King James Version

What Does Daniel 6:27 Mean?

Daniel 6:27 in the King James Version says “He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the ... — study this verse from Daniel chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

He 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

Daniel 6:27 · KJV


Context

25

Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

26

I 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.

27

He 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

28

So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Darius's proclamation reaches theological climax: "He delivereth and rescueth" describes God's active intervention in human affairs. The parallelism emphasizes completeness—God both delivers from danger and rescues from destruction. "He worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth" acknowledges divine power operating in both spiritual and physical realms, beyond natural law's constraints. This echoes language used throughout Scripture for divine miracles demonstrating God's sovereignty over creation.

The specific application—"who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions"—grounds theological truth in historical event. God's nature as deliverer isn't abstract doctrine but demonstrated reality witnessed by the Persian king and court. The phrase "power of the lions" (Aramaic yad aryavatha, יַד אַרְיָוָתָא, literally "hand of lions") personifies the beasts' threat, emphasizing both danger's severity and God's superior power to overcome it.

This proclamation by a pagan king demonstrates how God's miraculous deliverance produces witness to the nations. Daniel's faithfulness and God's vindication resulted in the Persian Empire's most powerful ruler proclaiming Yahweh's supremacy. This fulfills Israel's calling to be a light to nations (Isaiah 42:6), prefiguring Christ's Great Commission that the gospel reach all peoples (Matthew 28:19). Believers' faithful endurance of persecution, when met by divine deliverance (whether temporal or eschatological), testifies to God's reality and power before watching world.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Royal proclamations in ancient Near Eastern empires carried legal and religious weight, being distributed throughout vast territories and publicly read. Darius's decree acknowledging the living God reached from India to Ethiopia, proclaiming Yahweh's supremacy to millions who had never heard Israel's God named. This represents extraordinary missionary advance through political rather than evangelistic channels.

The language of "signs and wonders" echoes descriptions of Exodus miracles (Deuteronomy 6:22, 26:8), connecting Daniel's deliverance to Israel's redemptive history. Just as God displayed power over Egyptian gods through the plagues, He now demonstrates supremacy over Persian imperial power and natural order through Daniel's preservation.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's deliverance producing witness to pagan rulers illustrate missions advancing through political and social channels beyond direct evangelism?
  2. What does Darius's proclamation teach about how faithful endurance of persecution can result in powerful testimony before watching unbelievers?
  3. How does Daniel's deliverance from lions prefigure Christ's deliverance from death and believers' ultimate deliverance at resurrection?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
שֵׁיזִ֣ב1 of 13

He delivereth

H7804

to leave, i.e., (causatively) free

וּמַצִּ֗ל2 of 13

and rescueth

H5338

to extricate

וְעָבֵד֙3 of 13

and he worketh

H5648

to do, make, prepare, keep, etc

אָתִ֣ין4 of 13

signs

H852

a portent

וְתִמְהִ֔ין5 of 13

and wonders

H8540

a miracle

בִּשְׁמַיָּ֖א6 of 13

in heaven

H8065

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

וּבְאַרְעָ֑א7 of 13

and in earth

H772

the earth; by implication (figuratively) low

דִּ֚י8 of 13
H1768

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

שֵׁיזִ֣ב9 of 13

He delivereth

H7804

to leave, i.e., (causatively) free

לְדָֽנִיֵּ֔אל10 of 13

Daniel

H1841

danijel, the hebrew prophet

מִן11 of 13

from

H4481

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

יַ֖ד12 of 13

the power

H3028

hand (indicating power)

אַרְיָוָתָֽא׃13 of 13

of the lions

H744

a lion


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 6:27 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 6:27 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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