The book of Daniel contains a total of twenty-two chapters. The chapters are in groups of four, each having its own subject and purpose. The first eight chapters provide background information on the prophet Daniel, who was exiled to Babylon during the time of the Babylonian Captivity in 597 BC, or approximately 536 years before Christ was born in Bethlehem.
The book of Daniel consists of two parts: the prophecy of Daniel and Susannah, which consists of chapters 1–6, and the history of Daniel and his companions Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and his repentance. There are 12 chapters in this part.
How Many Chapters In Daniel KJV
Number of Chapters in Daniel KJV
1. Chapter 1: Daniel’s Training in Babylon
2. Chapter 2: Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
3. Chapter 3: The Fiery Furnace
4. Chapter 4: Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
5. Chapter 5: The Handwriting on the Wall
6. Chapter 6: Daniel in the Lions’ Den
7. Chapter 7: Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts
8. Chapter 8: Daniel’s Vision of the Ram and Goat
9. Chapter 9: Daniel’s Prayer for the People
10. Chapter 10: Daniel’s Vision of a Man
11. Chapter 11: Kings of the North and South
12. Chapter 12: The End Times
Chapter | Title |
---|---|
1 | Daniel’s Training in Babylon |
2 | Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream |
3 | The Fiery Furnace |
4 | Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream |
5 | The Handwriting on the Wall |
6 | Daniel in the Lions’ Den |
7 | Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts |
8 | Daniel’s Vision of the Ram and Goat |
9 | Daniel’s Prayer for the People |
10 | Daniel’s Vision of a Man |
11 | Kings of the North and South |
12 | The End Times |
This list provides a brief overview of the chapters in the Book of Daniel in the King James Version Bible. Each chapter contains unique stories and prophecies that continue to be studied and interpreted by believers around the world.
How many chapters are in the book of Daniel in the bible
These are all of the chapters of the book of Daniel. Clicking on a chapter will show you the text of that chapter of Daniel in the Bible (New International Version).
- Daniel 1
- Daniel 2
- Daniel 3
- Daniel 4
- Daniel 5
- Daniel 6
- Daniel 7
- Daniel 8
- Daniel 9
- Daniel 10
- Daniel 11
- Daniel 12
Who Wrote Daniel?
Although most scholars consistently agree that Daniel, an Israelite captive in Babylon during the sixth century BC, wrote the first six chapters of the Book of Daniel, some scholars debate as to who authored the final six. The chapters experience a shift in the language used, tone, and style, which contributes to this debate.
Most theologians do agree that Daniel wrote the entirety of the book. But some minority views, including those outside of the Christian faith, believe the final six chapters were written by a Jew during the time when Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrated the Jewish temple with an abomination of desolation.
However, this shows a lack of belief in the power of prophecy—that the events of Antiochus IV could have been foreseen in a vision hundreds of years before they happened. Most scholars agree Daniel is the author of all twelve chapters, and the differences in style, language, and theme are due to the shift of the Babylonian narratives (seen in chapters 1-6) to the visions Daniel experienced about events to come (chapters 7-12). The two sections are also intended for different audiences, which could explain the difference in language.
Context and Background of Daniel
The Book of Daniel was written during the life of Daniel in the sixth century BC in Babylon. Judah, the Southern Kingdom, had fallen to the greatest empire at the time, Babylon, and was taken into captivity in three waves. The prophet Daniel was taken captive in one of those waves.
During the time of writing this book, Daniel had lived through the reign and fall of the Babylonian Empire and the start of the Medo-Persian Empire when they invaded Babylon in Daniel 5.
As for the book’s recipients, that differs based on which section of the book the reader is in.
The first section, Daniel 1-6, known as the Babylonian Narratives, shows four Jewish men living holy lives in a pagan land. They work hard and excel in Babylonian society without compromising their integrity or faith. The main audience for this book would have likely been Jews who were under an oppressive ruler.
However, Jews later living under strict Hellenistic or Roman rule would have found inspiration and comfort from the examples of Daniel and his three friends: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
As for the second section, Daniel 7-12, the audience for the visions Daniel saw are those who are living in fulfillment. While the abomination of desolation did resemble Antiochus IV Epiphanes, it is also hinting at the antichrist at the end of time.
In other words, those who are at the end of time will also be the audience for Daniel 7–12.
Main Theme and Purpose of Daniel
The main theme of both sections of the book appears to be perseverance during a time of mass persecution and cultural genocide.
In the Babylonian and Medo-Persian narratives, the Israelites are forced to give up their Israelite identity in how they eat (Daniel 1), how they learn (Daniel 1), how they worship (Daniel 3), and how they pray (Daniel 6).
And in many cases, those who resist will face pain or execution (Daniel 3, 6 and 9).
What Can We Learn from Daniel Today?
First, we can see what godly living looks like in an increasingly pagan culture. Daniel and his three friends were in the center of Sin City and still attempted to excel in every task set before them. Nevertheless, even though they were in the world, they weren’t of it. They were determined to make a stand for their faith, even if that meant persecution or death.
Second, we see reassurances of hope during the most desperate times. The antichrist will persecute believers in the future, but at the end of a metaphorical “seventy weeks,” the Son of Man will come and set everything right (Daniel 12).
