And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse marks the end of Daniel's documented service in Babylonian and Persian courts, but its true significance lies in why this specific year, Cyrus's first, is mentioned. It's not just about Daniel's lifespan; it's about him living to witness the dawn of his people's liberation from exile, a moment he deeply prayed for.
And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse marks the end of the narrative for this section, showing Daniel's continued service in the Babylonian court, then through the Persian conquest under Cyrus, even living to see the beginning of the Jews' return from exile. It concludes the account of Daniel and his friends' faithfulness in Babylon, highlighting their enduring influence until a significant turning point in Jewish history.
Daniel's life spanned an incredible period of history, witnessing the rise and fall of empires. This verse marks a significant turning point.
Daniel 1:21 tells us, "And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus." This simple statement highlights Daniel's remarkable longevity and the extent of his influence. He wasn't just present during the Babylonian captivity; he served in high positions under multiple kings, including Nebuchadnezzar, his successors, and finally, Cyrus the Persian.
This verse pinpoints his presence until the very beginning of Cyrus's reign. This was a pivotal year because Cyrus issued the decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. Daniel lived to see the fulfillment of prophecies concerning the end of the seventy-year captivity, a testament to God's faithfulness and Daniel's enduring service.
How did Daniel maintain his integrity and influence across so many years and changing regimes?
The phrase "And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus" implies more than just physical presence; it speaks to his continued favor and service.
Sustained Service
Daniel's ability to serve under successive rulers, including a foreign conqueror like Cyrus, points to a deep wellspring of integrity, wisdom, and divine favor. He wasn't just surviving; he was thriving and serving effectively.
God's Purpose Fulfilled
This longevity allowed Daniel to witness the fulfillment of God's promises, particularly the end of the exile. His life demonstrates that faithfulness, even in challenging circumstances, can have a lasting impact and see God's redemptive plans unfold.
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Understand the original words
Daniy'el · Hebrew Proper Noun
A proper name meaning "God is my judge." In biblical theology, he represents a man of unwavering faithfulness to God’s law, wisdom, and prophetic insight while living in a pagan empire.
melek · Hebrew Noun
A common noun referring to a male monarch who exercises sovereignty over a nation or empire. In a biblical context, kings are often viewed as agents of divine providence or judgment, ultimately subject to the authority of the King of Kings.
Koresh · Hebrew Proper Noun
A proper name referring to Cyrus the Great, the Persian monarch who ended the Babylonian Empire. Biblically, he is significant as the instrument chosen by God to facilitate the return of the Jewish exiles to their homeland.
Daniel's life spans the entire Babylonian exile, from its beginning under Nebuchadnezzar to its end under Cyrus. His presence until the first year of Cyrus signifies not necessarily his death, but the fulfillment of prophecies and the beginning of the return of his people.
605 BC— this verse
First Deportation of Jerusalemites
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon invades Judah and begins deporting its citizens, including Daniel and his friends, to Babylon. They are to be educated for service in the Babylonian court.
c. 589-587 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, leading to further exiles to Babylon. Daniel and his companions have already been in Babylon for over a decade.
539 BC
Babylon Captured by Persia
Cyrus the Great, king of the Medo-Persian Empire, conquers Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
538 BC
Cyrus's Edict of Return
Cyrus issues a decree allowing Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks the end of the 70-year Babylonian exile.
This passage directly links to Daniel 1:21 by marking the very year Cyrus issued the decree for the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem, signifying the end of the Babylonian captivity that Daniel had lived through.
Daniel 10:1This verse shows Daniel receiving a significant vision in the third year of Cyrus, confirming that he lived well beyond the first year mentioned and continued to serve God and receive divine revelation.
Isaiah 44:28This prophecy foretold Cyrus by name, calling him God's shepherd who would accomplish His purposes, which finds its fulfillment during Daniel's lifetime and the events described around Daniel 1:21.
Jeremiah 25:11-12These verses prophesied the seventy-year period of Babylonian exile, which concludes with Cyrus's decree mentioned in Ezra 1:1 and experienced by Daniel until the first year of his reign.
barnesDaniel 1:21: "And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus."
And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus - When the proclamation was issued by him to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem, Ezra 1:1 . That is, he continued in influence and authority at different times during that period, and, of course, during the whole of the seventy years captivity. It is not necessarily implied that he did not "live" longer, or even that he ceased then to have influence and authority…
pulpitDaniel 1:21: "And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus."
Verse 21. - And Daniel continued even unto the first year of King Cyrus. The Septuagint supplies Περσῶν. Theodotion and the Peshitta agree with the Massoretic. It has been objected by Canon Driver that the natural classical order of the latter two words should have been hammelek Koresh, not, as it is in the Massoretic, Koresh hammelek. The Septuagint text seems to have had parseem, which would make the order perfectly c…
This verse marks the end of Daniel's documented service in Babylonian and Persian courts, but its true significance lies in why this specific year, Cyrus's first, is mentioned. It's not just about Daniel's lifespan; it's about him living to witness the dawn of his people's liberation from exile, a moment he deeply prayed for.
This verse marks the end of the narrative for this section, showing Daniel's continued service in the Babylonian court, then through the Persian conquest under Cyrus, even living to see the beginning of the Jews' return from exile. It concludes the account of Daniel and his friends' faithfulness in Babylon, highlighting their enduring influence until a significant turning point in Jewish history.
This verse marks the end of the narrative for this section, showing Daniel's continued service in the Babylonian court, then through the Persian conquest under Cyrus, even living to see the beginning of the Jews' return from exile. It concludes the account of Daniel and his friends' faithfulness in Babylon, highlighting their enduring influence until a significant turning point in Jewish history.
"And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus." — This verse marks the end of Daniel's documented service in Babylonian and Persian courts, but its true significance lies in why this specific year, Cyrus's first, is mentioned. It's not just about…
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Last reviewed October 2026