Daniel in the Lions' Den
Daniel's enemies trick the king into making a law against prayer. Daniel continues to pray, is thrown to the lions, and is miraculously preserved.
Daniel 6:1-28
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The Story
It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. Daniel so distinguished himself 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 could find no corruption in him. Finally they 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 to the king and said, 'May King Darius live forever! The royal administrators have all agreed that the king should issue an edict that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions' den. Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered.'
King Darius 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.
The men went as a group and found Daniel praying. They went to the king and spoke to him about his decree. 'Daniel pays no attention to you, Your Majesty. He still prays three times a day.'
When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. But the men reminded him that no decree issued by the king could be changed.
So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him 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. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating. He could not sleep.
At the first light of dawn, the king hurried to the lions' den. 'Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God been able to rescue you from the lions?'
Daniel answered, 'May the 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, Your Majesty.'
The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. No wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
Then King Darius wrote to all 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. 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.'
Daniel and the Lions
Kids Version
Daniel loved God and prayed to Him three times every day. He was also REALLY good at his job working for King Darius. So good that the king wanted to put Daniel in charge of everything!
This made some other men JEALOUS. They wanted to get Daniel in trouble. But Daniel never did anything wrong!
'The only way to trap Daniel,' they said, 'is to make a rule about his God.'
They went to the king with a sneaky plan. 'O King, make a new law! For thirty days, no one can pray to anyone except YOU. If they do, throw them to the LIONS!'
The king thought this sounded like a good idea and signed the law.
When Daniel heard about the law, what do you think he did? He went home, opened his window toward Jerusalem, and prayed—just like always! Three times a day, on his knees, thanking God.
The jealous men peeked through the window. 'Gotcha!'
They ran to tell the king. 'Daniel broke your law!'
King Darius was SO sad. He liked Daniel! He tried everything to save him. But the law couldn't be changed.
Soldiers threw Daniel into a pit full of hungry lions. ROAR! The king called down, 'May YOUR God rescue you!'
A big stone covered the opening. The king went home but couldn't eat or sleep. He was too worried about Daniel.
At sunrise, the king RAN to the lions' den. 'Daniel! Did your God save you?!'
'Yes!' Daniel called back. 'God sent an angel who shut the lions' mouths! They didn't hurt me at all!'
The king was SO happy! He pulled Daniel out—not a scratch on him!
King Darius made a NEW law: 'Everyone must respect Daniel's God! He is the living God who rescues and saves!'
Daniel kept praying. And God kept taking care of him.
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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?
Daniel's enemies trick the king into making a law against prayer. Daniel continues to pray, is thrown to the lions, and is miraculously preserved. 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 Faithfulness in prayer, God's protection, Integrity. Bad men tricked the king into making a law against praying to God. But Daniel kept praying anyway! He was thrown into a den of hungry lions—but God sent an angel to shut the lions' mouths!