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

Despite his deep distress and attempts to save Daniel, King Darius was bound by the unalterable law of the Medes and Persians. Thus, he was compelled to deliver Daniel to a cruel death. As Daniel was cast into the den of lions, the king expressed a desperate hope or perhaps a semi-prophetic utterance, declaring that Daniel's God, whom he had witnessed Daniel serving faithfully and without interruption, would miraculously deliver him. This statement reflects Darius's recognition of Daniel's unwavering piety and the perceived power of Daniel's God.

Daniel 6 16 Context

Daniel 6 takes place during the reign of Darius the Mede, following the fall of Babylon. Daniel, due to his exceptional abilities and integrity, had been elevated to a position of high authority, serving as one of three chief presidents over 120 satraps. This provoked intense jealousy and envy among other officials who sought to find fault with Daniel. Unable to find any corruption or negligence in his secular duties, they devised a scheme exploiting Daniel's unwavering devotion to his God. They manipulated King Darius into issuing a decree that for thirty days, no one should make a petition to any god or man except the king himself, with the penalty for disobedience being cast into the den of lions. Despite knowing the decree, Daniel continued his regular practice of praying to God three times a day, facing Jerusalem. When this was reported to Darius, the king was "much distressed" and spent the day attempting to find a legal way to rescue Daniel, recognizing Daniel's innocence and faithful service. However, due to the unalterable nature of Median and Persian law, his hands were tied. Verse 16 captures the climactic moment where, after all legal avenues for Daniel's salvation were exhausted, the king regretfully yet formally commands Daniel's execution by lion.

Daniel 6 16 Word analysis

• Then (Aramaic: 'edayin אֱדַ֣יִן): A conjunction marking sequence and consequence. It emphasizes that this action (casting Daniel into the den) followed directly from the king's inability to circumvent the law and the persistence of Daniel's accusers.
• the king (Aramaic: malkâ' מַלְכָּ֗א): Refers to Darius the Mede. His personal anguish and regret preceding this command highlight the tension between human authority and divine sovereignty, and how even powerful kings can be entrapped by their own decrees.
• commanded (Aramaic: 'amar אֲמַר֙): Implies an authoritative, irreversible directive. Despite his reluctance, Darius exercises his royal power, even if against his personal wishes for Daniel.
• and they brought (Aramaic: vehaytîv וְהַיְתִ֣יו): The "they" refers to the king's officials or guards. This passive verb form indicates the execution of the command by unnamed agents, underscoring the king's ultimate authority even if he didn't personally lead Daniel.
• Daniel (Aramaic: Danîyyêl לְדָנִיֵּ֔אל): The protagonist, whose steadfast faith is central to the narrative. His name means "God is my judge," a fitting theme given the injustice he faces.
• and cast him (Aramaic: uremô וּרְמ֖וֹ): "To throw," "to hurl." It denotes a forceful, decisive act, signaling Daniel's consignment to what was considered certain death.
• into the den (Aramaic: legubbā' לְגֻבָּ֣א): Refers to a pit or cistern. In this context, it is specifically a lion pit used for execution, often deep and inescapable, symbolizing complete helplessness from a human perspective.
• of lions (Aramaic: dî-'aryāwātā' דִֽי־אַרְיָוָתָ֑א): Plural, indicating multiple predatory animals. This imagery powerfully conveys the grim reality and immediate danger of the situation, designed to terrify and swiftly end life.
• The king declared (Aramaic: ‘āneh malkâ’ we’āmar עָנֵ֤ה מַלְכָּא֙ וְאָמַ֣ר): Lit. "the king answered and said." This emphatic phrase indicates a solemn and weighty pronouncement, not a casual remark. Darius is speaking his mind and perhaps a desperate prayer or prophecy.
• to Daniel (Aramaic: leḏanîyyêl לְדָנִיֵּ֔אל): A direct address, signifying the personal nature of this declaration from Darius to Daniel. It is a moment of raw, human interaction before the dreaded event.
• May your God (Aramaic: ’ĕlāhāk אֱלָהָ֡ךְ): "Your God." This is a significant acknowledgment from a pagan king. It is a recognition of Daniel's God as distinct, personal to Daniel, and potentially powerful, even if not yet fully acknowledged as the supreme God by Darius himself.
• whom you serve (Aramaic: dî ’ant pelah leh דִֽי־אַ֣נְתְּ פָּלַ֤ח לֵהּ֙): "Whom you worship," or "to whom you minister." Darius recognizes Daniel's relationship and active devotion to his God.
• continually (Aramaic: biqeḏîrâ' בִּקְדִירָ֔א): This Aramaic word carries the sense of "constantly," "diligently," "persistently," or "without ceasing." It highlights the observed, unwavering, and consistent nature of Daniel's spiritual commitment, which likely impressed Darius deeply and formed the basis for his hope of deliverance.
• deliver you! (Aramaic: hū yeshēzəḇinnâk ה֛וּא יְשֵׁיזְבִנָּֽךְ׃): "May He deliver you," "May He rescue you." This is an optative (expressing a wish or hope) or a jussive (a command in a prayer context) clause. Darius hopes for the miraculous, acknowledging that if anyone can save Daniel from such a fate, it must be his God. It's a confession of his own powerlessness and a testament to Daniel's steadfastness.

Words-group analysis

• Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions: This phrase encapsulates the king's grudging enforcement of the law and Daniel's seemingly helpless state. It underscores the severity of the situation and the irreversible nature of human justice when unchecked by divine intervention.
• The king declared to Daniel, 'May your God... deliver you!': This represents a pivotal statement by a pagan king, acknowledging the power of Daniel's God and expressing a desperate plea or hope. It serves as an ironic testament to Daniel's faithfulness and the potential for God's miraculous intervention, setting the stage for the next events.
• May your God, whom you serve continually: This combination points to the depth of Daniel's faith as perceived by an outsider. The king attributes the potential for deliverance not to a general divine power but specifically to Daniel's God, on account of Daniel's unwavering and consistent devotion, a testament to living out one's faith openly and without compromise.

Daniel 6 16 Bonus section

The Aramaic word for "continually," biqeḏîrâ', derived from a root meaning "to be constant" or "to be firm," speaks volumes about Daniel's spiritual life. It implies not just an occasional act of worship but a deep, ingrained pattern of devotion and relationship with God that was evident even to a secular ruler. This constant fidelity formed the basis for Darius's unexpected, albeit desperate, prayer. Furthermore, this incident serves as a prophetic type of the ultimate deliverance offered by Christ. Just as Daniel was cast into a pit to die but delivered, so too was Jesus cast into the 'pit' of death, only to be resurrected, offering ultimate deliverance to those who serve God continually.

Daniel 6 16 Commentary

Daniel 6:16 is a poignant moment demonstrating both human political entanglement and a glimmer of divine hope. King Darius, despite being an absolute monarch, is entrapped by the unalterable decree, a system he himself ratified. His personal distress highlights the irony: human power is limited by its own laws, whereas God's power is unconstrained. The king's declaration, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!", is a remarkable testament from a pagan ruler. It's not a statement of personal conversion but a recognition born of observing Daniel's consistent, unyielding fidelity. Darius had seen Daniel's faithful service continually and thereby had an indirect witness to the nature and power of Daniel's God. This moment solidifies Daniel's complete reliance on God and sets the stage for God's ultimate vindication and glorification through His servant's miraculous rescue, affirming that faithfulness even unto death will be rewarded.