My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Daniel doesn't just claim general innocence; he points to an "innocency" specifically found before God in this very situation, meaning his steadfast faithfulness to God was the ground of his preservation. He also asserts his blamelessness before the king, highlighting that his obedience to God never truly undermined his loyalty to the earthly ruler. This shows that true faithfulness to God and integrity in human relationships aren't in opposition, but can powerfully coexist.
My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Daniel has just spent a night in the lions' den, a terrifying punishment orchestrated by jealous officials who tricked King Darius into signing a decree forbidding prayer to anyone but the king. The next morning, Darius rushes to the den, fearing the worst, only to find Daniel alive and unharmed. Daniel's response here is a declaration of God's miraculous intervention and his own integrity, both before God and the king.
Daniel didn't just survive the lions; he claims divine intervention. What does this tell us about how God works, even today?
Daniel directly attributes his survival to God sending His angel. This wasn't just a lucky break or a natural phenomenon; it was a supernatural act.
A Heavenly Helper
Daniel claims 'innocency was found in me.' Is this about being perfect, or something else entirely?
Daniel's defense hinges on his 'innocency.' But this isn't a claim of sinless perfection. Instead, it's about the integrity of his cause and his consistent faithfulness to God.
Twofold Integrity
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This innocence is presented not as the cause of his salvation in a way that earns merit, but as the reason God vindicated him – because Daniel's cause was just and his life demonstrated faithfulness.
Understand the original words
mal'ak · Aramaic Noun
A divine messenger or agent sent by God to perform tasks, deliver messages, or execute judgment; often acting as an extension of God's authority.
zakhu · Aramaic Adjective/Noun
Refers to moral integrity and uprightness in character and conduct. It signifies a life consistent with God’s covenant requirements, free from flagrant guilt or corruption, rather than absolute sinlessness.
chabal · Aramaic Noun
A state of being safe from injury, destruction, or evil. In a biblical context, it often refers to the absence of physical or spiritual ruin, frequently protected by divine intervention.
Daniel's miraculous deliverance from the lions' den wasn't just a personal victory; it was a powerful, public testament to God's sovereignty in a foreign empire, designed to impress both the Persian king and his court.
c. 605 BC
Daniel and friends exiled to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquers Judah and takes educated young men, including Daniel, into exile to serve in his court.
c. 597 BC
Second deportation from Jerusalem
More Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, are taken captive to Babylon. This period marks a deepening of Babylonian control over Judah.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar finally destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, scattering the remaining population into exile.
c. 550 BC
Rise of the Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great, a Persian king, begins his conquests, setting the stage for the eventual fall of the Babylonian Empire.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great's Persian forces conquer Babylon, bringing an end to the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Daniel likely served within the Babylonian court and transitioned to service under the Persians.
c. 537 BC— this verse
Daniel survives lions' den
Daniel, now an old man serving in the Persian court, is thrown into a lions' den for defying a royal decree that forbade prayer to any god but the king. He is miraculously preserved.
This passage echoes Daniel's experience, describing a fourth figure like a divine being (an angel) appearing in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, reinforcing the theme of divine angelic intervention to protect faithful servants.
Psalm 91:11This psalm speaks directly of God committing His angels to guard His servants in all their ways, providing a clear theological backdrop to Daniel's assertion that God sent His angel to protect him.
Hebrews 11:33This New Testament passage lists Daniel among the faithful who 'through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,' directly referencing this event and highlighting faith as the crucial element.
1 Peter 5:8This verse warns believers to 'Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour,' which connects to the literal 'roaring lions' Daniel faced, suggesting a spiritual dimension to his deliverance and God's power over destructive forces.
Acts 24:16Paul echoes Daniel's defense, stating 'So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward God and toward men,' illustrating that maintaining integrity before God, even when it appears to conflict with earthly authority, is a consistent principle for the faithful.
barnesDaniel 6:22: "My 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 hath sent his angel - It was common among the Hebrews to attribute any remarkable preservation from danger to the intervention of an angel sent from God, and no one can demonstrate that it did not occur as they supposed. There is no more absurdity in supposing that God employs an angel…
clarkeDaniel 6:22: "My 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 hath sent his angel - Such a one as that who attended Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the fiery furnace, and blew aside the flames, so that they could not hurt them. Before him innocency was found in one - Because I was innocent God has preserved me; and now that I am preserved, m…
Daniel doesn't just claim general innocence; he points to an "innocency" specifically found before God in this very situation, meaning his steadfast faithfulness to God was the ground of his preservation. He also asserts his blamelessness before the king, highlighting that his obedience to God never truly undermined his loyalty to the earthly ruler. This shows that true faithfulness to God and integrity in human relationships aren't in opposition, but can powerfully coexist.
Daniel has just spent a night in the lions' den, a terrifying punishment orchestrated by jealous officials who tricked King Darius into signing a decree forbidding prayer to anyone but the king. The next morning, Darius rushes to the den, fearing the worst, only to find Daniel alive and unharmed. Daniel's response here is a declaration of God's miraculous intervention and his own integrity, both before God and the king.
Daniel has just spent a night in the lions' den, a terrifying punishment orchestrated by jealous officials who tricked King Darius into signing a decree forbidding prayer to anyone but the king. The next morning, Darius rushes to the den, fearing the worst, only to find Daniel alive and unharmed. Daniel's response here is a declaration of God's miraculous intervention and his own integrity, both before God and the king.
"My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”" — Daniel doesn't just claim general innocence; he points to an "innocency" specifically found before God in this very situation, meaning his steadfast faithfulness to God was the ground of his preser…
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Last reviewed October 2026