New International Version
Daniel 1:17
17To 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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 the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. 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. 18At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and 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; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
- 1 Kings 3:12I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
- 1 Kings 4:29God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.
- 2 Chronicles 1:10Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
- Job 32:8But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
- Psalms 119:98Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.
- Proverbs 2:6For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
- Ecclesiastes 2:26To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
- Isaiah 28:26His God instructs him and teaches him the right way.
- Luke 21:15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
- Acts 6:10But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
- Acts 7:10and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.
- Colossians 1:9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,
- James 1:5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
- Acts 7:22Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
- Acts 4:9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he 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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