TRV
Translation
King James Version
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?
KJV (with Strong's)
And when he came H7127 to the den H1358, he cried H2200 with a lamentable H6088 voice H7032 unto Daniel H1841: and the king H4430 spake H6032 and said H560 to Daniel H1841, O Daniel H1841, servant H5649 of the living H2417 God H426, is thy God H426, whom thou servest H6399 continually H8411, able H3202 to deliver H7804 thee from H4481 the lions H744?
Complete Jewish Bible
On approaching the pit where Dani'el was, the king cried in a pained voice to Dani'el, "Dani'el, servant of the living God! Has your God, whom you are always serving, been able to save you from the lions?"
Berean Standard Bible
When he reached the den, he cried out in a voice of anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
American Standard Version
And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; 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?
World English Bible Messianic
When he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spoke and said to Daniel, Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?
Geneva Bible (1599)
And when he came to the denne, he cryed with a lamentable voyce vnto Daniel: and the King spake, and saide to Daniel, O Daniel, the seruant of ye liuing God, is not thy God (whom thou alway seruest) able to deliuer thee from the lyons?
Young's Literal Translation
and at his coming near to the den, to Daniel, with a grieved voice, he crieth. The king hath answered and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, thy God, whom thou art serving continually, is He able to deliver thee from the lions?'
Study This Verse
Commentary on Daniel 6 verses 18–24
18 ¶ Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20 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?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
Here is, I. The melancholy night which the king had, upon Daniel's account, Dan 6:18. He had said, indeed, that God would deliver him out of the danger, but at the same time he could not forgive himself for throwing him into the danger; and justly might God deprive him of a friend whom he had himself used so barbarously. He went to his palace, vexed at himself for what he had done, and calling himself unwise and unjust for not adhering to the law of God and nature with a non obstante - a negative to the law of the Medes and Persians. He ate no supper, but passed the night fasting; his heart was already full of grief and fear. He forbade the music; nothing is more unpleasing that songs sung to a heavy heart. He went to bed, but got no sleep, was full of tossings to and fro till the dawning of the day. Note, the best way to have a good night is to keep a good conscience, then we may lie down in peace.
II. The solicitous enquiry he made concerning Daniel the next morning, Dan 6:19, Dan 6:20. He was up early, very early; for how could he lie in bed when he could not sleep for dreaming of Daniel, nor lie awake quietly for thinking of him? And he was no sooner up than he went in haste to the den of lions, for he could not satisfy himself to send a servant (that would not sufficiently testify his affection for Daniel), nor had he patience to stay so long as till a servant would return. When he comes to the den, not without some hopes that God had graciously undone what he had wickedly done, he cries, with a lamentable voice, as one full of concern and trouble, O Daniel! art thou alive? He longs to know, yet trembles to ask the question, fearing to be answered with the roaring of the lions after more prey: O Daniel! servant of the living God, has thy God whom thou servest made it to appear that he is able to deliver thee from the lions? If he rightly understood himself when he called him the living God, he could not doubt of his ability to keep Daniel alive, for he that has life in himself quickens whom he will; but has he thought fit in this case to exert his power? What he doubted of we are sure of, that the servants of the living God have a Master who is well able to protect them and bear them out in his service.