Third, we see what loving our enemies looks like. A really intriguing part of the narrative is Daniel’s relationship with Nebuchadnezzar. This king stripped him of his land, likely killed people he knew in front of him, and tried to rebrand him as a Babylonian, but Daniel still appears to care for this Babylonian king (Daniel 4:19-20). Although we don’t have to agree with what our enemies say or try to coerce us to do (Daniel 3, 6), we can still care for them and pray for them often.
Favorite Verses from Daniel
Daniel 2:27-28, “Daniel answered the king and said, ‘No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these.’”
Daniel 3:17, “If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand.”
Daniel 9:19, “O Lord, hear, O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”
Daniel 10:12, “Then he continued, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.’”
Daniel 12:1, “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress that has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time, your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.”
How Many Chapters Are In The Book Of Daniel KJV
This summary of the book of Daniel provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of Daniel.
Author, Date and Authenticity
The book implies that Daniel was its author in several passages, such as 9:2; 10:2. That Jesus concurred is clear from his reference to ” ?the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel” (Mt 24:15; see note there), quoting 9:27 (see note there); 11:31; 12:11. The book was probably completed c. 530 b.c., shortly after Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, captured the city of Babylon in 539.
The widely held view that the book of Daniel is largely fictional rests mainly on the modern philosophical assumption that long-range predictive prophecy is impossible. Therefore all fulfilled predictions in Daniel, it is claimed, had to have been composed no earlier than the Maccabean period (second century b.c.), after the fulfillments had taken place. But objective evidence excludes this hypothesis on several counts:
To avoid fulfillment of long-range predictive prophecy in the book, the adherents of the late-date view usually maintain that the four empires of chs. 2 and 7 are Babylon, Media, Persia and Greece. But in the mind of the author, “the Medes and Persians” (5:28;;) together constituted the second in the series of four kingdoms (2:32-43; see note there). Thus it becomes clear that the four empires are the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek and Roman.
The language itself argues for a date earlier than the second century. Linguistic evidence from the Dead Sea Scrolls (which furnish authentic samples of Hebrew and Aramaic writing from the third and second centuries b.c.; see essay, p. 1939) demonstrates that the Hebrew and Aramaic chapters of Daniel must have been composed centuries earlier. Furthermore, as recently demonstrated, the Persian and Greek words in Daniel do not require a late date. Some of the technical terms appearing in ch. 3 were already so obsolete by the second century b.c. that translators of the Septuagint (the pre-Christian Greek translation of the OT) translated them incorrectly.
Several of the fulfillments of prophecies in Daniel could not have taken place by the second century anyway, so the prophetic element cannot be dismissed. The symbolism connected with the fourth kingdom makes it unmistakably predictive of the Roman empire (2:33;7:7,19), which did not take control of Syro-Palestine until 63 b.c. Also, a plausible interpretation of the prophecy concerning the coming of “the Anointed One, the ruler,” approximately 483 years after “the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem” (9:25;9:25-27), works out to the time of Jesus’ ministry.
Objective evidence, therefore, appears to exclude the late-date hypothesis and indicates that there is insufficient reason to deny Daniel’s authorship.
Theological Theme
The theological theme of the book is summarized in 4:17; 5:21: “The Most High (God) is sovereign over the kingdoms of men.” Daniel’s visions always show God as triumphant (7:11,26-27;8:25;9:27). The climax of his sovereign rule is described in Revelation: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ [i.e., Messiah, ?Anointed One’], and he will reign for ever and ever” (rev 11:15;da 2:44;7:27;s).
Literary Form
The book is made up primarily of historical narrative (found mainly in chs. 1–6) and apocalyptic (“revelatory”) material (found mainly in chs. 7–12). The latter may be defined as symbolic, visionary, and prophetic literature, usually composed during oppressive conditions and being chiefly eschatological in theological content. Apocalyptic literature is primarily a literature of encouragement to the people of God (see Introduction to Zechariah: Literary Form and Themes; see also Introduction to Revelation: Literary Form). For the symbolic use of numbers in apocalyptic literature, see Introduction to Revelation: Distinctive Feature.
Book of Daniel Summary By Chapter
Outline
- Prologue: The Setting (ch. 1)
- Historical Introduction (1:1-2)
- Daniel and His Friends Are Taken Captive (1:3-7)
- The Young Men Are Faithful (1:8-16)
- The Young Men Are Elevated to High Positions (1:17-21)
- The Destinies of the Nations of the World (chs. 2-7;)
- Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Large Statue (ch. 2)
- Nebuchadnezzar’s Making of a Gold Image and His Decree That It Be Worshiped (ch. 3)
- Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of an Enormous Tree (ch. 4)
- Belshazzar’s and Babylon’s Downfall (ch. 5)
- Daniel’s Deliverance from the Lion’s Den (ch. 6)
- Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts (ch. 7)
- The Destiny of the Nation of Israel (chs. 8-12; in Hebrew)
- Daniel’s Vision of a Ram and a Goat (ch. 8)
- Daniel’s Prayer and His Vision of the 70 “Sevens” (ch. 9)
- Daniel’s Vision of Israel’s Future (chs. 10-12)
- Revelation of things to come (10:1-3)
- Revelation from the angelic messenger (10:4;11:1)
- Prophecies concerning Persia and Greece (11:2-4)
- Prophecies concerning Egypt and Syria (11:5-35)
- Prophecies concerning the antichrist (11:36-45)
- Distress and deliverance (12:1)
- Two resurrections (12:2-3)
- Instruction to Daniel (12:4)
- Conclusion (12:5-13)