Daniel 6:18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.

◄ Daniel 6:18 ►

New International Version
Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

New Living Translation
Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.

English Standard Version
Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.

King James Bible
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

New King James Version
Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him.

New American Standard Bible
Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.

NASB 1995
Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.

NASB 1977
Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.

Amplified Bible
Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no music or entertainment was brought before him, and he remained unable to sleep.

Christian Standard Bible
Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No diversions were brought to him, and he could not sleep.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No diversions were brought to him, and he could not sleep.

American Standard Version
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him.

Contemporary English Version
All night long the king could not sleep. He did not eat anything, and he would not let anyone come in to entertain him.

English Revised Version
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the king went to his palace and spent the night without food or company. He couldn't get to sleep.

Good News Translation
Then the king returned to the palace and spent a sleepless night, without food or any form of entertainment.

International Standard Version
Then the king retired to his palace to spend the night fasting. He enjoyed no entertainment, and he couldn't sleep.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.

NET Bible
Then the king departed to his palace. But he spent the night without eating, and no diversions were brought to him. He was unable to sleep.

New Heart English Bible
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him. And his sleep fled from him.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

World English Bible
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting. No musical instruments were brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Then the king has gone to his palace, and he has passed the night fasting, and dahavan have not been brought up before him, and his sleep has fled [from] off him.

Young's Literal Translation
Then hath the king gone to his palace, and he hath passed the night fasting, and dahavan have not been brought up before him, and his sleep hath fled from off him.

Smith's Literal Translation
Then the king departed to his temple and passed the night fasting: and he brought not his concubines before him, and his sleep fled from him.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king went away to his house and laid himself down without taking supper, and meat was not set before him, and even sleep departed from him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the king departed into his house, and he went to bed without eating, and food was not set before him, moreover, even sleep fled from him.

New American Bible
Then the king returned to his palace for the night; he refused to eat and he dismissed the entertainers. Since sleep was impossible for him,

New Revised Standard Version
Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no food was brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Then the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting; no food was brought before him, and his sleep departed from him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Then the King went to his palace and he spent the night fasting, and they brought no food before him and his sleep fled from him

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were diversions brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the king departed to his house, and lay down fasting, and they brought him no food; and his sleep departed from him. But God shut the mouths of the lions, and they not molest Daniel.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Daniel in the Lions' Den
…17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed. 18Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him. 19At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Esther 6:1
That night sleep escaped the king; so he ordered the Book of Records, the Chronicles, to be brought in and read to him.

1 Kings 21:4
So Ahab went to his palace, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat.

Psalm 77:4
You have kept my eyes from closing; I am too troubled to speak.

Psalm 6:6
I am weary from groaning; all night I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.

Psalm 42:3
My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”

Psalm 102:9
For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears

2 Samuel 12:16-17
David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground. / The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.

1 Samuel 28:20
Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night.

1 Kings 19:4
while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

Jonah 3:6-7
When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. / Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink.

Matthew 27:19
While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered terribly in a dream today because of Him.”

Matthew 14:6-9
On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod / so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked. / Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” ...

Mark 6:26
The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.

Luke 23:8
When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle.

John 19:8-12
When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid, / and he went back into the Praetorium. “Where are You from?” he asked. But Jesus gave no answer. / So Pilate said to Him, “Do You refuse to speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?” ...

Treasury of Scripture

Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

and passed.

2 Samuel 12:16,17
David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth…

2 Samuel 19:24
And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.

1 Kings 21:27
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.

instruments.

Daniel 2:1
And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.

Esther 6:1
On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

Psalm 77:4
Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

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Daniel 6

1. Daniel is made chief of the presidents.
4. They, conspiring against him, obtain an idolatrous decree.
10. Daniel, accused of the breach thereof, is cast into the lion's den.
18. Daniel is saved;
24. his adversaries devoured;
25. and God magnified by a decree.

Berean Study Bible

Then the king
This phrase refers to King Darius, the ruler of the Medo-Persian Empire at the time. Historically, Darius is depicted as a powerful monarch, yet here we see his vulnerability. The king's actions reflect a deep concern for Daniel, who has been cast into the lions' den. This concern highlights the king's respect and admiration for Daniel, a man of God, and suggests a recognition of Daniel's innocence and the injustice of the situation.

returned to his palace
The palace symbolizes a place of power, authority, and comfort. However, despite being in his own domain, the king is restless and troubled. This juxtaposition emphasizes that true peace and contentment cannot be found in earthly power or wealth but are rooted in righteousness and justice, principles that Daniel exemplified.

and spent the night without eating
Fasting in the ancient Near Eastern context often signified mourning, repentance, or earnest supplication. The king's decision to abstain from food indicates his deep distress and possibly a form of solidarity with Daniel. It also suggests an implicit hope or prayer for Daniel's deliverance, reflecting the king's internal conflict and his desire for divine intervention.

and no entertainment was brought before him
Entertainment in the royal court would typically include music, dance, or other diversions meant to please and distract the king. The absence of such entertainment underscores the gravity of the situation. The king's refusal of these pleasures indicates his preoccupation with Daniel's fate and his inability to find joy or distraction while an innocent man suffers.

