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

Daniel 6:20 depicts King Darius arriving at the lion's den at dawn, filled with anguish. He calls out to Daniel with a distressed voice, not expecting to find him alive. His pivotal question reflects his personal turmoil and a dawning understanding of Daniel’s God, asking if "thy God, whom thou servest continually, [is] able to deliver thee from the lions?" This query encapsulates the core conflict between human decree and divine power, hinting at the king’s hope against all natural odds for Daniel's deliverance through the power of his faithful God.

Daniel 6 20 Context

Daniel 6 describes the jealousy of King Darius’s satraps and administrators towards Daniel’s exceptional wisdom and integrity, which led to his promotion. Unable to find fault in Daniel’s conduct, they conspired to exploit his devotion to God by tricking the king into signing an edict prohibiting prayer to any god or man except the king for thirty days, under penalty of being cast into the lion's den. Despite knowing the irrevocable nature of the law, Daniel faithfully continued his customary prayers, three times a day, facing Jerusalem. When his defiance was reported, King Darius was deeply distressed, recognizing the trap laid for Daniel. He made every effort to rescue Daniel until sunset, but constrained by the Medo-Persian law, he had no choice but to have Daniel cast into the den. With a stone sealing the den, Darius expressed a slim, desperate hope, saying to Daniel, "May your God, whom you continually serve, Himself deliver you." The following morning, driven by a sleepless and miserable night, Darius rushed to the den, his voice filled with lament, to ascertain Daniel's fate, culminating in this deeply significant question.

Daniel 6 20 Word analysis

• And when he came: (Aramaic: וּמָטָא֙; ū-māṭāʾ – "and he arrived"). Signifies immediacy and the king’s anxious haste, emphasizing his emotional state and lack of rest since Daniel was cast in. His presence at the den's mouth indicates direct personal involvement and urgency.
• to the den: The place of presumed death. The word for den, גֻּבָּא (gubbāʾ), literally means pit or cistern, emphasizing its enclosed and inescapable nature.
• he cried: (Aramaic: קָרָ֨א; qārāʾ – "he called out"). This is not a casual call but suggests a loud, fervent cry, reflecting deep anguish and urgency.
• with a lamentable voice: (Aramaic: קָל עֲצִ֜יב; qāl ʿăṣîḇ – "a sad voice, distressed voice"). This crucial phrase highlights the king's profound grief, regret, and sorrow. It conveys that he did not expect Daniel to be alive. His lament expresses sorrow over Daniel's supposed demise and his own helplessness.
• unto Daniel: Directly addressing Daniel, personalizing the anguish and his hope against hope.
• O Daniel, servant of the living God:
  • O Daniel: An intimate, almost desperate appeal to his loyal subject.
  • servant: (Aramaic: עֲבֵד; ʿăḇêḏ – "servant, worshipper, bondservant"). This title acknowledges Daniel's identity and primary allegiance. It moves beyond a mere employee to one devoted in service and worship.
  • the living God: (Aramaic: אֱלָהָ֥א חַיָּ֖א; ʾělāhā ḥayyāʾ – "God the living one"). This is a profound theological statement, especially from a pagan king. It stands in stark contrast to the lifeless idols of Babylonian and Persian polytheism, implicitly recognizing the God of Daniel as one who acts, breathes, and has power – truly existent and active. This phrase echoes earlier declarations by the Hebrew people, but coming from a gentile king, it shows a remarkable shift in perception.
• is thy God...able to deliver thee:
  • is thy God: A question laden with doubt and hope, seeking confirmation of power beyond human capacity.
  • whom thou servest continually: (Aramaic: דִּֽי־אַ֣נְתְּ פָּלַ֤ח לֵהּ֙ תְּדִירָ֔א; dî-ʾant t pālaḥ lēh təḏîrāʾ – "whom you serve him constantly/always"). Emphasizes Daniel's unwavering, uninterrupted, and consistent devotion. This highlights the steadfastness of Daniel's faith as the ground for God's potential intervention. It suggests a cause-and-effect relationship, implying that Daniel's faithful service merits divine protection.
  • able to deliver thee: (Aramaic: יָכִ֥ל לְשֵׁיזָבֻתָֽךְ; yāḵil ləšêzāḇuṯāḵ – "mighty/powerful to save you"). This is the crux of the question. Darius is challenging, yet hopefully seeking, evidence of God's power and supremacy. He's asking if Daniel's continuous service has truly activated a divine power capable of overriding mortal judgment and overcoming natural laws. It implicitly seeks confirmation of this "living God's" superiority over human decrees and even the power of lions. The question functions as an act of faith, albeit tentative, from Darius.
• from the lions: The direct threat, representing inescapable, imminent death according to human understanding.

Daniel 6 20 Bonus section

The Aramaic phrase "ʾělāhā ḥayyāʾ" (living God) in this verse marks a distinct and evolving theological understanding within pagan monarchies encountered by the Israelites. It moves beyond simple recognition of a powerful deity to an acknowledgement of a God who is active, real, and potent, unlike their own "dead" gods who require human intervention (e.g., carrying idols in procession) or are merely abstract forces. Darius's question subtly carries a polemic against the impotence of false gods and human systems, revealing his own deep skepticism towards the efficacy of his nation's deities to effect such a rescue. His sleepless night further emphasizes his profound inner conflict and the weight of the irrevocable law versus his attachment to Daniel. This dramatic question thus prepares the reader for the stunning revelation of divine power in Daniel 6:21-23. The dramatic irony is thick, as Daniel is already alive, making the king's mournful query a prelude to astounding joy.

Daniel 6 20 Commentary

Daniel 6:20 presents a pivotal moment in the narrative, revealing King Darius’s deep personal agony and burgeoning theological understanding. His "lamentable voice" signifies more than just sorrow; it's a testament to his profound distress and regret over Daniel’s perceived death, a consequence of his own irrevocable decree. The king’s description of Daniel's God as "the living God" is extraordinarily significant, especially coming from a polytheistic monarch. It indicates a clear discernment between the idols of his own culture—lifeless, inactive—and Daniel's God, who possesses dynamic life and power.

Darius's question, "is thy God... able to deliver thee from the lions?", while tinged with despair, also carries a profound glimmer of hope and an implicit challenge. It is not merely a rhetorical question but an earnest inquiry into the ultimate authority and efficacy of Daniel's continually served God. The emphasis on Daniel's "continual" service highlights the conviction that consistent devotion might unlock extraordinary divine intervention, a principle echoed throughout biblical teaching. The king, a symbol of human authority and legal finality, is here directly confronting the limits of his own power and genuinely seeking to know if there is a higher, living power capable of overriding human decree and natural consequences. This verse sets the stage for God's majestic display of sovereignty, affirming that loyal, unwavering service to the true and living God always merits His protection and vindication.