III. The joyful news he meets with - that Daniel is alive, is safe, and well, and unhurt in the lions' den, Dan 6:21, Dan 6:22. Daniel knew the king's voice, though it was now a lamentable voice, and spoke to him with all the deference and respect that were due to him: O king! live for ever. He does not reproach him for his unkindness to him, and his easiness in yielding to the malice of his persecutors; but, to show that he has heartily forgiven him, he meets him with his good wishes. Note, We should not upbraid those with the diskindnesses they have done us who, we know, did them with reluctance, and are very ready to upbraid themselves with them. The account Daniel gives the king is very pleasant; it is triumphant. 1. God has preserved his life by a miracle. Darius had called him Daniel's god (thy God whom thou servest), to which Daniel does as it were echo back, Yea, he is my God, whom I own, and who owns me, for he has sent his angel. The same bright and glorious being that was seen in the form of the Son of God with the three children in the fiery furnace had visited Daniel, and, it is likely, in a visible appearance had enlightened the dark den, and kept Daniel company all night, and had shut the lions' mouths, that they had not in the least hurt him. The angel's presence made even the lions' den his strong-hold, his palace, his paradise; he had never had a better night in his life. See the power of God over the fiercest creatures, and believe his power to restrain the roaring lion that goes about continually seeking to devour from hurting those that are his. See the care God takes of his faithful worshippers, especially when he calls them out to suffer for him. If he keeps their souls from sin, comforts their souls with his peace, and receives their souls to himself, he does in effect stop the lions' mouths, that they cannot hurt them. See how ready the angels are to minister for the good of God's people, for they own themselves their fellow servants. 2. God has therein pleaded his cause. He was represented to the king as disaffected to him and his government. We do not find that he said any thing in his own vindication, but left it to God to clear up his integrity as the light; and he did it effectually, by working a miracle for his preservation. Daniel, in what he had done, had not offended either God or the king: Before him whom I prayed to innocency was found in me. He pretends not to a meritorious excellence, but the testimony of his conscience concerning his sincerity is his comfort - As also that before thee, O king! I have done no hurt, nor designed thee any affront.
IV. The discharge of Daniel from his confinement. His prosecutors cannot but own that the law is satisfied, though they are not, or, if it be altered, it is by a power superior to that of the Medes and Persians; and therefore no cause can be shown why Daniel should not be fetched out of the den (Dan 6:23): The king was exceedingly glad to find him alive, and gave orders immediately that they should take him out of the den, as Jeremiah out of the dungeon; and, when they searched, no manner of hurt was found upon him; he was nowhere crushed nor scarred, but was kept perfectly well, because he believed in his God. Note, Those who boldly and cheerfully trust in God to protect them in the way of their duty shall never be made ashamed of their confidence in him, but shall always find him a present help.
V. The committing of his prosecutors to the same prison, or place of execution rather, Dan 6:24. Darius is animated by this miracle wrought for Daniel, and now begins to take courage and act like himself. Those that would not suffer him to show mercy to Daniel shall, now that God has done it for him, be made to feel his resentments; and he will do justice for God who had shown mercy for him. Daniel's accusers, now that his innocency is cleared, and Heaven itself has become his compurgator, have the same punishment inflicted upon them which they designed against him, according to the law of retaliation made against false accusers, Deu 19:18, Deu 19:19. Such they were to be reckoned now that Daniel was proved innocent; for, though the fact was true, yet it was not a fault. They were cast into the den of lions, which perhaps was a punishment newly invented by themselves; however, it was what they maliciously designed for Daniel. Nec lex est justior ulla qum necis artifices arte perire su - No law can be more just than that which adjudges the devisers of barbarity to perish by it, Psa 7:15, Psa 7:16; Psa 9:15, Psa 9:16. And now Solomon's observation is verified (Pro 11:8), The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. In this execution we may observe, 1. The king's severity, in ordering their wives and children to be thrown to the lions with them. How righteous are God's statutes above those of the nations! for God commanded that the children should not die for the fathers' crimes, Deu 24:16. Yet they were put to death in extraordinary cases, as those of Achan, and Saul, and Haman. 2. The lion's fierceness. They had the mastery of them immediately, and tore them to pieces before they came to the bottom of the den. This verified and magnified the miracle of their sparing Daniel; for hereby it appeared that it was not because they had not appetite, but because they had not leave. Mastiffs that are kept muzzled are the more fierce when the muzzle is taken off; so were these lions. And the Lord is known by those judgments which he executes.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 18–24. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER SIX
Verse 20. "And approaching the pit, he called out to Daniel with a tear-choked voice and addressed him." By his tears he showed his inner emotion, and forgetting his royal dignity, the conqueror ran to his captive, the master to his servant.
