Daniel 6:23

Translation
King James Version
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.
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KJV (with Strong's)
Then H116 was the king H4430 exceeding H7690 glad H2868 for him H5922, and commanded H560 that they should take H5267 Daniel H1841 up H5267 out of H4481 the den H1358. So Daniel H1841 was taken up H5267 out of H4481 the den H1358, and no H3809 manner H3606 of hurt H2257 was found H7912 upon him, because he believed H540 in his God H426.
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Complete Jewish Bible
The king was overjoyed and ordered Dani'el taken up from the pit. So Dani'el was taken up from the pit, and he was found to be completely unharmed, because he had trusted in his God.
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Berean Standard Bible
The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den, and when Daniel was lifted out of the den, no wounds whatsoever were found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
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American Standard Version
Then was the king exceeding glad, 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 had trusted in his God.
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World English Bible Messianic
Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Then was the King exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel out of the denne: so Daniel was brought out of the denne, and no maner of hurt was found vpon him, because he beleeued in his God.
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Young's Literal Translation
Then was the king very glad for him, and he hath commanded Daniel to be taken up out of the den, and Daniel hath been taken up out of the den, and no injury hath been found in him, because he hath believed in his God.
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See also
1 Chronicles 5:20Daniel 3:25Daniel 3:27Daniel 3:28Mark 9:23Daniel 6:18Proverbs 18:10
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In the KJVVerse 21,929 of 31,102

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SUMMARY

Daniel 6:23 marks the triumphant climax of the lion's den narrative, vividly portraying King Darius's overwhelming relief and immediate decree for Daniel's retrieval. This pivotal verse unequivocally declares Daniel's miraculous preservation, emphasizing that he emerged from the den completely unharmed, a divine protection explicitly attributed to his unwavering faith in his God. It stands as a powerful testament to God's sovereign power, His faithfulness to His devoted servants, and a profound vindication of Daniel's righteousness in the face of mortal peril.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Daniel 6:23 serves as the dramatic resolution to the chapter's central conflict, immediately following a night of intense suspense and divine intervention. Prior to this verse, Daniel had been cast into the lion's den as a consequence of his steadfast devotion to God, openly praying three times a day despite a newly enacted, irrevocable royal decree forbidding such worship (Daniel 6:10). King Darius, though deeply distressed by Daniel's plight and having sought in vain to deliver him, reluctantly yielded to the law and sealed the den, spending a sleepless night in fasting and anxiety (Daniel 6:16-18). The dawn of Daniel 6:23 sees the king rushing to the den, his voice filled with a desperate, yet hopeful, inquiry regarding Daniel's survival (Daniel 6:19-20). Daniel's calm and faith-filled response, attributing his preservation to God's angelic intervention, directly precedes the king's joyful command and the miraculous confirmation of Daniel's safety in this verse (Daniel 6:21-22). The triumphant declaration of Daniel's unharmed state in this verse then propels the narrative forward to King Darius's kingdom-wide decree, which exalts Daniel's God as the living and eternal sovereign (Daniel 6:24-27).

  • Historical & Cultural Context: The events of the book of Daniel unfold during the Babylonian and early Persian exilic periods, a time of profound national crisis and spiritual testing for the Jewish people. Daniel, a high-ranking official, navigated the complexities of serving successive foreign empires—first Babylon, then Persia under Darius (likely a satrap or co-regent under Cyrus the Great). The Achaemenid Persian Empire was renowned for its highly structured administration and, significantly, for the unchangeable nature of its laws once ratified by the king and his nobles (Daniel 6:8). This legal inflexibility is crucial to understanding the dramatic tension of Daniel's situation; even the king, despite his affection for Daniel, was powerless to reverse the decree. The practice of executing criminals by casting them into a den of lions was a known, albeit rare, form of capital punishment in the ancient Near East, serving as a public spectacle of royal authority and a potent deterrent. The king's profound joy and immediate action upon Daniel's deliverance would have been culturally understood as an extraordinary public acknowledgment of divine power, especially given the public nature of Daniel's condemnation and the king's prior distress.

  • Key Themes: Daniel 6:23 powerfully encapsulates several foundational themes woven throughout the book of Daniel and the broader biblical narrative. Central among these is the theme of Divine Sovereignty and Miraculous Protection, demonstrating God's absolute control over all creation, including the most savage beasts, and His unparalleled ability to deliver His faithful servants from seemingly insurmountable peril. This narrative reinforces the truth that God is not constrained by human laws or natural limitations when acting to fulfill His purposes. Intricately linked is the theme of Unwavering Faith and Obedience, as Daniel's miraculous preservation is explicitly attributed to his belief in God. Daniel's consistent and radical devotion, even when it meant facing certain death, serves as an enduring model of faithfulness in the face of persecution, echoing the steadfastness of his companions who defied Nebuchadnezzar's idolatrous decree (Daniel 3:16-18). Finally, the verse profoundly highlights God's Vindication of His People and His Own Name. Daniel's deliverance transcends personal salvation; it is a public, undeniable demonstration of God's supreme power and authority, leading directly to a powerful Gentile king's public acknowledgment and exaltation of the God of Daniel throughout his vast kingdom (Daniel 6:26-27).

