H5709
to pass on/over/away

עֲדָה (a.dah) 1) to pass on, pass away 1a)(P'al) 1a1) to pass on, pass over 1a2) to pass away 1b) (Aphel) to take away, remove, depose

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.