New International Version
Daniel 6:20
20When he came near the den, he called to Daniel 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 6:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And 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?
- English Standard Version (ESV)As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”
Context of Daniel 6:20
18Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. 19At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel 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?” 21Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! 22My 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.”
Read all of Daniel 6Daniel 6:20 word by word
וּכְמִקְרְבֵ֣הּ לְגֻבָּ֔א לְדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אל בְּקָ֥ל עֲצִ֖יב זְעִ֑ק עָנֵ֨ה מַלְכָּ֜א וְאָמַ֣ר לְדָנִיֵּ֗אל דָּֽנִיֵּאל֙ עֲבֵד֙ אֱלָהָ֣א חַיָּ֔א אֱלָהָ֗ךְ דִּ֣י אַ֤נְתְּ פָּֽלַֽח־לֵהּ֙ בִּתְדִירָ֔א הַיְכִ֥ל לְשֵׁיזָבוּתָ֖ךְ מִן־אַרְיָוָתָֽא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And when he cameקְרֵבqerêb · to approachH7127
- to the denגֹּבgôb · denH1358
- he criedזְעִ֑קze‛iq · to cry outH2200
- with a lamentableעֲצַב‛ătsab · to painH6088
- voiceקָלqâl · voice: soundH7032
- unto Danielדָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵלdânîyê'l · DanielH1841
- the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
- spakeעֲנָה‛ănâh · to answerH6032
- and saidאֲמַר'ămar · to sayH560
- servantעֲבַד‛ăbad · servant/slaveH5649
- of the livingחַיchay · livingH2417
- Godאֱלָהּ'ĕlâhh · godH426
- whom thou servestפְּלַחpelach · to serveH6399
- continuallyתְּדִירָאtedîyrâ' · continuanceH8411
- ableיְכִלyekêl yekîyl · be ableH3202
- to deliverשֵׁיזִבshezab · to rescueH7804
- thee fromמִן־min · fromH4481
- the lionsאַרְיֵה'aryêh · lionH744
Cross-references for Daniel 6:20
- Daniel 6:16So 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!”
- Daniel 3:15Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
- 1 Chronicles 16:11Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
- Psalms 71:14As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
- Psalms 73:23Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
- Psalms 119:112My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.
- Psalms 146:2I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
- Proverbs 23:17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
- Hosea 12:6But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.
- Luke 18:1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
- Acts 6:4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
- Romans 2:7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
- Colossians 4:2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17pray continually,
- James 1:25But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
- Daniel 3:17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.
Commentaries on Daniel 6:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20He cried with a lamentable voice - His heart, full of grief, affected his speech. Servant of the living God - The king was convinced that, unless his God saved him, his destruction was inevitable.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20He cried with a lamentable voice - A voice full of anxious solicitude. Literally, “a voice of grief.” Such a cry would be natural on such an occasion. O Daniel, servant of the living God - The God who has life; who imparts life; and who can preserve life. This was the appellation, probably, which he had heard Daniel use in regard to God, and it is one which he would naturally employ on such an occasion as this; feeling that the question of life was…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-24Verses 18-24 The best way to have a good night, is to keep a good conscience. We are sure of what the king doubted, that the servants of the living God have a Master well able to protect them. See the power of God over the fiercest creatures, and believe his power to restrain the roaring lion that goeth about continually seeking to devour. Daniel was kept perfectly safe, because he believed in his God. Those who boldly and cheerfully trust in God to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20has your God … been able: There was no doubt that Daniel had served God faithfully. So, if God did not rescue him, it would have shown the king that God could not do so. living God: The king likely knew what Daniel’s God had done during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. The term living God is used in the Bible to compare the Lord with lifeless idols (see, for example, Deuteronomy 5:26; Joshua 3:10; Isaiah 37:17–18).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. living God--having life Himself, and able to preserve thy life; contrasted with the lifeless idols. Darius borrowed the phrase from Daniel; God extorting from an idolater a confession of the truth. thou servest continually--in times of persecution, as well as in times of peace. is thy God ... able--the language of doubt, yet hope.Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 6:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Daniel 6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries