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Daniel 6:16
ESV Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”
NIV So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, 'May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!'
NASB Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, 'Your God whom you continually serve will Himself rescue you.'
CSB So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you continually serve, rescue you! "
NLT So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, 'May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.'
KJV Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

What does Daniel 6:16 mean?

Darius could procrastinate no longer (Daniel 6:14–15). The trap sprung by jealous rivals (Daniel 6:4–5) was impossible to overturn by legal means (Daniel 6:6–9, 12–13). Since Daniel had deliberately violated the law (Daniel 6:10–11), the king was obligated to order his advisor be locked into a cell with lions. Since he would not counter his own culture's laws, Darius was powerless to save Daniel. Yet he acknowledges that Daniel is faithful to God. The pagan king appeals to that Lord for Daniel's rescue.

Daniel's loyalty to the God of Israel impressed Darius. He had seen consistency in Daniel's commitment. Perhaps Darius heard the story of Daniel's three friends who survived a fiery death when Nebuchadnezzar was king (Daniel 3:24–26). No one should doubt the impact a believer's consistent testimony can have on an unbeliever, even one hardened against faith (James 5:10; 1 Peter 3:16).

This form of execution probably used a closed cave or manmade enclosure holding lions captured for this very purpose. The structure might have had multiple doors, including one on the top so that victims could be literally "thrown" in without the lions escaping or attacking the executioners (Daniel 6:17, 24).
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