📖 Biblical Definition
Daniel was a young Hebrew of royal or noble blood taken captive to Babylon in the first deportation (c. 605 BC). He rose to high office under four successive empires — Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius the Mede, and Cyrus the Persian — without ever compromising his covenant faith. He refused to defile himself with the king’s food (Daniel 1); he prayed three times daily with windows open toward Jerusalem even under death-decree (6:10); he interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the great image and the writing on Belshazzar’s wall; he saw apocalyptic visions of four beasts, the Ancient of Days, the Son of Man, and the seventy weeks. "Daniel was preferred above the presidents... because an excellent spirit was in him" (6:3). His character was his platform.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Hebrew exile-prophet in Babylonian and Persian courts; visionary.
expand to see more
Hebrew youth taken captive in Nebuchadnezzar's first deportation (~605 BC). Rose to second-in-kingdom under Nebuchadnezzar, survived the lions' den under Darius, served until Cyrus's first year of Persian rule. Refused to defile himself with the king's table; prayed three times daily toward Jerusalem under death-decree. Interpreted dreams (the great image, the king's seven-year madness, the writing on the wall); saw apocalyptic visions (the four beasts, the seventy weeks of years). Model of faithful service in pagan empire.
📖 Key Scripture
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."
Daniel 6:10 — "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed."
Daniel 9:24 — "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Sunday-school Daniel is the lions' den story alone; the apocalyptic visions and seventy-weeks prophecy get less attention.
expand to see more
Daniel is much more than the lions' den story. His visions in Daniel 7-12 are foundational to New Testament apocalyptic; the Son of Man comes from Daniel 7; the seventy weeks frame Christ's first coming. To skip the visions is to miss the prophet.
Recover the visions: read Daniel 7's beast-and-Son-of-Man and Daniel 9's seventy weeks. Christ is announced in advance there.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Daniyyel.
expand to see more
['Hebrew', 'H1840', 'Daniyyel', 'Daniel']
Usage
"Daniel served pagan empire for 70 years faithfully."
"Lions' den is one chapter; visions are six."
"Son of Man comes from Daniel 7."