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • glad (Aramaic, ṭᵉʼêb', H2868): This Aramaic root (H2868) carries the meaning "to rejoice" or "be glad." The king's state of being "exceeding glad" (amplified by H7690, saggîyʼ, meaning "large, exceedingly") denotes an overwhelming surge of joy and profound relief. This emotion stands in stark contrast to his previous night of fasting and distress, powerfully underscoring the immense emotional impact of Daniel's survival on the monarch and validating both Daniel's innocence and the demonstrable power of his God.
  • hurt (Aramaic, chăbal', H2257): Derived from H2257, this Aramaic term refers to "harm (personal or pecuniary)" or "damage." Its specific use here, in conjunction with "no manner of" (H3809, lâʼ, "not," and H3606, kôl, "all, any, every"), emphasizes the absolute and miraculous completeness of Daniel's preservation. It signifies not merely that he was alive, but that he sustained "no manner of hurt"—not a scratch, bruise, or even a sign of fear-induced trauma. This detail powerfully attests to the supernatural nature of his safeguarding, going beyond mere survival to a state of perfect wholeness.
  • believed (Aramaic, ʼăman', H540): This pivotal Aramaic verb (H540) is cognate with the Hebrew 'aman, the root of "Amen." It signifies "to build up or support," "to foster as a parent or nurse," and figuratively, "to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain." Daniel's belief was not a passive intellectual assent but a profound, active, and unwavering trust, reliance, and faithfulness in God's character, power, and promises, even when facing certain death. This deep-seated belief was the very foundation of his courageous obedience and the direct cause of his divine deliverance.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Then was the king exceeding glad for him": This opening clause immediately captures the intensity of King Darius's emotional response. His "exceeding gladness" (Aramaic: saggîyʼ ṭᵉʼêb) signifies profound relief and overwhelming joy, a stark and deliberate contrast to the sorrowful, sleepless night he had endured. This joy extends beyond Daniel's personal welfare, encompassing the vindication of Daniel's character and, implicitly, the undeniable demonstration of Daniel's God's power.
  • "and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den": Darius's profound joy translates instantly into decisive, authoritative action. The command to "take Daniel up" (Aramaic: nᵉçaq) from the den (Aramaic: gôb) highlights the king's royal authority and his eagerness to reverse the unjust and potentially fatal sentence. This public and official act serves as a clear declaration of Daniel's innocence and the undeniable reality of divine intervention.
  • "So Daniel was taken up out of the den": This clause confirms the immediate and successful execution of the king's command. Daniel's physical removal from the den serves as the tangible, visible proof of his complete deliverance from the imminent threat of death. It is the public manifestation of the miracle that transpired within the confines of the lion's pit.
  • "and no manner of hurt was found upon him": This is the miraculous core of the verse, underscoring the supernatural nature of Daniel's preservation. The phrase "no manner of hurt" (Aramaic: lâʼ kôl chăbal) emphasizes the absolute and total absence of any injury whatsoever. Daniel was not merely alive; he was completely untouched, unscratched by the lions, and showed no signs of physical or psychological trauma. This detail powerfully attests to the divine, rather than natural, cause of his safeguarding.
  • "because he believed in his God": This final, crucial clause provides the theological explanation and the central message of the entire narrative. Daniel's miraculous deliverance is explicitly and directly attributed to his "belief" (Aramaic: ʼăman) in "his God" (Aramaic: ʼĕlâhh). This "belief" is portrayed not as a casual intellectual assent but as a deep, active, and steadfast trust, faithfulness, and reliance on God, demonstrated through his unwavering obedience even when it meant risking his life. It establishes a direct and powerful correlation between Daniel's radical faith and God's miraculous, life-saving intervention.

