King James Version

What Does Daniel 6:13 Mean?

Daniel 6:13 in the King James Version says “Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth ...” — study this verse from Daniel chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Then 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.”

Daniel 6:13 · KJV

Context

11

Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

12

Then 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.

13

Then 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.

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.

15

Then 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.

Read Daniel 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Now they spring the trap: 'Then 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.' The accusation combines ethnic prejudice ('children of the captivity of Judah'), alleged disrespect ('regardeth not thee'), and specific charge (violating the decree). The phrase 'regardeth not thee' frames religious conviction as political disloyalty. The detail 'three times a day' shows they monitored his practice. The trap is perfect—the king must either violate his own law or execute his most valuable administrator.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern court politics often exploited ethnic tensions. Identifying Daniel as captive from Judah stokes resentment—why should exiled foreigner refuse law that native officials obey? The timing matters—Daniel had served since Nebuchadnezzar (605 BC), now circa 538 BC, nearly 70 years. He'd survived multiple regimes while maintaining faith. The accusation's framing shows how religious persecution often disguises itself as enforcing neutral laws or protecting political stability. Throughout history, believers' faithfulness has been misrepresented as political subversion.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does framing Daniel's faithfulness as 'regarding not thee' demonstrate how religious conviction gets misrepresented as political disloyalty?
  2. What does the ethnic dimension of the accusation teach about how persecution often combines religious and ethnic prejudices?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
בֵּ֠אדַיִן1 of 27

“Then”

H116

then (of time)

עֲנ֣וֹ2 of 27

“answered”

H6032

properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,

וְאָמְרִין֮3 of 27

“they and said”

H560

to speak, to command

קֳדָ֣ם4 of 27

“before”

H6925

before

מַלְכָּא֙5 of 27

“O king”

H4430

a king

דִּ֣י6 of 27
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

דָנִיֵּ֡אל7 of 27

“That Daniel”

H1841

danijel, the hebrew prophet

דִּי֩8 of 27
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

מִן9 of 27

“which is of”

H4481

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of

בְּנֵ֨י10 of 27

“the children”

H1123

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense

גָלוּתָ֜א11 of 27

“of the captivity”

H1547

captivity; concretely, exiles (collectively)

דִּ֣י12 of 27
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

יְה֗וּד13 of 27

“of Judah”

H3061

properly, judah, hence, judaea

לָא14 of 27

“not”

H3809

no, not

שָׂ֨ם15 of 27

“regardeth”

H7761

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

עֲלָ֤יךְ16 of 27
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

מַלְכָּא֙17 of 27

“O king”

H4430

a king

טְעֵ֔ם18 of 27
H2942

properly, flavor; figuratively, judgment (both subjective and objective); hence, account (both subjectively and objectively)

וְעַל19 of 27

“thee”

H5922

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

אֱסָרָ֖א20 of 27

“nor the decree”

H633

an interdict

דִּ֣י21 of 27
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

רְשַׁ֑מְתָּ22 of 27

“that thou hast signed”

H7560

to record

וְזִמְנִ֤ין23 of 27

“times”

H2166

an appointed occasion

תְּלָתָה֙24 of 27

“three”

H8532

three or third

בְּיוֹמָ֔א25 of 27

“a day”

H3118

a day

בָּעֵ֖א26 of 27

“but maketh”

H1156

to seek or ask

בָּעוּתֵֽהּ׃27 of 27

“his petition”

H1159

a request

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Daniel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Daniel 6:13 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Daniel 6:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Daniel 3:12Acts 5:29Daniel 2:25Esther 3:8Daniel 5:13Daniel 1:6

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