BIBLE FILM GUIDE
The Book of Daniel
Film · 2013 · 88 min
This film dramatizes the life of the prophet Daniel, a captive from Jerusalem who serves King Nebuchadnezzar and is ultimately tested in the lions' den.
What the story covers
According to the overview, the film follows Daniel after Jerusalem falls in 605 B.C. Taken into slavery, he is placed in the service of King Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful king in the world. Faced with the threat of death, Daniel proves himself a trusted advisor and is ranked among the king's wise men.
Threatened repeatedly, Daniel continues to serve the king until he is forced to choose between loyalty to the king and faithfulness to God. With his life on the line, only his faith stands between Daniel and the den of lions. These story beats correspond to events told in the Book of Daniel, chapters 1 through 6.
Where it is in the Bible
- Daniel 1:17As a young captive, Daniel receives from God 'knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom' and special 'understanding in all visions and dreams.' This is why he is later able to serve as the king's advisor in matters others cannot interpret.
- Daniel 2:44Daniel interprets a dream for Nebuchadnezzar about successive kingdoms and declares that 'the God of heaven' will 'set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed.' This frames the film's political backdrop — human kingdoms rise and fall, but God's rule is eternal.
- Daniel 3:17-18When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego face the fiery furnace, they tell the king: 'our God whom we serve is able to deliver us... but if not... we will not serve thy gods.' This is the paradigm for the film's central choice between serving the king and honoring God.
- Daniel 4:34-35After a season of humbling, Nebuchadnezzar lifts his eyes to heaven and blesses the Most High, acknowledging that 'all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing' and God's dominion is everlasting. The film's arc of a powerful king encountering the God Daniel serves leads toward this kind of confession.
- Daniel 6:10When Daniel learns the decree forbidding prayer, he goes home, 'his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem,' and 'kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed... as he did aforetime.' The film's hinge moment — choosing God over the king — turns on this prior habit of faithful prayer.
How it differs from the Bible
The Book of Daniel in the Bible spans more than exilic court tales; it also contains apocalyptic visions in chapters 7 through 12 that the overview for this film does not mention. Viewers coming to the film from scripture may notice that the visions and dreams Daniel interprets — including the kingdom vision that speaks of a kingdom which shall never be destroyed — are part of the wider book but may be condensed or reshaped in a single dramatic film.
Adapting six chapters of narrative into a feature invites comparison on points commonly compressed: the daily faithfulness of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who declared, as the scripture records, 'our God whom we serve is able to deliver us... but if not... we will not serve thy gods'; the long arc of Nebuchadnezzar's pride and eventual confession that 'all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing'; and the specific detail in chapter 6 that Daniel 'kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed... as he did aforetime.' Watch for how the film shows Daniel's routine of prayer as the hinge of the lions' den crisis.
Discussion questions
- 1
Which part of the Bible does the film draw from?
The film's overview centers on Daniel and King Nebuchadnezzar, which corresponds to the court narratives in Daniel 1-6.
- 2
Where does the lions' den come from in the story?
The lions' den episode is recorded in Daniel 6, where Daniel is thrown into the den for continuing to pray despite the king's decree — Daniel 6:10 shows the prayer habit that leads to his punishment.
- 3
How does the film's choice between serving the king and honoring God relate to Daniel 3?
In Daniel 3:17-18, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego tell Nebuchadnezzar: 'our God whom we serve is able to deliver us... but if not... we will not serve thy gods.' This pattern — obedience to God even at the cost of life — is the same pattern the film puts before Daniel.
Where to watch
Availability is for Canada and changes over time — check the platform before watching. TMDb ↗
Reflections on Daniel
After watching, read the passage itself — you will find details no film has time to show.