Daniel 6:13
“Then they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn’t respect you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.””
What does Daniel 6:13 mean?
Daniel's enemies bring their accusation to King Darius, claiming that this Jewish exile refuses to obey the royal decree forbidding prayer to anyone but the king himself. What they present as disrespect is actually Daniel's unshakeable commitment to pray to God alone, something no earthly law can change. The phrase "three times a day" shows the deliberate, consistent nature of his devotion, not a careless slip-up. This moment captures the tension between human authority and a deeper loyalty, and it sets the stage for what happens next: Daniel's courage to keep praying despite knowing the consequences.