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

2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god: and he brought the vessels into the treasure-house of his god. 3And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in certain of the children of Israel, even of the seed royal and of the nobles; youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skilful in all wisdom, and endued with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king’s palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 5And the king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s dainties, and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years; that at the end thereof they should stand before the king. 6Now among these were, of the children of Judah, 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

• youthsיֶ֫לֶדyeled · youthH3206
• blemishמאוּםm'ûm mûm · blemishH3971
• wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• knowledgeדַּ֫עַתda‛ath · knowledgeH1847
• understandingבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
• abilityכֹּחַkôach kôach · strengthH3581
• standעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• palaceהֵיכָלhêykâl · temple: palaceH1964
• teachלָמַדlâmad · to learn: teachH3925
• tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongue: languageH3956
• Chaldeansכַּשְׂדִּיםkaώdîy kaώdîymâh · ChaldeaH3778

Cross-references for Daniel 1:4

• Genesis 21:8And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
• Genesis 21:14And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and gave her the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
• Leviticus 21:18For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or anything superfluous,
• Leviticus 24:19And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbor; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him:
• Judges 8:18Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.
• 2 Samuel 14:25Now in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
• Acts 7:20At which season Moses was born, and was exceeding fair; and he was nourished three months in his father’s house:
• Ephesians 5:27that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
• Daniel 2:20Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever; for wisdom and might are his.
• Daniel 5:11There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
• Ecclesiastes 7:19Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.
• Acts 7:22And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; and he was mighty in his words and works.
• Daniel 1:17Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
• Proverbs 22:29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean 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