FocusGod's rule over earthly power
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Dreams, deliverances, and judgments confront royal pride and show faithful witnesses living under successive rulers.
interpretation Daniel 6:3
KJVThen this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
Read it in context
The Plot against Daniel
Start reading at Daniel 6:1 (Daniel 6:1 to Daniel 6:9).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Dreams, deliverances, and judgments confront royal pride and show faithful witnesses living under successive rulers.
- 6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
- 6:2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
- 6:3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
- 6:4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
- 6:5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
- 6:6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
- 6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
- 6:8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
- 6:9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
Who
- Who wrote the book? Daniel is the traditional author and the named recorder of the later visions. Jesus refers to Daniel the prophet; the date and compilation of the book are debated in historical scholarship. Biblical references: Daniel 7:1; Daniel 8:1; Daniel 12:4; Matthew 24:15. traditionally held
- Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Daniel 6:1–6:28): Daniel, Darius, the accusing officials, and the king's servants are involved in the decree and lions' den episode. stated in the text
- Who was the book written to? God's people living under foreign empires and later faithful readers seeking understanding. Within the stories, messages are also delivered to particular Babylonian and Persian rulers. Biblical references: Daniel 1:6; Daniel 4:1; Daniel 12:4. book background
What
- What is the topic of this reading unit? The Plot against Daniel. Read Daniel 6:1 through Daniel 6:9 as a connected unit. interpretation
- How does it contribute to the book? This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Dreams, deliverances, and judgments confront royal pride and show faithful witnesses living under successive rulers. interpretation
When
- When are the events or message set? The narratives and visions name rulers of Babylon and succeeding powers. Dates of visions and periods represented by symbols are different kinds of information. book background
Where
- What is the book’s geographic setting? The narratives are set in exile under foreign rulers, while visions portray additional realms and future conflicts. book background
- Where does the context start? This passage sits in The Plot against Daniel (Daniel 6:1 to Daniel 6:9). Start reading at Daniel 6:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
- How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? Jesus uses the title Son of man and refers to Daniel. The New Testament supplies connections to Daniel's visions; precise modern identifications and timetables still require careful argument. See Daniel 7:13, Matthew 24:15, Matthew 26:64. interpretation
- How should this book guide our response? Remain faithful under pressure and reject confidence rooted in human power. Distinguish the book's supplied interpretations from later attempts to identify every symbol. interpretation
Cited: Daniel 6:1, Daniel 6:9, Daniel 7:13, Matthew 24:15, Matthew 26:64
Who wrote it, and how we know
Daniel
Named in Scripture
What Scripture saysLarge sections are written in the first person by Daniel, and Jesus refers to Daniel the prophet.
Daniel 7:2Daniel 8:1Matthew 24:15
Early traditionJewish and Christian tradition names Daniel in the sixth century B.C.
What is debatedMany critical scholars date the book to the second century B.C. because of its detailed prophecy of that period. Jesus naming Daniel as a prophet is a significant argument for the traditional view.
Related passages
- was preferred Prov 22:29
- an Dan 5:12,14 Dan 9:23 Gen 41:38-41 Neh 7:2 Prov 3:3-4 Prov 17:27 Eccl 2:13
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Daniel 6
Daniel places its narratives and visions in the setting of foreign empires and exile. The book itself supplies some interpretations of symbols; further timetables and modern identifications require separate argument and should be labeled accordingly. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Daniel 1:1 Daniel 2:37 Daniel 7:17
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
Daniel 6:10–24FocusGod's rule over earthly power
Connection to the wholeDreams, deliverances, and judgments confront royal pride and show faithful witnesses living under successive rulers.
interpretation Darius Honors God
Daniel 6:25–28FocusGod's rule over earthly power
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. Dreams, deliverances, and judgments confront royal pride and show faithful witnesses living under successive rulers.
interpretation Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Daniel
Daniel places its narratives and visions in the setting of foreign empires and exile. The book itself supplies some interpretations of symbols; further timetables and modern identifications require separate argument and should be labeled accordingly.
Daniel 1:1 Daniel 2:37 Daniel 7:17
The Judean youths in Babylon
Daniel 1:1–21FocusFaithfulness in exile
Connection to the wholeThe opening establishes the youths' displacement, training, and resolve before the court narratives and visions develop.
interpretation FocusGod's rule over earthly power
Connection to the wholeDreams, deliverances, and judgments confront royal pride and show faithful witnesses living under successive rulers.
interpretation Visions of kingdoms
Daniel 7:1–8:27FocusConflict and divine judgment
Connection to the wholeThe visions present kingdoms and conflict with explanations supplied within the text, preparing the later revelations.
interpretation Confession and the answer concerning the people
Daniel 9:1–27FocusPrayer and announced purposes
Connection to the wholeDaniel's attention to Jeremiah leads to confession and an answer concerning his people and the holy city.
interpretation The final revelation
Daniel 10:1–12:13FocusConflict, endurance, and resurrection
Connection to the wholeThe final vision extends the conflict and hope, closing with instructions about the words and Daniel's own appointed end.
interpretation Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.