Daniel

About Daniel

Daniel, whose Babylonian name was Belteshazzar, was a prominent Jewish prophet during the Babylonian exile. He was among the young nobles taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar and brought to Babylon to serve in the king's court (Daniel 1).

Known for his wisdom, integrity, and ability to interpret dreams and visions, Daniel served under several Babylonian kings, including Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Darius the Mede. He is mentioned alongside Noah and Job in Ezk.14.14,20 as an example of righteousness.

Throughout his life, Daniel received several visions and revelations from God, which are recorded in the Book of Daniel. These visions include the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dreams (Daniel 2; 4), the handwriting on the wall during Belshazzar's feast (Daniel 5), and visions concerning future kingdoms and the end times (Daniel 7-12).

Daniel's faithfulness to God was tested when he was thrown into the lions' den for praying to God instead of King Darius (Daniel 6). However, God protected him, and his faith and integrity were vindicated.

In the New Testament, Jesus refers to the "abomination of desolation" spoken of by the prophet Daniel (Mat.24.15; Mrk.13.14), indicating the continued significance of Daniel's prophecies.

Daniel's life and ministry demonstrate the importance of faith, prayer, and obedience to God, even in the face of persecution and adversity. His visions and prophecies provide insight into God's sovereign plan for the nations and the coming of the Messiah.

Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.