Daniel is the book’s central witness
Daniel was among the young men taken from Judah to Babylon, where he was trained for service in King Nebuchadnezzar’s court (Daniel 1:6, KJV). The book follows him through the Babylonian empire and into the rule of the Medes and Persians. It portrays a real person facing pressure, political change, danger, prayer, and responsibility before foreign kings.
That setting matters because Daniel is not introduced as a distant observer writing about somebody else. The book’s accounts are built around his life, his interpretation of dreams, and the revelations given to him. Daniel prospered into the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia, which places his ministry across major changes in power (Daniel 6:28, KJV).
Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
Daniel records visions in his own voice
Several chapters plainly identify Daniel as the one receiving and reporting visions. Daniel 7 begins by locating a dream and visions in Daniel’s mind during Belshazzar’s reign, and says that he wrote down the main points of what he saw (Daniel 7:1-2, KJV). Later visions are likewise introduced as visions that came to Daniel (Daniel 8:1, KJV).
The personal sections are especially clear. Daniel describes searching the Scriptures and praying concerning Jerusalem’s desolation (Daniel 9:2-3, KJV). He also recounts a later revelation received in Persia, including his response to it (Daniel 10:1-2, KJV). These passages give strong internal evidence that Daniel preserved his own prophetic experiences.
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
Why are parts written in the third person?
Much of Daniel tells the story using Daniel’s name rather than “I”. For example, the court narratives describe Daniel’s actions before kings and officials (Daniel 2:14-16, KJV). That does not rule out Daniel as the author or main source. Biblical books can combine first-person testimony with third-person storytelling, especially when recounting public events.
The book itself also says that Daniel was commanded to preserve its message. Near the end, he is told to shut up and seal the words of the book until the appointed time (Daniel 12:4, KJV). Christians have therefore traditionally understood Daniel as the prophet behind the book, while recognising that its final form includes both his personal accounts and narrative descriptions of his life.
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Jesus calls Daniel a prophet
The clearest New Testament confirmation comes from Jesus. When teaching his disciples about coming trouble, Jesus directs them to the prophecy associated with Daniel and calls him a prophet (Matthew 24:15, KJV). For Christians, that is a weighty guide for reading the book.
So the straightforward answer is that Daniel is the traditional and biblically presented author behind Daniel. As you read it, notice both sides of the book: the courageous servant of God in Babylon and the prophet receiving visions about God’s kingdom. Its purpose is not merely to satisfy curiosity about the future, but to strengthen faithfulness in the present.
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)