Daniel
Daniel is a Jewish exile and wise interpreter of dreams in the Bible, best known for surviving a den of lions. His stories show faithfulness to God under foreign rulers, while his visions look beyond earthly kingdoms towards divine judgement and deliverance.
Key stories of Daniel
The king’s dream
Daniel reveals and explains Nebuchadnezzar’s troubling dream of a great statue. Its different materials represent kingdoms that will give way to God’s lasting rule.
In The Book of Daniel, Daniel describes the dream the king has refused to disclose, then explains how a stone shatters the statue.
In The Book of Daniel by Unknown
The writing on the wall
During Belshazzar’s feast, a mysterious hand writes a message on the wall. Daniel reads it as a judgement against the king and a warning that his kingdom will fall.
In The Book of Daniel, Belshazzar summons Daniel after his other wise men cannot interpret the writing. The king dies that night.
In The Book of Daniel by Unknown
The lions’ den
Daniel continues praying to God despite a royal decree forbidding it. He is thrown into a den of lions, but God sends an angel to keep him safe.
In The Book of Daniel, King Darius returns anxiously to the den at dawn. Daniel answers him and explains that the lions have not harmed him.
In The Book of Daniel by Unknown
How to recognise Daniel in stories
- Look for lions surrounding an unharmed man.
- Notice a wise outsider explaining dreams or mysterious signs.
- Watch for prayer maintained despite a ruler’s command.
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What does a Daniel mean when someone uses it as a description?
A Daniel can mean a wise judge or someone who understands a difficult matter. The expression draws on Daniel’s skill in interpreting hidden meanings and, in some biblical traditions, his exposure of false testimony in the story of Susanna.
Was Daniel the one in the fiery furnace?
No, the men in the fiery furnace are Daniel’s companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. In The Book of Daniel, they survive the flames after refusing to worship the king’s golden image; Daniel’s own best-known rescue involves lions.
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