Daniel

Also known as: Belteshazzar, Daniel the Prophet

Prophet · In the Court of Kings

Daniel was taken to Babylon as a young man in the first deportation of 605 BCE and trained for service in King Nebuchadnezzar's court, where he was renamed Belteshazzar. He and his three companions — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — refused to eat the king's food and instead ate vegetables, proving healthier than the other trainees (Daniel 1:8-16). Daniel's ability to interpret dreams elevated him to high office. He interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great statue representing four successive world empires (Daniel 2), the king's dream of a great tree representing his coming madness (Daniel 4), and the handwriting on the wall at Belshazzar's feast — "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN" — predicting Babylon's fall that very night (Daniel 5:25-28). Under the Persian rulers who conquered Babylon, Daniel's enemies conspired to have him thrown into a den of lions for praying to God instead of the king. "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths" (Daniel 6:22). Daniel's visions in chapters 7-12 describe future events including four world empires, the "abomination of desolation," and the coming of "one like the Son of man" (Daniel 7:13).

Key Events

1Taken to Babylon as a youth — refused king's food
2Interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the statue
3Interpreted handwriting on the wall: "MENE, MENE, TEKEL"
4Thrown into the lions' den — God shut the lions' mouths
5Saw vision of four beasts and "one like the Son of man"
6Served under Babylonian and Persian kings

What Scripture Says (73 verses)

1 Chronicles 3:1

Now these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess:

1 Chronicles · Chapter 3

Ezra 8:2

Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.

Ezra · Chapter 8

Nehemiah 10:6

Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

Nehemiah · Chapter 10

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.

Ezekiel · Chapter 14

Ezekiel 14:20

Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

Ezekiel · Chapter 14

Ezekiel 28:3

Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:

Ezekiel · Chapter 28

Daniel 1:6

Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

Daniel · Chapter 1

Daniel 1:7

Unto 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 Abednego.

Daniel · Chapter 1

Daniel 1:8

But 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.

Daniel · Chapter 1

Daniel 1:9

Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

Daniel · Chapter 1

Showing 10 of 73 verses

Church Tradition

Death

Tradition: died of old age in Persia

Location: Babylon/Persia (tradition)

Source: No early sources; various later traditions

Later Tradition

Details

From: Judah
Verses: 73
Category: prophet

Appears In

Daniel Ezekiel Matthew Mark Hebrews

Key Verses

Daniel 1:8-16

Daniel 2:31-45

Daniel 5:25-28

Daniel 6:22

Daniel 7:13-14

Daniel 12:2