And sleep fled from him
The phrase conveys a restless night, filled with anxiety and concern. Sleep, often associated with peace and rest, is elusive for the king, symbolizing his troubled conscience and the weight of his decisions. This sleeplessness can be seen as a divine disturbance, prompting the king to reflect on his actions and the moral implications of the decree he had unwittingly signed.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) Instruments of musick.--A word of very doubtful meaning. The root whence it is derived means to rejoice, but what is signified cannot be exactly ascertained.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 18. - Then the king went to his palace. and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him. In the Massoretic text one of the clauses, "Neither were instruments of music brought before him," has caused great difficulty. The word dahvan, translated "instruments of music," is rendered by Furst, "dancing-girl; "Gesenius, "concubine; "Rosenmuller renders, "odours." The Mediaeval Greek Version translates, "instruments of music." Furst speaks with favour of the Syriac rendering, "food-tables." Han'ayl, the aphel of 'eilal, has to be noted as a sign of antiquity. The version of the Septuagint is very wide from the Massoretic in the latter part of the verse, "Thus the king returned to his palace, and went to bed fasting, being grieved about Daniel." It is evident that the Septuagint translator had before him deheel instead of dohvan - nun in the script of Egyptian Aramaic is very like lamed in the later mode writing, as also yodh and vav. It is possible that the name "Daniel" was read han'eel or, vies versa, as two of the letters are identical If we can accept the Septuagint reading, the difficulty of this mysterious dahoun disappears. Another clause is added here in the Septuagint from ver. 22 (23) Massoretic, though with variations. "Then the God of Daniel, taking thought for him (πρόνοιαν ποιούμενος αὐτοῦ) closed the mouths of the lions, that they did not hurt Daniel." This statement is not inserted in Daniel's answer to the king in the Septuagint, as it is in the Massoretic text. It would almost seem that our present text in both cases is a condensation of a more extended document. This view receives support from the rendering of Theodotion, "And the king departed to his house, and went to bed supperless, and viands were not brought to him, and his sleep went from him, and God closed the mouths of the lions, and they did not hurt Daniel." It will be seen that the last clause here agrees with the concluding clause of the Septuagint. The mysterious word dahvan is rendered here "food" (ἐδέσματα) - a version that is suspicious from the fact that it merely repeats, under another form, the statement that the king went to bed fasting. It is supported by the Peshitta and the Vulgate. This difference can scarcely be due to a various reading. Otherwise the Peshitta and the Vulgate agree with the Massoretic text. The king's sorrow and humiliation could not be better pictured than it is here: even the feast of the palace had no pleasure for him, he was so grieved about Daniel. But we must also bear in mind that fasting had among the Jews, and, indeed, in the East generally, a relationship to prayer (see Esther 4:16, where fasting takes the place of prayer; see also Daniel 10:3). It means also repentance (Jonah 3:6-8). Darius, then, repented his hasty decree, and prayed for the deliverance of Daniel.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Then
אֱ֠דַיִן (’ĕ·ḏa·yin)
Adverb
Strong's 116: Then, thereupon

the king
מַלְכָּ֤א (mal·kā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430: A king

went
אֲזַ֨ל (’ă·zal)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 236: To go, go off

to his palace
לְהֵֽיכְלֵהּ֙ (lə·hê·ḵə·lêh)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1965: A large public building, palace, temple

and spent the night
וּבָ֣ת (ū·ḇāṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 956: To lodge over night

fasting.
טְוָ֔ת (ṭə·wāṯ)
Adverb
Strong's 2908: Hungrily

No
לָא־ (lā-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3809: Not, no

entertainment
וְדַחֲוָ֖ן (wə·ḏa·ḥă·wān)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1761: Perhaps a musical instrument

was brought
הַנְעֵ֣ל (han·‘êl)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5954: To enter, to introduce

before him,
קָֽדָמ֑וֹהִי (qā·ḏā·mō·w·hî)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6925: Before

and sleep
וְשִׁנְתֵּ֖הּ (wə·šin·têh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8139: Sleep

fled
נַדַּ֥ת (nad·daṯ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5075: To depart

from him.
עֲלֽוֹהִי׃ (‘ă·lō·w·hî)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5922: Above, over, upon, against

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OT Prophets: Daniel 6:18 Then the king went to his palace (Dan. Da Dn)