English Standard Version
Daniel 1:17
17As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Daniel 1:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
- New International Version (NIV)To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
- New King James Version (NKJV)As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
- New Living Translation (NLT)God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.
Context of Daniel 1:17
15At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food. 16So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king.
Read all of Daniel 1Daniel 1:17 word by word
וְהַיְלָדִ֤ים הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ אַרְבַּעְתָּ֔ם נָתַ֨ן לָהֶ֧ם הָֽאֱלֹהִ֛ים מַדָּ֥ע וְהַשְׂכֵּ֖ל בְּכָל־סֵ֣פֶר וְחָכְמָ֑ה וְדָנִיֵּ֣אל הֵבִ֔ין בְּכָל־חָז֖וֹן וַחֲלֹמֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- As for these fourאַרְבַּע'arba‛ 'arbâ‛âh · fourH702
- childrenיֶ֫לֶדyeled · youthH3206
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- them knowledgeמַדָּעmaddâ‛ madda‛ · knowledgeH4093
- and skillשָׂכַלώâkal · be prudentH7919
- in all learningסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: bookH5612
- and wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
- and Danielדָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵלdânîyê'l dâni'êl · DanielH1840
- had understandingבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
- in all visionsחָזוֹןchâzôn · visionH2377
- and dreamsחֲלוֹםchălôm chălôm · dreamH2472
Cross-references for Daniel 1:17
- Daniel 2:21He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
- 1 Kings 3:12behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.
- 1 Kings 4:29And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore,
- 2 Chronicles 1:10Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?"
- Job 32:8But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.
- Psalms 119:98Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.
- Proverbs 2:6For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
- Ecclesiastes 2:26For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
- Isaiah 28:26For he is rightly instructed; his God teaches him.
- Luke 21:15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.
- Acts 6:10But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
- Acts 7:10and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household.
- Colossians 1:9And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
- James 1:5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
- Acts 7:22And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.
- Acts 4:9if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,
Commentaries on Daniel 1:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17As for these four children - Young men or youths. Our translation gives a false idea. In all visions and dreams - That is, such as are Divine; for as to dreams in general, they have as much signification as they have connection, being the effects of the state of the body, of the mind, or of the circumstances of the dreamer. A dream may be considered supernatural, if it have nothing preposterous, nothing monstrous, and nothing irregular. If the whole order…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17As for these four children - On the word “children,” see the notes at Daniel 1:4. Compare Daniel 1:6. God gave them knowledge and skill - See the notes at Daniel 1:9. There is no reason to suppose that in the “knowledge and skill” here referred to, it is meant to be implied that there was anything miraculous, or that there was any direct inspiration. Inspiration was evidently confined to Daniel, and pertained to what is spoken of under the head of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-21Verses 17-21 Daniel and his fellows kept to their religion; and God rewarded them with eminence in learning. Pious young persons should endeavour to do better than their fellows in useful things; not for the praise of man, but for the honour of the gospel, and that they may be qualified for usefulness. And it is well for a country, and for the honour of a prince, when he is able to judge who are best fitted to serve him, and prefers them on that account…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17All four young men were excellent students. God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret visions and dreams, which were often prophetic (compare with Joseph, Genesis 37:5–11).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. God gave them knowledge--(Ex 31:2, 3; 1Ki 3:12; Job 32:8; Jas 1:5, 17). Daniel had understanding in ... dreams--God thus made one of the despised covenant-people eclipse the Chaldean sages in the very science on which they most prided themselves. So Joseph in the court of Pharaoh (Ge 40:5; 41:1-8). Daniel, in these praises of his own "understanding," speaks not through vanity, but by the direction of God, as one transported out of himself. See my…Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 1:17
In the dictionaries
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
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