The Book of Daniel
Daniel records faith under pressure in Babylon — the lions' den, the fiery furnace, the writing on the wall — and visions of God's everlasting kingdom that will outlast every empire.
- Testament
- Old (12 chapters)
- Type
- Major Prophet
- Author
- Traditionally Daniel himself (6th c. BC). Many scholars place the book's composition in the 2nd c. BC (Maccabean era).
- Date
- Set during the Babylonian and early Persian period (605-530 BC).
Faithfulness in a foreign empire
Daniel and his friends serve faithfully in pagan courts while refusing to compromise on worship. The book is a manual for the people of God living as a minority — how to be loyal to God without becoming useless to neighbors.
Kingdoms rise and fall — God's lasts forever
Daniel's visions in chapters 2 and 7 show empires (Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome) succeeded by an everlasting kingdom 'which shall never be destroyed'. The Son of Man imagery (7:13-14) is taken up directly by Jesus.
Key verses (KJV)
“But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods.” — Daniel 3:18 (KJV)
“His kingdom is that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.” — Daniel 6:26 (KJV)
“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven.” — Daniel 7:13 (KJV)
How to read Daniel
Read the stories (1-6) first — they read like adventures. Then take the visions (7-12) more slowly; they reward repeated reading. Chapter 9 (Daniel's prayer) is one of the great penitential prayers in Scripture.
Read Daniel on your iPhone
Read the full book of Daniel in Quiethaven — choose your translation, read offline, and pick up where you left off. Pair it with a daily verse and a prayer timer.
Read Daniel free on iPhone.
Download on the App Store