Daniel

Daniel was a young man of Judah taken captive to Babylon, who served in the courts of Babylonian and Persian kings. He interpreted dreams, was delivered from the lions' den, and received visions recorded in the book of Daniel.

Captive in Babylon

• Daniel 1:3-8
  ³And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring in some Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— ⁴Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.young men without blemish, handsome, gifted in all wisdom, knowledgeable, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace—and to teach them the language and literature of the Chaldeans. ⁵And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.The king assigned them daily provisions of the royal food and wine. They were to be trained for three years, after which they were to enter the king’s service. ⁶Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:Among these young men were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. ⁷Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed–nego.The chief official gave them new names: To Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. ⁸But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself.
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• Daniel 1:17
  As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. And Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams.
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Nebuchadnezzar's dream

• Daniel 2:19-23
  ¹⁹Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.During the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and he blessed the God of heaven ²⁰Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:and declared: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. ²¹And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. ²²He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him. ²³I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, because You have given me wisdom and power. And now You have made known to me what we have requested, for You have made known to us the dream of the king.”
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• Daniel 2:46-48
  ⁴⁶Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.At this, King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, paid homage to Daniel, and ordered that an offering of incense be presented to him. ⁴⁷The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.” ⁴⁸Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.
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The writing on the wall

• Daniel 5:13-17
  ¹³Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?So Daniel was brought before the king, who asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? ¹⁴I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom. ¹⁵And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:Now the wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this inscription and interpret it for me, but they could not give its interpretation. ¹⁶And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” ¹⁷Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him.
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• Daniel 5:25-28
  ²⁵And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.Now this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. ²⁶This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.And this is the interpretation of the message: MENE means that God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. ²⁷TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. ²⁸PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”
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The lions' den

• Daniel 6:10
  Now 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.Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
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• Daniel 6:16
  Then 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.So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”
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• Daniel 6:21-23
  ²¹Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.Then Daniel replied, “O king, may you live forever! 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.My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.” 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.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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Visions

• Daniel 7:13-14
  ¹³I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. ¹⁴And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
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• Daniel 9:2
  In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the sacred books, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.
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• Daniel 12:2-3
  ²And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt. ³And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.
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Elsewhere in Scripture

• Ezekiel 14:14
  Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God.then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.
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• Matthew 24:15
  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand),
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• Hebrews 11:33
  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
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See also

• Prayer
• Courage
• Faithfulness of God
• Esther

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.