Daniel 6:13 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Daniel 6:13 kjv
Then 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.
Daniel 6:13 nkjv
So they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."
Daniel 6:13 niv
Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day."
Daniel 6:13 esv
Then they answered and said before the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day."
Daniel 6:13 nlt
Then they told the king, "That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day."
Daniel 6 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 5:29 | But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men." | Prioritizing God's command over human law. |
| Ex 20:3 | "You shall have no other gods before me." | Ultimate loyalty belongs to God alone. |
| Ps 55:17 | Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. | Daniel's consistent prayer life tradition. |
| 1 Kgs 8:48-49 | ...if they pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers.. then hear. | Praying towards Jerusalem from exile. |
| Dan 3:17-18 | If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us... even if not. | Faithfulness even if deliverance doesn't come. |
| Phil 1:27-28 | ...standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith. | Standing firm in faith despite opposition. |
| Heb 11:33, 38 | ...who through faith conquered kingdoms... of whom the world was not worthy. | Examples of faith and resilience. |
| Mt 10:28 | And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul... | Fear God more than man. |
| Lk 18:1 | And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray. | Instruction on continuous prayer. |
| Rom 12:12 | Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. | Persistence in prayer during hardship. |
| 1 Thes 5:17 | Pray without ceasing. | Encouragement for constant prayer. |
| Is 40:8 | The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. | God's eternal word contrasts human decrees. |
| Dan 1:8 | But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food. | Early demonstration of Daniel's unwavering resolve. |
| Mt 5:10 | "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake..." | Blessing for suffering for doing right. |
| 1 Pet 4:16 | Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed... | No shame in suffering for one's faith. |
| 2 Tim 3:12 | Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. | Persecution is expected for godly living. |
| Ps 34:19 | Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. | God's ultimate deliverance of the faithful. |
| Jer 29:7 | But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord. | Pray for the governing authority even in exile. |
| Prov 29:25 | The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. | Daniel's trust in God removes fear of man. |
| 2 Kgs 17:7 | And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God. | Remembering the reason for exile/judgment. |
| Eph 6:18 | praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. | Importance of consistent and varied prayer. |
Daniel 6 verses
Daniel 6 13 meaning
Daniel 6:13 details the precise accusation brought against Daniel by his adversaries: that he knowingly disregards King Darius and the newly established royal decree by continuing his regular practice of praying to his God three times daily. This verse highlights Daniel's unwavering commitment to God, despite direct prohibition and personal danger, thereby serving as a direct testimony against the king's law.
Daniel 6 13 Context
Daniel chapter 6 narrates the climax of intense jealousy among the Babylonian satraps and administrators toward Daniel, who was distinguished above them. Daniel's exceptional spirit and integrity made it impossible for them to find fault in his official conduct. Therefore, they devised a plan to entrap him through his known devotion to his God. They manipulated King Darius into signing a decree that prohibited prayer to any god or man, other than the king, for thirty days, punishable by being cast into a den of lions. This verse describes the conspirators directly reporting Daniel's "crime" to the king, highlighting his deliberate act of prayer. Historically, the Persian Empire's laws, once decreed and sealed by the king, were considered immutable, setting up an unresolvable conflict between human law and divine loyalty.
Daniel 6 13 Word analysis
- Then these men said to the king: These "men" were the jealous satraps and administrators (Dan 6:4). Their statement is a direct report, designed to force Darius's hand, given the unchangeable nature of the decree they orchestrated. It implies an accusation already understood and confirmed by their espionage.
- Daniel: (Aramaic: Dāniyyêl) The very person central to the conspiracy. His name means "God is my judge," a fitting title for his predicament, as he upholds God's judgment over man's.
- who is one of the exiles from Judah: This phrase subtly disparages Daniel and seeks to minimize his authority in the Persian court. It reminds the king of Daniel's foreign status, framing his disobedience as an inherent disregard for Persian rule by an outsider. It also highlights Daniel's persistent identity as a faithful Jew despite being far from his homeland.
- pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree: (Aramaic: sîm ləwāṯāk "makes no account of you") This is the core accusation of contempt and rebellion. Daniel's act is framed as a direct affront to the king's authority and an open breach of the decree (Aramaic: ʾesār), a "prohibition" or "interdict" which he himself signed. The emphasis on "the decree which you have signed" binds the king to its enforcement due to the inviolable nature of Median-Persian law.
- but offers his prayer: (Aramaic: məṣallē’ "he prays") This is the explicit, direct, and specific action that defies the decree. It shows Daniel's unwavering and visible commitment to his spiritual practice. The "but" signifies a direct contradiction between the king's command and Daniel's continuous worship.
- three times a day: This detail confirms the regular and consistent nature of Daniel's prayer life, as described previously (Dan 6:10). It demonstrates his steadfast spiritual discipline and makes his 'offense' highly public and observable, removing any ambiguity from the accusation. This echoes a common Jewish prayer tradition.
Daniel 6 13 Bonus section
- Daniel's act of prayer facing Jerusalem, as described in Daniel 6:10, was deeply significant. It was a practice rooted in Solomon's dedicatory prayer for the Temple (1 Kgs 8:48-49), reminding the exiles of God's covenant and the future restoration of Israel, while visually connecting them to their homeland and divine promises.
- The "three times a day" prayer schedule aligns with common Jewish practice in later periods, though its establishment is indicated by figures like David (Ps 55:17) and Daniel earlier. These were likely morning, noon, and evening, following traditional patterns of sacrifice and prayer times.
- Daniel's unhesitating obedience without seeking concealment highlights his courage and a profound trust that God's plan would unfold regardless of his immediate fate. It was a conscious choice not to compromise his devotion, even for a short thirty-day period, underscoring the absolute nature of his commitment to the Almighty.
- The conflict presented in this verse is a perennial tension in biblical narratives: when human law directly contradicts divine command, believers are called to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).
Daniel 6 13 Commentary
Daniel 6:13 is the moment of truth for Daniel, a pivotal demonstration of spiritual fidelity overriding secular authority. The conspirators, having failed to find any moral or administrative corruption in Daniel, resorted to attacking his unwavering prayer life. Their specific wording meticulously crafted to leave King Darius no avenue of escape, leveraging the very legal immutability that they themselves proposed. Daniel's refusal to alter his routine prayer, despite being fully aware of the decree and the consequence, was not an act of political defiance, but a resolute affirmation of his ultimate allegiance to God. His action was a calm, conscious act of obedience to a higher law, mirroring the call to worship God alone and presenting an uncompromising witness that true piety transcends fear of earthly punishment. His consistency and faithfulness stand as an eternal testament to prioritizing God's commands over any human decree.