Daniel 6:13 (KJV)

What does Daniel 6:13 mean?

Daniel 6:13 describes how Daniel’s accusers reported to King Darius that Daniel, who was one of the Jewish exiles, was ignoring the king’s command by continuing to pray three times a day. They emphasized that Daniel was disregarding both the king’s authority and the official decree that forbade prayer to anyone except the king.

The people speaking in Daniel 6:13 are the officials who wanted to trap Daniel. They are addressing King Darius, pointing out Daniel’s disobedience in order to get him punished. Their words highlight that Daniel’s loyalty to his faith was well known, and they stress his repeated prayers as a deliberate act against the king’s law.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 6:13

• "regardeth not" (שָׂם, śām; דָּת, dāṯ): The phrase uses two Aramaic words, often understood as “does not set” or “does not pay attention to,” showing that Daniel was being accused of intentionally ignoring the king’s command, not just accidentally breaking it.
• "petition" (בָּעוּ, bāʿū): This word means a request or prayer. The officials specifically accuse Daniel of making his requests to God, underlining that his actions were religious and not political rebellion.
• "three times a day" (תְּלָתָה, telāṯāh; זִמְנִין, zimnīn; בְּיוֹם, bəyōm): The officials highlight the regularity of Daniel’s prayers, showing that this was a consistent habit, not a one-time act.

Why Daniel 6:13 matters

• Daniel 6:13 clarifies that Daniel’s faithfulness was public and consistent, making it impossible for his enemies to accuse him of anything except loyalty to his God.
• The verse shows the officials’ strategy: they frame Daniel’s religious devotion as defiance against the king, manipulating the law to target him specifically.
• This verse connects directly to the coming events in the story, where Daniel’s steadfastness leads to his being thrown into the lions’ den, setting up the main conflict of the chapter.