Daniel 1:17

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

15At the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food. 16So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables. As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams. 18Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. 19The king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s personal service.

Daniel 1:17 word by word

וְהַיְלָדִ֤ים הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ אַרְבַּעְתָּ֔ם נָתַ֨ן לָהֶ֧ם הָֽאֱלֹהִ֛ים מַדָּ֥ע וְהַשְׂכֵּ֖ל בְּכָל־סֵ֣פֶר וְחָכְמָ֑ה וְדָנִיֵּ֣אל הֵבִ֔ין בְּכָל־חָז֖וֹן וַחֲלֹמֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear

• As for theseאֵ֫לֶּה'êlleh · theseH428
• fourאַרְבַּע'arba‛ 'arbâ‛âh · fourH702
• youthsיֶ֫לֶדyeled · youthH3206
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• them knowledgeמַדָּעmaddâ‛ madda‛ · knowledgeH4093
• and intelligenceשָׂכַלώâkal · be prudentH7919
• in everyכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• literatureסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: bookH5612
• and wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• Danielדָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵלdânîyê'l dâni'êl · DanielH1840
• even understoodבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
• visionsחָזוֹןchâzôn · visionH2377
• and dreamsחֲלוֹםchălôm chălôm · dreamH2472

Cross-references for Daniel 1:17

• Daniel 2:21It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.
• 1 Kings 3:12behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.
• 1 Kings 4:29Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore.
• 2 Chronicles 1:10Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?”
• Job 32:8But it is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
• Psalms 119:98Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine.
• Proverbs 2:6For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
• Ecclesiastes 2:26For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind.
• Isaiah 28:26For his God instructs and teaches him properly.
• Luke 21:15for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.
• Acts 6:10But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
• Acts 7:10and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household.
• Colossians 1:9For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
• James 1:5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
• Acts 7:22Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.
• Acts 4:9if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been 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

• Abed-Nego
• Civil Service
• Daniel
• Government
• Instruction
• Integrity
• Mishael
• Prophets
• School
• Vision
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Daniel
• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Hananiah
• Liking
• Divination
• Genealogy
• Judah, Kingdom of
• Shadrach
• Skill; Skilful

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