Daniel 1:4

Daniel 1:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
• New International Version (NIV)young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.
• English Standard Version (ESV)youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
• New King James Version (NKJV)young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.

Context of Daniel 1:4

2The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles of the house of God; and he brought them into the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and brought the articles into the treasury of his god. 3And the [Babylonian] king told Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some from the royal family and from the nobles, young men without blemish and handsome in appearance, skillful in all wisdom, endowed with intelligence and discernment, and quick to understand, competent to stand [in the presence of the king] and able to serve in the king’s palace. He also ordered Ashpenaz to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5The king assigned a daily ration for them from his finest food and from the wine which he drank. They were to be educated and nourished this way for three years so that at the end of that time they were [prepared] to enter the king’s service. 6Among them from the sons of Judah were: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

Daniel 1:4 word by word

יְלָדִ֣ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֵֽין־בָּהֶ֣ם כָּל־מוּם֩ וְטוֹבֵ֨י מַרְאֶ֜ה וּמַשְׂכִּילִ֣ים בְּכָל־חָכְמָ֗ה וְיֹ֤דְעֵי דַ֙עַת֙ וּמְבִינֵ֣י מַדָּ֔ע וַאֲשֶׁר֙ כֹּ֣חַ בָּהֶ֔ם לַעֲמֹ֖ד בְּהֵיכַ֣ל הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וּֽלֲלַמְּדָ֥ם סֵ֖פֶר וּלְשׁ֥וֹן כַּשְׂדִּֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Childrenיֶ֫לֶדyeled · youthH3206
• no blemishמאוּםm'ûm mûm · blemishH3971
• but wellטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• favouredמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
• and skilfulשָׂכַלώâkal · be prudentH7919
• in all wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• and cunningיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• in knowledgeדַּ֫עַתda‛ath · knowledgeH1847
• and understandingבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
• scienceמַדָּעmaddâ‛ madda‛ · knowledgeH4093
• abilityכֹּחַkôach kôach · strengthH3581
• in them to standעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• in the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• palaceהֵיכָלhêykâl · temple: palaceH1964
• and whom they might teachלָמַדlâmad · to learn: teachH3925
• the learningסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: bookH5612
• and the tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongue: languageH3956
• of the Chaldeansכַּשְׂדִּיםkaώdîy kaώdîymâh · ChaldeaH3778

Cross-references for Daniel 1:4

• Genesis 21:8The child [Isaac] grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
• Genesis 21:14So Abraham got up early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she left [but lost her way] and wandered [aimlessly] in the Wilderness of Beersheba.
• Leviticus 21:18For no man who has a defect shall approach [God’s altar as a priest]: no man who is blind or lame, or who has a disfigured face, or any deformed limb,
• Leviticus 24:19If a man injures his neighbor (fellow citizen), whatever he has done shall be done to him:
• Judges 8:18Then Gideon said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” And they replied, “They were like you, each one of them resembled the son of a king.”
• 2 Samuel 14:25Now in all Israel there was no man as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised [for that]; from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
• Acts 7:20It was at this [critical] time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and for three months he was nourished in his father’s house.
• Ephesians 5:27so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless.
• Daniel 2:20Daniel answered, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him.
• Daniel 5:11There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, illumination, understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. And King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans and diviners.
• Ecclesiastes 7:19Wisdom strengthens the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
• Acts 7:22So Moses was educated in all the wisdom and culture of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.
• Daniel 1:17As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all kinds of literature and wisdom; Daniel also understood all kinds of visions and dreams.
• Proverbs 22:29Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work? He will stand [in honor] before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.

Commentaries on Daniel 1:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Children - ילדים yeladim, youths, young men; and so the word should be rendered throughout this book. Skilled in all wisdom - Rather, persons capable of every kind of literary accomplishment, that they might be put under proper instruction. And as children of the blood and of the nobles mere most likely, from the care usually taken of their initiatory education, to profit most by the elaborate instruction here designed, the master of the eunuchs, the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Children in whom was no blemish - The word rendered “children” in this place (ילדים yelâdı̂ym ) is different from that which is rendered “children” in Job 1:3 - בנים bânnı̂ym ). That word denotes merely that they were “sons,” or “descendants,” of Israel, without implying anything in regard to their age; the word here used would be appropriate only to those who were at an early period of life, and makes it certain that the king meant that those who were…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4without blemish: They had no defects or blemishes that would disqualify them. The Lord required the same for Israel’s priests (Leviticus 21:16–24; 22:17–25). These youths had the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and character needed to work in high government positions. Babylon had a wide range of literature that covered many kinds of knowledge. It included: wisdom and secret writings, creation stories, magic spells, theogonies (origins and family trees…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. no blemish--A handsome form was connected, in Oriental ideas, with mental power. "Children" means youths of twelve or fourteen years old. teach ... tongue of ... Chaldeans--their language and literature, the Aramaic-Babylonian. That the heathen lore was not altogether valueless appears from the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses; the Eastern Magi who sought Jesus, and who may have drawn the tradition as to the "King of the Jews" from Da 9:24, &c…Read the comment

Topics related to Daniel 1:4

• Chaldeans
• Civil Service
• Government
• Instruction
• Language
• School
• Statecraft

In the dictionaries

• Daniel
• Hananiah
• Liking
• Palace
• Ability
• Chaldea; Chaldeans
• Cunning
• Genealogy
• Jehoiachin
• Judah, Kingdom of

Commentaries on Daniel 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings