Daniel 6 16

Daniel 6:16 kjv

Then 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.

Daniel 6:16 nkjv

So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you."

Daniel 6:16 niv

So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!"

Daniel 6:16 esv

Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!"

Daniel 6:16 nlt

So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, "May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you."

Daniel 6 verses

Daniel 6 16 Meaning

Daniel 6:16 states that the king gave specific instructions for Daniel's fate, indicating he would be cast into a den of lions. The phrasing emphasizes the king's decree and the immediate implementation of this sentence, highlighting the seriousness of Daniel's perceived transgression. This act stemmed from the envious plot of the satraps and princes.

Daniel 6 16 Context

In chapter 6 of Daniel, Darius the Mede, having taken the kingdom, established a hierarchical system with 120 satraps. Daniel's exceptional character and administrative abilities caught the king's attention, leading Darius to consider appointing him over the entire realm. This threatened the other high officials and satraps, who were jealous of Daniel. They conspired to find fault with Daniel's conduct but discovered nothing that could be used against him regarding his responsibilities as an administrator. Their focus then shifted to Daniel's religious devotion. They devised a decree, approved by the king, that prohibited anyone from praying to any god or man except the king for thirty days. Violators were to be cast into a lion's den. This decree was specifically aimed at eliminating Daniel, knowing his commitment to prayer.

Daniel 6 16 Word Analysis

• And (וְ, wə): A conjunction connecting clauses, signifying continuation or consequence. Here, it links the king's giving of the order to its execution.
• Darius (דָּרְיָוֵשׁ, Dāryāvēš): The Median king who took over Babylon. Historical context suggests this may refer to Cyrus the Great, but the text specifically names Darius.
• the king (הַמֶּלֶךְ, hammeleḵ): Refers to Darius, emphasizing his royal authority and the finality of his word.
• spake (דִּבֶּר, dibber): To speak, talk, say. Denotes communication and command.
• unto (אֶל, ’el): A preposition indicating direction towards.
• Daniel (דָּנִיֵּאל, Dānîʾēl): The faithful prophet. His name means "God is my judge."
• said (אָמַר, ’āmǎr): To say, tell, declare. A common verb for vocalization.
• unto him (לוֹ, lô): Pronoun indicating Daniel as the recipient of the king's words.
• Thy (שֶּׁלָּךְ, šelâḵ): Possessive pronoun.
• God (אֱלָהָךְ, ’ĕlāhâḵ): Aramaic word for God. Refers to Daniel's personal deity.
• whom (דִּי, dî): A relative pronoun introducing a descriptive clause.
• thou (אַנְתְּ, ’ant): Pronoun for the second person singular, masculine.
• servest (פְּלַח, pəlaḥ): To worship, serve, obey. Indicates a deep, committed service.
• continually (בְּגִלּוּל, bəḡillûl): This is likely a textual variation or mistranslation from common Hebrew scholarship of the verse; a more fitting Aramaic term for "continually" in this context would be more along the lines of (דָּאִי, dāʾî) or similar adverbial phrases implying constant action. The commonly understood verse states Daniel serves his God continuously. This highlights Daniel's unwavering devotion.
• shall (יִשְׁגַּּב, yišḡabb): Future tense verb, indicating the certainty of the action.
• deliver (יְשַׁגֵּב, yəšaggēḇ): To save, deliver, rescue, uphold. Implies a powerful intervention.
• thee (יָתְךְ, yāṯôḵ): Objective pronoun for the second person singular.
• from (מִן, min): Preposition indicating source or separation.
• the lions' den (דְּחֵיפְרִיּוֹת, dĕḥêp̄ərîyôṯ): A den or enclosure, specifically for lions. The plural indicates the structure possibly housing multiple lions. The LXX translates this as "from the mouth of lions."

Daniel 6 16 Bonus Section

The structure of the Persian court, with its satraps and laws, mirrors other ancient Near Eastern monarchies. The absolute nature of the king's decree, once sealed, could not be easily rescinded in Mesopotamian legal traditions (Daniel 6:15), underscoring the rigidity Daniel was up against. Daniel's consistent prayer life (mentioned implicitly by the king) is portrayed as a deliberate and public act of defiance against the decree, a conscious choice to obey God rather than man. The phrase "whom thou servest continually" emphasizes that Daniel’s prayer was not a new habit but an established practice, known and acknowledged by the king. This highlights that Daniel's fidelity was visible to those around him.

Daniel 6 16 Commentary

The king’s words to Daniel reveal a stark contrast: his admiration for Daniel's faith versus the fatal decree he himself enacted. Darius, influenced by the envy of his officials, was pressured into a law that directly opposed Daniel's established religious practice. However, his question implies a lingering hope or recognition of divine power in Daniel's life, an acknowledgment of the God Daniel faithfully served. The phrase "whom thou servest continually" underscores the depth and consistency of Daniel's devotion, which the king had observed. This moment is a critical juncture where human authority clashes with divine commitment, testing the boundaries of loyalty to both earthly rulers and heavenly Lord.