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 God gave Nebuchadnezzar power over King Jehoiakim. Nebuchadnezzar took away some special things that belonged in God's temple in Jerusalem. He took those things back to Babylon. He put them among the valuable things in the temple of his own god. 3Nebuchadnezzar had an officer who was called Ashpenaz. Ashpenaz had authority over the king's other officers. One day, Nebuchadnezzar said to Ashpenaz, ‘Bring some of the Israelite men to me. Choose some men from the king of Judah's family, and choose some men from the other important Israelite families.’ Nebuchadnezzar wanted young men who were strong and handsome. They must be clever so that they could learn and understand things quickly. They must be good enough to become King Nebuchadnezzar's servants. They would learn the language of Babylon, and they would read its books. 5Every day, King Nebuchadnezzar sent special food for these men to eat. It was the same food and wine that he had for himself. His officers would teach the young men for three years. After that, the young men would be ready to serve the king. 6Some of the young men from Judah that Ashpenaz chose 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 grew stronger, and he began to eat food. On that day, Abraham prepared a big party meal.
• Genesis 21:14Abraham woke up early the next morning. He took some food and some water in a bottle that was made from animal skin. He gave them to Hagar and he put them on her shoulders. Then he sent Hagar away, with their son, Ishmael. She went and she travelled round the wilderness of Beersheba.
• Leviticus 21:18A priest who cannot see must not sacrifice the food to God. A priest who cannot walk must not sacrifice food to God. A priest with a body that is the wrong shape must not offer food to God.
• Leviticus 24:19If a man hurts another person, you must punish him as he deserves. Hurt him in the same way that he has hurt the other person.
• Judges 8:18Then Gideon said to Zebah and Zalmunna, ‘Tell me about the men that you killed at Tabor. What kind of men were they?’ The kings answered, ‘They were like you. They looked like the sons of kings.’
• 2 Samuel 14:25Everyone in Israel praised Absalom. They all thought that he was the most handsome man in the whole country. His body was perfect, from head to toe.
• Acts 7:20It was at this time that Moses was born. He was a very beautiful baby. His parents took care of him for three months in their own home.
• Ephesians 5:27Christ himself did this to bring us to himself as a beautiful group of his people. His church would belong to him completely. It would be pure, without anything bad to spoil it.
• Daniel 2:20He said, ‘Praise God's great name for ever! He has great wisdom and great power.
• Daniel 5:11There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. When your father was alive, this man showed that he was very wise, like the gods. He could understand secret things. Your father, Nebuchadnezzar, made him the leader of all the magicians, wise men, enchanters and diviners.
• Ecclesiastes 7:19Wisdom makes a wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.
• Acts 7:22Moses had teachers who taught him all the wise things that the Egyptians knew. He learned how to speak well. He could also do powerful things.
• Daniel 1:17God helped these four young men to become clever and wise. While they studied, he helped them to learn from many different books. They could understand many things. Daniel could also understand the meaning of all kinds of dreams.
• Proverbs 22:295. A worker with special skills may work for a king. He will no longer have to work for ordinary people.

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