Daniel 6 20

Daniel 6:20 kjv

And 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?

Daniel 6:20 nkjv

And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

Daniel 6:20 niv

When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"

Daniel 6:20 esv

As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

Daniel 6:20 nlt

When he got there, he called out in anguish, "Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?"

Daniel 6 verses

Daniel 6 20 Meaning

This verse describes Daniel's encounter with King Darius after he has been delivered from the lions' den. Darius, greatly relieved and acknowledging the power of Daniel's God, expresses his joy and recognition of divine intervention. The king reaffirms Daniel's innocence and the miraculous nature of his deliverance, thereby validating Daniel's faith and the God he serves.

Daniel 6 20 Context

In Daniel chapter 6, Daniel, a devout Jewish exile in Babylon, faces intense persecution from envious Persian satraps. They conspire to have him condemned by tricking King Darius into signing a decree that prohibits prayer to any god or person other than the king for thirty days. Daniel, unwavering in his faith, continues to pray towards Jerusalem. As a result, he is thrown into a lions' den, as per the decree. The chapter concludes with God miraculously preserving Daniel from harm. This verse, spoken by King Darius, directly follows Daniel's miraculous deliverance. Darius's decree, designed to harm Daniel, ironically exalts Daniel's God.

Daniel 6 20 Word Analysis

• Therefore (Aramaic: מִן־דֵּין - min-de'in): This indicates a consequence or result based on previous events. It links the king's words directly to Daniel's miraculous survival.
• I (Aramaic: אֲנָא - ana): The king speaking in the first person, asserting his royal authority and his personal observation.
• make (Aramaic: שַׂעַר - sa'ar): Though translated as "make," in this context, it implies issuing or decreeing an order. The root can also relate to "enact" or "cause."
• a decree (Aramaic: טְעֵם - te'em): A royal ordinance or command, carrying the weight of law. This reflects the king's official pronouncement.
• that (Aramaic: דִּ־ - di): Introduces a subordinate clause, specifying the content of the decree.
• throughout (Aramaic: לְכָל־מְדִינַת - lechol-medinat): Throughout all the provinces or regions of his kingdom. It signifies the widespread application of the king's law.
• my kingdom (Aramaic: מַלְכוּתִי - malkhuti): Referring to the vast Persian Empire, highlighting its extensive reach.
• the kingdom (Aramaic: מַלְכוּתָא - malkhuta): The sovereign power and domain of the king.
• that (Aramaic: אֲרוּן — 'arūn): In some Aramaic dialects, this conjunction is used similarly to "that" or "which." It introduces the clause that follows.
• shall be (Aramaic: יְהוֹא - yehwa'): Future tense, indicating a future action or state.
• tremble (Aramaic: זַע — za'): To shake or quake, implying fear and reverence. This shows a profound sense of awe and respect stemming from the event.
• and (Aramaic: וְ — wə): Conjunction linking clauses.
• fear (Aramaic: דְּחִיל — dǝhil): To be in awe, to hold in reverence. It implies a respectful fear, a holy awe before God's power.
• before (Aramaic: קֳדָם — qədam): In the presence of.
• the God (Aramaic: אֱלָה־ — 'elah-): The supreme deity. The use of the singular emphasizes the uniqueness and singularity of God.
• of Daniel (Aramaic: דָּנִיֵּאל — Daniyel): Explicitly identifies the God worshipped by Daniel.
• for (Aramaic: אֲרוּ — 'aru): Because, for the reason that.
• he (Aramaic: ה֜וּא — hu): Referring to Daniel.
• is (Aramaic: ה֛וּא — huwa'): Is.
• the living God (Aramaic: אֱלָהּ־חַי — 'elah-ḥay): A significant epithet emphasizing God's active, vibrant, and enduring existence, in contrast to lifeless idols. This term appears frequently in Scripture to distinguish the true God from pagan deities (Deut 4:39; Psa 42:2).
• and (Aramaic: וְ — wə): Conjunction.
• stedfast (Aramaic: קַיָּם — qayam): Enduring, permanent, established, everlasting. This emphasizes God's eternal nature and unwavering presence.
• for ever (Aramaic: לְעָלְמִין — lə‘almīn): Unto ages, to eternity. This points to God's eternal reign and power, a concept fundamental to Jewish monotheism.
• and (Aramaic: וְ — wə): Conjunction.
• his kingdom (Aramaic: מַלְכוּתֵהּ — malkhutēh): The dominion or rule of God, signifying His eternal and supreme sovereignty that will not be destroyed or passed on to another. This contrasts with the human kingdoms which are temporal and subject to change.
• that (Aramaic: דִּי — dī): Which.
• which (Aramaic: לָא — la): Negation.
• shall not (Aramaic: תִּתְבַּדָּא — tiṯbaddā'): Shall not be destroyed, or shall not pass away. It speaks to the indestructibility of God's reign.

Daniel 6 20 Bonus Section

The Aramiac term for "living God" ('elah-ḥay) is particularly significant. It is used repeatedly throughout Scripture to distinguish the true God from lifeless pagan deities or powerless human rulers. The concept of God's kingdom being one "that shall not be destroyed" or "shall not pass away" (lā titbaddā') echoes the Davidic covenant and points forward to the eternal, unbreakable kingdom of God established through Jesus Christ, as affirmed in the New Testament (e.g., Luke 1:33). Darius’s recognition is a pagan king acknowledging the reality and supremacy of the God of Israel, a precursor to the eventual recognition of God's sovereignty by Gentile nations described in prophetic passages. This also foreshadows Christ’s ultimate victory over all kingdoms and His eternal reign.

Daniel 6 20 Commentary

King Darius’s decree is a powerful testament to the living God of Israel. Having witnessed Daniel’s miraculous preservation in the lions' den, Darius acknowledges that Daniel’s God is not like the other gods he might be familiar with. He declares this God to be "the living God, andstedfast for ever," meaning He is eternally existent, powerful, and His rule is permanent and indestructible. This stands in stark contrast to the idols of the surrounding nations and even the king's own temporal authority, which is subject to limitations and succession. The king's statement signifies his profound realization of God's supreme power and sovereignty, leading him to enforce a kingdom-wide decree of reverence. This is a remarkable shift from an earlier, foolish decree that condemned Daniel.

• Practical Application: Just as Darius came to respect Daniel's God, we too are called to honor God with our lives, demonstrating our faith through unwavering obedience even in the face of opposition. Our trust in God’s eternal power and faithfulness should lead us to live lives of reverence and fear towards Him, acknowledging His supreme authority over all aspects of our existence.