"'O Daniel, servant of the living God...'" He calls Him the living God in order to distinguish Him from the gods of the Gentiles, who are but effigies of the dead.
"'Dost thou deem that thy God, whom thou ever servest, has been able to deliver thee from the lions?'" It was not that he had any doubts about the power of the God of whom he had previously affirmed, "Thy God, whom thou ever servest, will Himself deliver thee." But he phrased the sentence doubtfully in order that when Daniel made his appearance unharmed, the king's anger at the princes might seem the more justified, in proportion to the incredibility of the event.
Theodoret of CyrusAD 458
COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 6:19-20
Each of these phrases shows the religious spirit of the king, who complimented Daniel on his piety: first, he calls him not his own servant but God’s; next, he calls Daniel’s God “living;” then, in praise of his piety, “whom you serve with constancy,” that is, you were not prevented from worship under pressure of the law. The question “Was he able to rescue you from the lions’ mouth?” means, “Was it his will to render you impervious against the lions?” After all, he would not have referred to God as powerless after calling him “living.”
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Daniel 6:20 captures the dramatic dawn climax of Daniel's night in the lions' den, portraying King Darius's anxious arrival. His desperate, sorrowful cry to Daniel, immediately followed by the pivotal question regarding the "living God's" ability to deliver His faithful servant, encapsulates the king's profound distress, his burgeoning recognition of Yahweh's unique power, and the intense suspense surrounding Daniel's fate. This pivotal moment sets the stage for a miraculous divine intervention that will profoundly impact the king and his empire, revealing God's sovereignty and vindicating Daniel's unwavering faith.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This verse immediately follows a night of profound distress for King Darius, who had been manipulated by jealous officials into signing an irrevocable decree that condemned Daniel to the lions' den (Daniel 6:18). The king's deep affection for Daniel is evident in his sleepless night, his fasting, and his desperate attempts to rescue him before the decree was enforced (Daniel 6:14). Daniel's unwavering faithfulness, demonstrated by his continued prayer despite the decree (Daniel 6:10), directly led to his predicament. Verse 20 captures the king's urgent, hopeful return to the den at the earliest possible moment, reflecting his deep personal attachment to Daniel and his desperate desire for a miracle, culminating in a direct address to Daniel and, implicitly, to Daniel's God.
Historical & Cultural Context: The practice of executing criminals or political enemies by casting them into a pit with wild animals was a known, brutal form of punishment in ancient Near Eastern cultures, serving as a public display of power and finality. Crucially, Medo-Persian law, particularly the irrevocability of royal decrees, is a central cultural element in this narrative. Once a law was signed by the king and sealed, it could not be changed, even by the king himself (Daniel 6:15). This legal constraint highlights Darius's profound dilemma and the extraordinary nature of his hope for Daniel's survival. The king's reference to "the living God" is highly significant, as it contrasts sharply with the inanimate, powerless idols of pagan religions, indicating a growing, albeit still incomplete, understanding of Yahweh's true nature, influenced by Daniel's consistent witness and righteous life.
