Daniel 1:3

Daniel 1:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles,
• New Living Translation (NLT)Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives.

Context of Daniel 1:3

1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 5The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.

Daniel 1:3 word by word

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְאַשְׁפְּנַ֖ז רַ֣ב סָרִיסָ֑יו לְהָבִ֞יא מִבְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וּמִזֶּ֥רַע הַמְּלוּכָ֖ה וּמִן־הַֽפַּרְתְּמִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• spakeאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Ashpenazאַשְׁפְּנַז'ashpenaz · AshpenazH828
• the masterרַבrab · chiefH7227
• of his eunuchsסָרִיסsârîys sâris · eunuchH5631
• that he should bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
• of the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• and of the king’sמְלוּכָהmelûkâh · kingshipH4410
• seedזֶ֫רַעzera‛ · seed: childrenH2233
• and of the princesפַּרְתְּמִיםpartam · nobleH6579

Cross-references for Daniel 1:3

• 2 Kings 20:17The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord.
• Isaiah 39:7And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”
• Jeremiah 41:1In the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood and had been one of the king’s officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. While they were eating together there,

Commentaries on Daniel 1:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Master of his eunuchs - This word eunuchs signifies officers about or in the palace whether literally eunuchs or not.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs - On the general reasons which may have influenced the king to make the selection of the youths here mentioned, see the analysis of the chapter. Of Ashpenaz, nothing more is known than is stated here. Eunuchs were then, as they are now, in constant employ in the harems of the East, and they often rose to great influence and power. A large portion of the slaves employed at the courts in the East…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3chief of his court: Though often translated as “eunuchs” (compare Isaiah 39:7), here the Hebrew term (saris) likely means that Ashpenaz and those under his authority were high government officials (see 2 Kings 8:6).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. master of ... eunuchs--called in Turkey the kislar aga. of the king's seed--compare the prophecy, 2Ki 20:17, 18.Read the comment

Topics related to Daniel 1:3

• Ashpenaz
• Civil Service
• Eunuch
• Government
• Instruction
• School
• Statecraft

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• Ashpenaz
• Daniel
• Hananiah
• Liking
• Captain
• Genealogy

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