Bible Strands

Darius

A Ruler, in the time of Exile and Return · Persia · named in 8 verses

Darius the Mede received the Empire of Babylon and ruled over it.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

The holder or supporter, the name of several Persian kings. (1.) Darius the Mede (Dan. 11:1), "the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes" (9:1). On the death of Belshazzar the Chaldean he "received the kingdom" of Babylon as viceroy from Cyrus. During his brief reign (B.C. 538-536) Daniel was promoted to the highest dignity (Dan. 6:1, 2); but on account of the malice of his enemies he was cast into the den of lions. After his miraculous escape, a decree was issued by Darius enjoining "reverence for the God of Daniel" (6:26). This king was probably the "Astyages" of the Greek historians. Nothing can, however, be with certainty affirmed regarding him. Some are of opinion that the name "Darius" is simply a name of office, equivalent to "governor," and that the "Gobryas" of the inscriptions was the person intended by the name.

Easton's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1897 — public domain, quoted in full and unedited.

Family

Parents Ahasuerus, Vashti
Siblings Artaxerxes

From STEPBible's TIPNR genealogy data. A relationship the data marks uncertain is not shown here.

First named at Daniel 5:31.

See Darius in the family tree →

Verses that name Darius