Who is Daniel in the Bible? Facts, Life Lessons and Wife
God did miraculous things through the early prophets. Daniel is one prolific Bible character who led a God-fearing life. There are undisputed facts about his life for all to follow. He stayed faithful in his relationship with God. Did he sin or get married?
Who Was Daniel In The Bible?
Daniel was called Belteshazzar by the Chaldeans. He was a prophet and descended from the royal family of David. Daniel was very young, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim king of Judah, B. C. 606 when King Nebuchadnezzar captured and enslaved his people. (Dan 1:1-6).
He was well known as a Jewish scholar and master interpreter of dreams. Daniel being an intelligent and God-fearing person had favor from God and King Nebuchadnezzar. He became a courtier in the King’s palace.
Facts about Daniel
There are some interesting facts about Daniel that our young generation must know about. He left behind good legacies for Christians to stay faithful to God.
• A Man Of Great Influence
Through his exemplary life and the visions recorded in his book, Daniel had a great influence on people in his time. The name that Jesus most commonly used of himself, “the Son of man“, was taken from Daniel’s vision of the heavenly and universal king (Dan 7:13-14; Mar 2:28)
• Daniel Was A Man Of Faith
He proved the genuineness of his faith in God by resisting the pressures upon him to accept and condone ungodly practices in Babylon. Despite the pressure and threats from his rulers and accusers, he never lost faith in God. He almost died a martyr until God miraculously saved him from the jaws of the lions.
Daniel was very outspoken against sinful acts in the palace. He denounced royal pride and arrogance (Dan 5:18-23).
• Rewarded To A Higher Position
Daniel was at least eighty years of age, but he gained enough trust, respect and recognition in the sight of the King. This is because God used him to interpret dreams and give wise advice to the king of Babylon. Due to that, he got the highest positions in the new administration (Dan 6:1-2; cf. 1:21; 5:30). The Bible says, God will exalt those who humble themselves and bring down those full of sinful pride.
• Prayerful
One significant thing we can learn from Daniel in the Bible is about his consistency in prayers. Even on one occasion, his prayers were accompanied by three weeks of mourning and fasting (Dan 10:2-3). He prayed and fasted for 21 days until he had an answer from an angel of God. Daniel’s faith helped him get answers to his prayers (Daniel 10:11).
• Dream Interpreter
Daniel showed his remarkable ability to interpret dreams. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream which, nobody in his palace or on earth was able to interpret. He proved that God is the ruler of the world and he sets up and destroys kingdoms according to his will (2:1-49).
• Integrity
Daniel did not move away from his faith to soil his hands with ungodly things. He maintained his integrity —even in the most difficult circumstances. He was ready to die for the truth.
Did Daniel in the Bible have a wife?
Daniel is said to have married a woman called Susanna who was the daughter of Hilkiah. It is found in the New Revised Standard Version —Catholic Edition.
“He married the daughter of Hilkiah, named Susanna, a very beautiful woman and one who feared the Lord.” (Daniel 13:2)
When we look at almost all the standard Bible versions, there is nothing like Daniel chapter 13. So it is disputable to say Daniel had a wife.
He became a slave to the King of Babylon in his youth. The Bible records that in those days —the King’s servants were mainly eunuchs (castrated beings or infertile due to birth defects). There is no detail about Daniel’s relationship or marriage in the Bible.
Did Daniel sin?
Daniel had his shortfalls so far as he was human, he sinned against the Almighty God. It was something he admitted through humility.
“I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the LORD my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain.” (Daniel 9:20)
There is none who is perfect on earth. But through His grace, we are made righteous in His sight.
