Daniel in the Lions' Den

The words

1. Daniel

   Daniel’s rivals find no fault in his service, so they target his worship; he continues praying after learning the decree is signed.

   Daniel 6:4–5 (opens a new tab) · Daniel 6:10 (opens a new tab)

2. Hurt

   Daniel says the lions have not hurt him; after he is lifted out, the narrative reports that no injury is found.

   Daniel 6:22–23 (opens a new tab)

3. Innocent

   Daniel tells the king that God found him innocent and that he has done the king no harm; he attributes rescue to an angel.

   Daniel 6:22 (opens a new tab)

4. King Darius

   Darius signs the decree and unsuccessfully tries to rescue Daniel; afterward, he orders reverence for the God who delivered him.

   Daniel 6:9 (opens a new tab) · Daniel 6:14–16 (opens a new tab) · Daniel 6:26–27 (opens a new tab)

5. Lions' Den

   Daniel survives the den; afterward, the king orders his accusers, their children and wives thrown in, and the narrative says the lions kill them.

   Daniel 6:23–24 (opens a new tab)

6. Medes

   The plotters invoke the law of the Medes and Persians to prevent Darius changing his decree, even as he tries to rescue Daniel.

   Daniel 6:14–15 (opens a new tab)

7. Mouths

   Daniel says God sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths; he gives this as the reason they have not hurt him.

   Daniel 6:22 (opens a new tab)

8. Persians

   The Persians are paired with the Medes in the rule that the signed decree cannot change; Darius himself acknowledges that rule.

   Did you know?

   Esther also describes a royal decree entered into the laws of the Persians and Medes “that it be not altered.”

   Daniel 6:8 (opens a new tab) · Daniel 6:12 (opens a new tab) · Esther 1:19 (opens a new tab)

9. Petition

   A request or prayer, in Webster’s general definition.

   The decree forbids petitions to any god or person except the king for thirty days, with the lions’ den as punishment.

   Daniel 6:7 (opens a new tab) · Webster’s 1828: petition (opens a new tab)

10. Prayed

    After learning the decree is signed, Daniel kneels three times daily, praying with his windows open toward Jerusalem.

    Did you know?

    The prayer includes giving thanks; the narrative presents the routine as something Daniel already practiced before the decree.

    Daniel 6:10 (opens a new tab)

11. Presidents

    Supervisors, in the NET.

    Three presidents oversee the princes’ accounts; Daniel is first among them in the KJV, and the king considers setting him over the whole realm.

    Daniel 6:1–3 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Daniel 6:1-3 (opens a new tab)

12. Princes

    Regional officials, called satraps in the NET.

    Darius appoints 120 princes over the kingdom; princes and presidents later seek a charge against Daniel but find no fault in his service.

    Daniel 6:1–4 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Daniel 6:1-3 (opens a new tab)

13. Seal

    A stone covers the den’s opening and receives the king’s and nobles’ seals, so the purpose concerning Daniel cannot be changed.

    Daniel 6:17 (opens a new tab)

14. Signet

    Darius uses his own signet and those of his lords to seal the stone over the den; the NET calls them signet rings.

    Did you know?

    The NET note explains the seal as a way to detect unauthorized disturbance of the den’s opening: a disturbed seal would alert officials.

    Daniel 6:17 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Daniel 6:17 (opens a new tab)

15. Thirty Days

    The thirty days belong to the petition ban; the king returns to Daniel’s den early the next morning after a sleepless night.

    Daniel 6:7 (opens a new tab) · Daniel 6:18–19 (opens a new tab)