The big picture
Daniel 6 opens in verse 1 with “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 14 with “Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his…”, and closes in verse 28 with “So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” Repeated or prominent terms include king, Daniel, lions, decree, kingdom. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Daniel · King James Version · 28Daniel 6:1-7
1–7: It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes…
Daniel 6:1–7 opens with “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over…” and reaches “All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Daniel praying at the open window, sealed in the lions’ den, and found alive at dawn, with particular weight carried by princes, king, presidents.
Context that brings the passage to life
“It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;” The number hundred makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king…” Naming Daniel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Daniel 6:1-7
King James Version1It 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.
Daniel 6:8-14
8–14: Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not…
Daniel 6:8–14 opens with “Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to…” and reaches “Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Daniel praying at the open window, sealed in the lions’ den, and found alive at dawn, with particular weight carried by king, decree, Daniel.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and…” Naming Medes and Persians keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Daniel 6:8-14
King James Version8Now, 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.
Daniel 6:15-21
15–21: These men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king…
Daniel 6:15–21 opens with “Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of…” and reaches “Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Daniel praying at the open window, sealed in the lions’ den, and found alive at dawn, with particular weight carried by king, Daniel, lions.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians…” Naming Know and Medes keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Daniel 6:15-21
King James Version15Then 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.
Daniel 6:22-28
22–28: My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they…
Daniel 6:22–28 opens with “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me…” and reaches “So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Daniel praying at the open window, sealed in the lions’ den, and found alive at dawn, with particular weight carried by Daniel, king, lions.
Context that brings the passage to life
“My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
“Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Daniel 6:22-28
King James Version22My 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Daniel 6:1 begins with “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;”
Where the chapter turns
Daniel 6:14 forms a natural hinge: “Then 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…”
The final note
Daniel 6:28 leaves the reader with “So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words king, Daniel, lions, decree, kingdom, princes help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What repeated description explains the judgment?
The earth is corrupt and filled with violence, especially in verses 11-13.
What does obedience look like here?
Detailed preparation, gathering provisions and constructing what God commands.
KJV words made clear
- dominion
- responsibility or rule
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.