Daniel 6:14

Then the king, when he heard [these] words, was sore displeased with himself, and set [his] heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

Then {H116} the king {H4430}, when he heard {H8086} these words {H4406}, was sore {H7690} displeased {H888} with himself, and set {H7761} his heart {H1079} on {H5922} Daniel {H1841} to deliver {H7804} him: and he laboured {H1934}{H7712} till {H5705} the going down {H4606} of the sun {H8122} to deliver {H5338} him.

When the king heard this report, he was very upset. He determined to save Dani'el and worked until sunset to find a way to rescue him.

As soon as the king heard this, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel, and he labored until sundown to rescue him.

Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to rescue him.

Commentary

Daniel 6:14 KJV describes King Darius's intense reaction and desperate efforts upon realizing the trap set for his beloved servant, Daniel. This verse highlights the king's moral struggle and his futile attempt to counteract an irreversible decree.

Context

Following the new decree instigated by envious satraps and presidents, which forbade prayer to any god or man except King Darius for thirty days, Daniel continued his faithful practice of praying to God three times a day. The conspirators, aware of Daniel's unwavering devotion, caught him in the act and immediately reported it to the king. Daniel 6:14 captures Darius's immediate and profound regret. The king, who had been manipulated into signing an irrevocable Persian law (as established in Daniel 6:8), now faced the dreadful consequence for his most trusted and respected administrator. This moment underscores the gravity of Daniel's perceived disobedience and the king's realization of the malicious intent behind the law.

Key Themes

  • The King's Regret and Anguish: Darius was "sore displeased with himself," indicating deep remorse and perhaps anger at his own foolishness or the cunning of his officials. This highlights the burden of leadership and the consequences of unwise decisions.
  • Desperate Attempts to Deliver: The phrase "set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun" reveals Darius's profound respect and affection for Daniel. He spent the entire day, from morning until sunset, trying to find a legal loophole or a way to rescue Daniel from the inevitable punishment of the lions' den. This demonstrates his high regard for Daniel's character and service.
  • Irrevocable Law: A central theme of the Daniel narrative is the immutability of Medo-Persian law. Once a decree was signed by the king, it could not be changed or revoked, even by the king himself. This legal principle forms the inescapable dilemma that Darius faced, leading to his desperate efforts.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "sore displeased with himself" conveys a strong sense of inner turmoil and distress. It suggests not just disappointment but a deep, personal anguish over the situation and his role in it. The word for "laboured" (Hebrew: yฤสฟaแนฃ, though here it's more about "striving" or "exerting oneself") emphasizes the intense, focused effort Darius put into finding a solution, working against the clock until the very moment of execution, which was traditionally at sundown.

Practical Application

Daniel 6:14 offers several timeless lessons:

  • The Weight of Decisions: Leaders, and indeed all individuals, must consider the far-reaching consequences of their actions and decrees. Hasty or ill-advised decisions can lead to profound regret and harm.
  • Integrity Under Pressure: Daniel's unwavering faith, even in the face of death, profoundly impacted those around him, including the king. His consistent character earned him immense respect, prompting Darius's desperate efforts to save him. This encourages believers to maintain their integrity, knowing it can influence others and ultimately lead to God's glory, as seen in Daniel's miraculous deliverance.
  • God's Sovereignty: Despite the king's power and the immutability of the law, God's ultimate plan for Daniel's deliverance was already in motion. Even human efforts, though sincere, often serve to highlight the greater power and faithfulness of God, who ultimately brings about His will (compare with Proverbs 21:1).
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Mark 6:26 (6 votes)

    And the king was exceeding sorry; [yet] for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

  • Luke 23:13 (2 votes)

    ยถ And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

  • Luke 23:21 (2 votes)

    But they cried, saying, Crucify [him], crucify him.

  • 2 Samuel 3:28 (2 votes)

    And afterward when David heard [it], he said, I and my kingdom [are] guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

  • 2 Samuel 3:29 (2 votes)

    Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

  • Daniel 3:13 (2 votes)

    Then Nebuchadnezzar in [his] rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

  • John 19:7 (2 votes)

    The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.