New English Translation
Daniel 1:17
17Now as for these four young men, God endowed them with knowledge and skill in all sorts of literature and wisdom – and Daniel had insight into 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
15At the end of the ten days their appearance was better and their bodies were healthier than all the young men who had been eating the royal delicacies. 16So the warden removed the delicacies and the wine from their diet and gave them a diet of vegetables instead. Now as for these four young men, God endowed them with knowledge and skill in all sorts of literature and wisdom – and Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams. 18When the time appointed by the king arrived, the overseer of the court officials brought them into Nebuchadnezzar’s presence. 19When the king spoke with them, he did not find among the entire group anyone like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, or Azariah. So they entered the king’s service.
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, deposing some kings and establishing others. He gives wisdom to the wise; he imparts knowledge to those with understanding;
- 1 Kings 3:12I grant your request, and give you a wise and discerning mind superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you.
- 1 Kings 4:29God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment; the breadth of his understanding was as infinite as the sand on the seashore.
- 2 Chronicles 1:10Now give me wisdom and discernment so I can effectively lead this nation. Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours.”
- Job 32:8But it is a spirit in people, the breath of the Almighty, that makes them understand.
- Psalms 119:98Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for I am always aware of them.
- Proverbs 2:6For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
- Ecclesiastes 2:26For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth – only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile – like chasing the wind!
- Isaiah 28:26His God instructs him; he teaches him the principles of agriculture.
- Luke 21:15For I will give you the words along with the wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.
- Acts 6:10Yet they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.
- Acts 7:10and rescued him from all his troubles, and granted him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household.
- Colossians 1:9For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
- James 1:5But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.
- Acts 7:22So Moses was trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his words and deeds.
- Acts 4:9if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick man – by what means this man was 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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