Daniel in the Lions' Den
Jealous officials trick the king into making a law that forces Daniel to choose between praying to God and obeying the king. Daniel chooses God, is thrown to the lions, and God shuts their mouths.
Daniel 6:1-28
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The Story
Darius the Mede decided to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
At this, the other administrators and satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.
Finally these men said, 'We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.' So they went as a group to the king and proposed a new law: 'O King Darius, live forever! All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have agreed that the king should issue an edict that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den. Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.'
King Darius, flattered and deceived, put the decree in writing.
Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Daniel did not hide. He did not compromise. He did not even close his windows. His prayer life was not secret or sporadic—it was regular, visible, and directed toward the city of God's temple. He had been doing this for decades, and a new law would not change his faithfulness.
The officials went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. They went to the king and reminded him of his decree. Then they said, 'Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.'
When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed and made every effort to rescue Daniel. He labored until sundown trying to find a way to save him. But the men reminded him: 'According to the law of the Medes and Persians, no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.'
Reluctantly, the king gave the order, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, 'May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!' A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it.
The king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment. At the first light of dawn, he got up and hurried to the lions' den. When he came near, he called out in an anguished voice, 'Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?'
Daniel answered, 'O king, live forever! My God sent His angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in His sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.'
The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. When Daniel was brought up, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. Before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
King Darius wrote to all peoples and nations: 'I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For He is the living God and He endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end. He rescues and He saves; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.'
So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. His faithfulness had testified to two empires about the one true God.
Daniel and the Hungry Lions
Kids Version
Daniel was now an old man, but he still loved God with all his heart. He had become very important—the king wanted to put him in charge of the whole kingdom!
But some other leaders were jealous. They didn't like Daniel. They wanted his job! So they tried to find something bad that Daniel did. They watched him and watched him, but they couldn't find ANYTHING wrong! Daniel was honest and good.
'We'll never catch him doing anything bad,' they said, 'unless we make a law about his God!' They had a sneaky plan.
They went to King Darius and said, 'O great king! We think you should make a law: For thirty days, everyone can only pray to YOU. Anyone who prays to any other god should be thrown to the lions!'
The king thought this sounded good. He signed the law. In that kingdom, once a law was signed, it could NEVER be changed.
When Daniel heard about the new law, do you know what he did? He went home, opened his windows toward Jerusalem, got down on his knees, and prayed to God—just like he did THREE TIMES EVERY DAY!
Daniel didn't hide. He didn't stop praying. He knew that obeying God was more important than obeying a bad law.
The jealous men were watching! They ran to the king. 'King Darius! Daniel is breaking your law! He's praying to his God three times a day!'
The king was SO sad! He loved Daniel! He tried ALL day to find a way to save him. But the jealous men said, 'Remember, O king—the law can't be changed!'
So sadly, the king gave the order. Soldiers took Daniel and threw him into a deep, dark pit full of hungry LIONS! They rolled a big stone over the opening and sealed it.
The king whispered to Daniel, 'May your God rescue you!' Then he went back to his palace. He couldn't eat dinner. He couldn't sleep. He was too worried about Daniel.
As soon as the sun came up, the king RAN to the lions' den. 'Daniel!' he called out. 'Did your God save you from the lions?'
And from inside the den came Daniel's voice: 'O king, live forever! My God sent His angel to shut the lions' mouths! They didn't hurt me at all!'
The king was so happy! He ordered his men to pull Daniel out. They looked him all over—not even a scratch! The lions hadn't touched him!
Then the king threw the JEALOUS men into the lions' den. This time, the lions were NOT gentle.
King Darius wrote to the whole kingdom: 'Everyone should respect Daniel's God! He is the living God! He lasts forever! He rescued Daniel from the lions!'
Daniel was safe because he trusted God. And God always protects His faithful people!
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Scripture — Daniel 6:1-28 (KJV)
1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
2And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
3Then 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.
4Then 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.
5Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
6Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. assembled: or, came tumultuously
7All 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. decree: or, interdict
8Now, 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. altereth not: Cald. passeth not
9Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime .
11Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
13Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
14Then 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.
15Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
16Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
17And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
18Then 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. instruments: or, table
19Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20And 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?
21Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22My 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.
23Then 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.
24And 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.
25Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
27He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. power: Cald. hand
28So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Memory Verse
“It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;”
— Daniel 6:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Daniel in the Lions' Den” in the Bible?
Jealous officials trick the king into making a law that forces Daniel to choose between praying to God and obeying the king. Daniel chooses God, is thrown to the lions, and God shuts their mouths. This story is found in Daniel 6:1-28.
Where is “Daniel in the Lions' Den” found in the Bible?
“Daniel in the Lions' Den” is found in Daniel 6:1-28, in the book of Daniel.
What can children learn from “Daniel in the Lions' Den”?
This story teaches children about Prayer, Faithfulness, God's protection, Integrity, Trusting God over man. Some jealous men tricked the king into making a bad law: nobody could pray except to the king! But Daniel kept praying to God anyway. The king had to throw him to the lions! But God sent an angel to keep Daniel safe all night long.