Key Themes: Daniel 6:20 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Daniel. Firstly, it underscores the theme of Divine Sovereignty and Deliverance, setting the stage for God's miraculous intervention over human decrees and natural forces. The king's direct question, "is thy God... able to deliver thee from the lions?", directly challenges God's power, inviting a definitive demonstration of His omnipotence. Secondly, it highlights Faithfulness Under Persecution, as Daniel's consistent devotion to God, even unto death, is explicitly acknowledged by the king. This unwavering commitment is the very reason for his trial and the foundation for the king's desperate hope. Finally, it touches on the theme of Pagan Rulers Acknowledging God's Power, a recurring motif in Daniel, seen previously in Nebuchadnezzar's decrees after the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:28-29). Darius's lament and question reveal a significant shift from mere political admiration to a nascent spiritual curiosity and recognition of the true God's unique capabilities.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse is rich in Suspense, building on the preceding narrative of Daniel's condemnation and the king's sleepless night. The dawn arrival and the king's "lamentable voice" heighten the tension before the outcome is revealed, creating a moment of profound anticipation. Irony is powerfully present in the pagan king, who was forced to condemn Daniel, now desperately appealing to Daniel's God for deliverance. This highlights the transformative power of Daniel's witness and the unexpected source of hope. The central query, "is thy God... able to deliver thee from the lions?", functions as a Rhetorical Question that anticipates a powerful affirmative answer, setting the stage for the divine miracle. There is also a strong Contrast between the "living God" whom Daniel serves and the dead, impotent idols of the pagan world, implicitly challenging the prevailing polytheistic worldview and underscoring the uniqueness of Yahweh's active and life-giving nature.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 6:20 serves as a pivotal moment, not only in Daniel's narrative but also in the broader biblical revelation of God's character. King Darius's desperate question, "is thy God... able to deliver thee from the lions?", is a profound theological inquiry into the very nature and capacity of the God of Israel. It highlights God's absolute sovereignty and His unique ability to intervene in human affairs, even when human laws and natural forces seem to dictate an inescapable outcome. This moment underscores that God is not merely a distant deity but a "living God" who actively engages with His faithful servants and demonstrates His power in miraculous ways. It affirms that true faith is vindicated, and God's glory is revealed even through the darkest trials, impacting those who witness His mighty acts and prompting even pagan rulers to acknowledge His unparalleled power.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene at the lions' den, culminating in King Darius's anguished cry, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It reminds us that even those who seem to hold ultimate power can be deeply affected by the unwavering faith of a single individual. In our own "lions' dens"—whether they are overwhelming financial burdens, debilitating illnesses, relational crises, spiritual attacks, or societal pressures—we are called to remember that the "living God" whom Daniel served is still able to deliver. Our consistent, faithful service to Him, even when the path ahead seems impossible or when human systems fail us, can become a powerful testimony to His sovereign power. Just as Daniel's steadfastness prompted a pagan king to acknowledge God's ability, our trust in God amidst trials can lead others to ponder His reality and power. This verse encourages us to bring our deepest anxieties and seemingly insurmountable challenges before the God who is truly "able to deliver," knowing that His power transcends all human limitations and expectations.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why was King Darius so distressed if he was the one who ordered Daniel into the den?
Answer: King Darius's distress was genuine and multifaceted. While he was indeed the one who signed the decree, he did so under duress and manipulation from Daniel's jealous adversaries (Daniel 6:6-9). He held Daniel in exceptionally high esteem, recognizing his unparalleled wisdom and integrity, and had even planned to set him over the whole kingdom (Daniel 6:3). Darius spent an entire night fasting and sleepless, deeply regretting the irreversible decree (Daniel 6:18). His anguish stemmed from his profound affection for Daniel, his helplessness in the face of his own immutable law, and a nascent hope that Daniel's God, whom he had heard about from Daniel, might somehow intervene. His desperate cry at the den was not an act of hypocrisy but a profound plea born of sorrow and a faint, yet profound, hope for a miracle, revealing a king caught between political necessity and personal conviction.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel's miraculous deliverance from the lions' den, initiated by King Darius's desperate question about the "living God's" ability to save, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Daniel's preservation from physical death foreshadows Christ's ultimate victory over spiritual death and the grave. Just as Daniel was cast into a pit and emerged unharmed, so too was Christ laid in a tomb, only to rise triumphantly on the third day, demonstrating the ultimate power of the "living God" over death itself (Acts 2:24). Jesus is the true "servant of the living God" (Isaiah 42:1), whose continual obedience led Him to the cross, where He conquered sin and death for all who believe (Romans 5:8). His resurrection is the definitive answer to Darius's question: God is indeed "able to deliver," not just from lions, but from the eternal consequences of sin and the power of the grave, offering true and lasting life to all who trust in Him (John 11:25-26). In Christ, we see God's delivering power fully manifested, securing not merely temporary reprieve but eternal salvation and resurrection hope for all His faithful ones (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).