And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The king’s sealing the stone with his own signet and his lords' signets highlights a delicate balance of power; the nobles ensured Daniel couldn't be freed, while the king’s seal guaranteed Daniel wouldn't be harmed by enemies after his miraculous survival. This dual sealing underscored the precariousness of the situation and amplified the divine intervention to come.
And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Daniel has just been thrown into the lions' den as punishment for defying a new law. To ensure he cannot escape or be rescued, a massive stone is rolled to seal the den's entrance, and the king himself, along with his lords, seals it with their signets. This seals Daniel's fate, supposedly, as the decree states he is not to be harmed, but they have now made it impossible for the king to intervene if Daniel survives the night.
Why did the king and his lords both need to seal the stone? It wasn't just about keeping Daniel in, but also about controlling the outcome.
Daniel's enemies, driven by intense political jealousy, sought to ensure their plot against him was irreversible. They understood the king's favor towards Daniel and feared he might intervene.
More than just a pit, this 'den' was designed to be a tomb. But God turned it into a stage for His power.
The physical description of the den, and the actions taken to seal it, are crucial. They weren't just symbolic gestures; they were practical measures to ensure Daniel's death and remove any doubt.
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Understand the original words
‘izqāh · Aramaic Noun
A royal seal or ring used to authenticate official documents or secure property. It carried the king's authority and legal weight, making the object or decree inviolable.
The sealing of the den with the king's and nobles' seals wasn't just about preventing escape; it was a political maneuver. The nobles wanted to ensure Darius couldn't secretly release Daniel, while Darius may have hoped the seal would protect Daniel from further harm by his enemies should he survive the lions.
c. 539 BC
Babylon Falls to Persians
The Babylonian Empire, after a long reign, falls to the invading forces of Cyrus the Great of Persia. This marks a significant political shift in the region.
c. 539 BC
Darius the Mede Rules Babylon
Following the conquest, Darius the Mede, often identified with Cyrus the Great, is installed as the ruler of Babylon. This new administration brings Persian customs and laws.
c. 539 BC
Darius Establishes Governing Structure
Darius organizes his new kingdom, appointing 120 satraps (governors) to oversee the vast territory and establishing two chief administrators, Daniel being one of them, to ensure efficient governance.
c. 539 BC
Conspiracy Against Daniel
Jealous rivals, unable to find fault with Daniel's administration, conspire to trap him by exploiting a new law forbidding prayer to any god but the king.
c. 539 BC— this verse
Daniel Cast into Lion's Den
Despite King Darius's distress, Daniel is cast into a den of lions as punishment for defying the new law, fulfilling the conspirators' plot.
c. 539 BC
Daniel's Miraculous Preservation
The next morning, Darius finds Daniel alive and unharmed in the den, discovering that God had sent an angel to protect him. The conspirators are then judged and thrown to the lions.
This passage describes a stone being rolled to seal Jesus' tomb, mirroring the heavy stone sealed at the mouth of Daniel's den, ensuring no unauthorized access or change of circumstance.
Acts 12:4Similar to Daniel, Peter was imprisoned and guarded behind a sealed door (though not a stone-faced den), highlighting the lengths to which authorities went to ensure a prisoner could not escape, and how God's power could override such measures.
John 11:38The large stone sealing Lazarus' tomb, which Jesus had to be rolled away, parallels the physical barrier used to secure Daniel's den, emphasizing the finality and seriousness of the situation before divine intervention.
Exodus 14:21While different in context, the parting of the Red Sea illustrates God's dramatic power to overcome seemingly insurmountable physical barriers, much like His intervention for Daniel in the sealed den.
Daniel 3:20This chapter showcases God's power to protect His faithful servants from fiery destruction, a theme that resonates with Daniel's later miraculous survival in the lions' den despite the king's sealed decree.
barnesDaniel 6:17: "And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel."
And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den - Probably a large flat stone sufficient to cover the mouth of the cave, and so heavy that Daniel could not remove it from within and escape. It was usual then, as it is now, to close up the entrance to sepulchres with a large s…
pulpitDaniel 6:17: "And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel."
Verse 17. - And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. The Septuagint text begins, according to Tischendorf, with a passage elsewhere c…
The king’s sealing the stone with his own signet and his lords' signets highlights a delicate balance of power; the nobles ensured Daniel couldn't be freed, while the king’s seal guaranteed Daniel wouldn't be harmed by enemies after his miraculous survival. This dual sealing underscored the precariousness of the situation and amplified the divine intervention to come.
Daniel has just been thrown into the lions' den as punishment for defying a new law. To ensure he cannot escape or be rescued, a massive stone is rolled to seal the den's entrance, and the king himself, along with his lords, seals it with their signets. This seals Daniel's fate, supposedly, as the decree states he is not to be harmed, but they have now made it impossible for the king to intervene if Daniel survives the night.
Daniel has just been thrown into the lions' den as punishment for defying a new law. To ensure he cannot escape or be rescued, a massive stone is rolled to seal the den's entrance, and the king himself, along with his lords, seals it with their signets. This seals Daniel's fate, supposedly, as the decree states he is not to be harmed, but they have now made it impossible for the king to intervene if Daniel survives the night.
"And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel." — The king’s sealing the stone with his own signet and his lords' signets highlights a delicate balance of power; the nobles ensured Daniel couldn't be freed, while the king’s seal guaranteed Daniel…
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Last reviewed October 2026