Prophets and exile · Old Testament
The Story of Daniel in the Lions’ Den
Officials trick King Darius into banning prayer to anyone but the king; Daniel keeps praying, is thrown to the lions, and is found unharmed in the morning.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
Under Darius the Mede, Daniel serves so well that the king plans to set him over the whole kingdom. Jealous officials, unable to find fault with him, persuade the king to forbid prayer to any god or man except the king for thirty days. Daniel 6:1–9
Daniel prays three times a day as before. He is thrown into the lions’ den, but God sends his angel to shut the lions’ mouths, and Darius proclaims that Daniel’s God is the living God. Daniel 6:10Daniel 6:16–27
Principal passages
People in this story
- Daniel The Story of Daniel
- Darius
Places named
- The kingdom of Darius the Mede Daniel 6:1
Only places the passages name. Locations are not guessed.
The story, event by event
In the order Scripture presents them. Expand an event to read its passage here.
Daniel distinguished
Daniel is one of three presidents over the satraps and distinguishes himself so much that the king plans to set him over the whole kingdom. His rivals can find no fault in him except concerning the law of his God.
People: Daniel, Darius
The decree
The officials persuade Darius to sign a decree that anyone who prays to any god or man except the king for thirty days will be thrown to the lions. It cannot be changed.
People: Darius
Daniel prays
Knowing the decree is signed, Daniel goes home and, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, kneels three times a day to pray and give thanks, as he had always done. His accusers report him.
People: Daniel
Into the den
Darius is distressed and tries until sunset to save Daniel, but the law stands. Daniel is thrown into the den; the king says, “Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you,” and spends the night fasting.
People: Daniel, Darius
Delivered
At dawn the king hurries to the den. Daniel answers that God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths. He is taken out unharmed, because he trusted in his God; his accusers are thrown in.
People: Daniel, Darius
The king’s decree
Darius writes to all peoples that they should fear the God of Daniel, the living God whose kingdom will not be destroyed. Daniel prospers in the reigns of Darius and Cyrus.
People: Daniel, Darius
Later in the Bible
Later passages that recall or interpret this story. They are not events within it.
- Hebrews 11:33 Later recollection — Among the faithful are those who “stopped the mouths of lions”. Daniel is not named; the phrase is widely read as an allusion to him.
Connected themes
- Prayer
Daniel’s habit of prayer, three times a day with thanksgiving, does not change under threat. Daniel 6:10
- Courage
Daniel continues openly, knowing the decree has been signed. Daniel 6:10
- Faith
Daniel is unharmed “because he had trusted in his God”. Daniel 6:23
Questions for study
Written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.
- What do Daniel’s rivals discover about him in Daniel 6:4-5?
- What does Daniel do when he hears the decree has been signed (Daniel 6:10)?
- How does Darius speak about Daniel’s God before and after the night in the den?
- What does Daniel 6:23 give as the reason he was unharmed?
Use offline
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