New English Translation
Daniel 1:8
8But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the royal delicacies or the royal wine. He therefore asked the overseer of the court officials for permission not to defile himself.
Daniel 1:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
- New International Version (NIV)But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Context of Daniel 1:8
6As it turned out, among these young men were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7But the overseer of the court officials renamed them. He gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar, Hananiah he named Shadrach, Mishael he named Meshach, and Azariah he named Abednego. But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the royal delicacies or the royal wine. He therefore asked the overseer of the court officials for permission not to defile himself. 9Then God made the overseer of the court officials sympathetic to Daniel. 10But he responded to Daniel, “I fear my master the king. He is the one who has decided your food and drink. What would happen if he saw that you looked malnourished in comparison to the other young men your age? If that happened, you would endanger my life with the king!”
Read all of Daniel 1Daniel 1:8 word by word
וַיָּ֤שֶׂם דָּנִיֵּאל֙ עַל־לִבּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־יִתְגָּאַ֛ל בְּפַתְבַּ֥ג הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וּבְיֵ֣ין מִשְׁתָּ֑יו וַיְבַקֵּשׁ֙ מִשַּׂ֣ר הַסָּרִיסִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר לֹ֥א יִתְגָּאָֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But Danielדָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵלdânîyê'l dâni'êl · DanielH1840
- purposedשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
- in his heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- that he would not defileגָּאַלgâ'al · to defileH1351
- himself with the portionפַּת־בָּגpathbag · portionH6598
- of the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- nor with the wineיַ֫יִןyayin · wineH3196
- which he drankמִשְׁתֶּהmishteh · feastH4960
- therefore he requestedבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
- of the princeשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
- of the eunuchsסָרִיסsârîys sâris · eunuchH5631
Cross-references for Daniel 1:8
- Ruth 1:17Wherever you die, I will die – and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I do not keep my promise! Only death will be able to separate me from you!”
- 1 Kings 5:5So I have decided to build a temple to honor the Lord my God, as the Lord instructed my father David, ‘Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, is the one who will build a temple to honor me.’
- Psalms 119:106I have vowed and solemnly sworn to keep your just regulations.
- Acts 11:23When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts,
- 1 Corinthians 7:37But the man who is firm in his commitment, and is under no necessity but has control over his will, and has decided in his own mind to keep his own virgin, does well.
- 2 Corinthians 9:7Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.
- Leviticus 11:45for I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God, and you are to be holy because I am holy.
- Deuteronomy 32:38who ate the best of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise and help you; let them be your refuge!
- Psalms 106:28They worshiped Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead.
- Psalms 141:4Do not let me have evil desires, or participate in sinful activities with men who behave wickedly. I will not eat their delicacies.
- Ezekiel 4:13And the Lord said, “This is how the people of Israel will eat their unclean food among the nations where I will banish them.”
- Hosea 9:3They will not remain in the Lord’s land. Ephraim will return to Egypt; they will eat ritually unclean food in Assyria.
- Acts 10:14But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord, for I have never eaten anything defiled and ritually unclean!”
- Romans 14:15For if your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy by your food someone for whom Christ died.
- 1 Corinthians 8:7But this knowledge is not shared by all. And some, by being accustomed to idols in former times, eat this food as an idol sacrifice, and their conscience, because it is weak, is defiled.
- 1 Corinthians 10:18Look at the people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar?
Commentaries on Daniel 1:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8But Daniel - would not defile himself - I have spoken of this resolution in the introduction. The chief reasons why Daniel would not eat meat from the royal table were probably these three: - Because they ate unclean beasts, which were forbidden by the Jewish law. Because they ate, as did the heathens in general, beasts which had been strangled, or not properly blooded. 3. Because the animals that were eaten were first offered as victims to their gods. It…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8But Daniel purposed in his heart - Evidently in concurrence with the youths who had been selected with him. See Daniel 1:11-13. Daniel, it seems, formed this as a “decided” purpose, and “meant” to carry it into effect, as a matter of principle, though he designed to secure his object, if possible, by making a request that he might be “allowed” to pursue that course Daniel 1:12, and wished not to give offence, or to provoke opposition. What would have been…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-16Verses 8-16 The interest we think we make for ourselves, we must acknowledge to be God's gift. Daniel was still firm to his religion. Whatever they called him, he still held fast the spirit of an Israelite. These youths scrupled concerning the meat, lest it should be sinful. When God's people are in Babylon they need take special care that they partake not of her sins. It is much to the praise of young people, not to covet or seek the delights of sense…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself: The meat and wine from Nebuchadnezzar’s table were likely not allowed by Jewish standards. The Babylonians used meats like pork, which were unclean (see Leviticus 11:1–23; Deuteronomy 14:1–21), and their meat and wine were probably offered to Babylonian gods. The other young Hebrews agreed with Daniel (Daniel 1:12–16). They trusted God and followed his commands, and God blessed them (compare…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. Daniel ... would not defile himself with ... king's meat--Daniel is specified as being the leader in the "purpose" (the word implies a decided resolution) to abstain from defilement, thus manifesting a character already formed for prophetical functions. The other three youths, no doubt, shared in his purpose. It was the custom to throw a small part of the viands and wine upon the earth, as an initiatory offering to the gods, so as to consecrate to them…Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 1:8
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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