Literary Devices

Daniel 6:23 is rich with potent literary devices that amplify its theological message. The narrative employs profound Irony, as the very decree intended by Daniel's adversaries to destroy him by forcing a choice between human law and divine obedience ultimately serves to glorify Daniel's God and elevate Daniel's status within the kingdom. The king's "exceeding gladness" and the complete absence of "hurt" on Daniel's body function as instances of both Hyperbole (in the king's extreme emotional reaction) and Understatement (in the simple declaration of "no hurt" for such an extraordinary, miraculous event), thereby emphasizing the effortless nature of the divine intervention. The entire episode functions as powerful Symbolism of God's ultimate power over chaos, death, and human malevolence, with the lion's den representing the ultimate threat, and Daniel's emergence from it symbolizing resurrection, divine victory, and the triumph of righteousness. Finally, the explicit statement "because he believed in his God" serves as a direct Didactic Statement, clearly teaching the reader the profound biblical principle that unwavering faith is the catalyst for divine intervention, protection, and deliverance.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Daniel 6:23 resonates profoundly with the overarching biblical narrative, powerfully affirming God's unwavering faithfulness to those who trust Him and His supreme authority over all creation. It underscores the profound theological truth that genuine faith is not merely intellectual assent but a radical, active reliance on God's character and promises, even in the face of death and seemingly insurmountable odds. This narrative dramatically demonstrates God's commitment to vindicate His righteous servants and to reveal His glory through their steadfastness. Daniel's deliverance is a powerful testament to the fact that God is a sovereign deliverer who acts decisively and miraculously on behalf of His own, turning human schemes for destruction into glorious opportunities for divine exaltation and the expansion of His renown.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Daniel's experience in the lion's den, culminating in his miraculous and complete preservation, offers profound encouragement and a significant challenge for believers in every generation. In a world that frequently pressures us to compromise our convictions for personal safety, professional advancement, or societal acceptance, Daniel's unwavering faith provides a compelling and enduring example. His deliverance reminds us that God is actively and intimately involved in the lives of His people, capable of intervening in ways that defy natural explanation and human expectation. When we inevitably face our own "lion's dens"—whether they manifest as professional persecution, health crises, financial ruin, social ostracism, or intense spiritual attacks—this passage calls us to cultivate a deeper, more radical trust in God. It teaches us that faithfulness, even unto the brink of death, is never in vain, for God honors those who honor Him. Our ultimate safety and security are not found in avoiding trials or conforming to worldly pressures, but in placing our complete reliance on the One who holds all power and authority, knowing that He can, and often does, shut the mouths of any adversary for His glory and our good.

Questions for Reflection

  • What "lion's den" are you currently facing in your life, and how might Daniel's story encourage your faith and resolve in that specific situation?
  • How does Daniel's "belief in his God" manifest in your own daily life and actions, particularly when you are under significant pressure or facing difficult choices?
  • In what tangible ways does God's miraculous intervention in Daniel's life affirm His sovereignty and power over seemingly insurmountable obstacles in your own experience or in the world today?
  • Considering Daniel's example, what specific steps can you take to cultivate a deeper, more active, and unwavering trust in God, even when the outcome of your circumstances remains uncertain?

FAQ

What was the nature of Daniel's "belief" that led to his miraculous deliverance?

Answer: Daniel's "belief" (Aramaic: ʼăman, H540) was far more profound than a mere intellectual acknowledgment of God's existence or power. As the verse explicitly states, "because he believed in his God," it refers to a deep, active, and unwavering trust, faithfulness, and reliance on God's character, His promises, and His sovereign authority. This belief was not passive but was demonstrably active through his consistent obedience to God's commands, even when it meant defying an irrevocable royal decree and facing certain death in the lion's den (Daniel 6:10). It was a personal, relational trust that enabled him to face the ferocious lions without fear, confident in God's ability either to deliver him or to sustain him through death. This profound and active faith is consistently upheld throughout the Bible as that which pleases God and is foundational to receiving His divine intervention and blessing (Hebrews 11:6).

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Daniel's miraculous deliverance from the lion's den, explicitly attributed to his unwavering belief in God, serves as a powerful Old Testament type pointing to the ultimate and definitive deliverance accomplished through Jesus Christ. Daniel's descent into a tomb-like den of death and his emergence unharmed powerfully foreshadow the death, burial, and glorious resurrection of Jesus. Just as Daniel was placed in a sealed pit and emerged victorious over the power of death, so too did Christ enter the grave, conquer sin and death, and rise again on the third day, demonstrating His ultimate authority over all things seen and unseen (Romans 6:9). Daniel's preservation was "because he believed in his God," highlighting the timeless biblical principle that faith is central to salvation and deliverance. In the New Covenant, our deliverance from the spiritual "den of lions"—the condemning power of sin and the certainty of eternal death—is likewise "by grace through faith" in the finished work of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Christ is the ultimate "Lamb of God" who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), and through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, He has disarmed the principalities and powers of darkness (Colossians 2:15) and delivered all who believe from the fear of death and the power of the devil (Hebrews 2:14-15). Daniel's story, therefore, is not merely a historical account of a past miracle, but a prophetic echo of the greater deliverance offered to all humanity through the resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ.

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Commentary on Daniel 6 verses 18–24

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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Cyril of JerusalemAD 386
Catechetical Lecture 5:4
The lesson that was read today invites you to the true faith, by setting before you the way in which you also must please God. It affirms that “without faith it is impossible to please him.” For when will an individual resolve to serve God, unless he believes that “he is a giver of reward”? When will a young woman choose a virgin life, or a young man live soberly, if they do not believe that for chastity there is “a crown that does not fade away”? Faith is an eye that enlightens every conscience and imparts understanding. The prophet says, “And if you do not believe, you shall not understand.” Faith “stops the mouth of lions,” as in Daniel’s case, for Scripture says concerning him, “Daniel was brought up out of the den and was found to be hurt in no way, because he believed in his God.”
John ChrysostomAD 407
ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS, HOMILY 27:4
“Stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire and escaped the edge of the sword.” See how they were in death itself, Daniel encompassed by the lions, the three children abiding in the furnace, the Israelites, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, in diverse temptations; and yet not even so did they despair. For this is faith. When things are turning out adversely, then we ought to believe nothing adverse is done but all things in due order.
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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