God’s Word Translation
Daniel 1:17
17God gave these four men knowledge, wisdom, and the ability to understand all kinds of literature. Daniel could also understand all kinds of 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of Daniel 1:17
15After ten days they looked healthier and stronger than the young men who had been eating the king’s rich food. 16So the supervisor took away the king’s rich food and wine and gave them vegetables. God gave these four men knowledge, wisdom, and the ability to understand all kinds of literature. Daniel could also understand all kinds of visions and dreams. 18At the end of the three-year training period, the chief-of-staff brought all the young men to Nebuchadnezzar. 19The king talked to them and found no one like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah among all of them. So these four men served 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 periods of history. He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to those who are wise and knowledge to those who have insight.
- 1 Kings 3:12So I’m going to do what you’ve asked. I’m giving you a wise and understanding heart so that there will never be anyone like you.
- 1 Kings 4:29God gave Solomon wisdom—keen insight and a mind as limitless as the sand on the seashore.
- 2 Chronicles 1:10Give me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”
- Job 32:8However, there is in humans a Spirit, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
- Psalms 119:98Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, because your commandments are always with me.
- Proverbs 2:6The Lord gives wisdom. From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
- Ecclesiastes 2:26God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to anyone who pleases him. But to the person who continues to sin, he gives the job of gathering and collecting ⌞wealth⌟. The sinner must turn his wealth over to the person who pleases God. Even this is pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind.
- Isaiah 28:26God will guide him in judgment, and his God will teach him.
- Luke 21:15I will give you words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to oppose or prove wrong.
- Acts 6:10They couldn’t argue with Stephen because he spoke with the wisdom that the Spirit had given him.
- Acts 7:10and rescued him from all his suffering. When Joseph stood in the presence of Pharaoh (the king of Egypt), God gave Joseph divine favor and wisdom so that he became ruler of Egypt and of Pharaoh’s whole palace.
- Colossians 1:9For this reason we have not stopped praying for you since the day we heard about you. We ask ⌞God⌟ to fill you with the knowledge of his will through every kind of spiritual wisdom and insight.
- James 1:5If any of you needs wisdom to know what you should do, you should ask God, and he will give it to you. God is generous to everyone and doesn’t find fault with them.
- Acts 7:22So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and became a great man in what he said and did.
- Acts 4:9today you are cross-examining us about the good we did for a crippled man. You want to know how he was made well.
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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