Daniel 1:4

Daniel 1:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
• English Standard Version (ESV)youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
• New King James Version (NKJV)young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.
• New Living Translation (NLT)“Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.”

Context of Daniel 1:4

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. 3Then 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— young 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. 6Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

Daniel 1:4 word by word

יְלָדִ֣ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֵֽין־בָּהֶ֣ם כָּל־מוּם֩ וְטוֹבֵ֨י מַרְאֶ֜ה וּמַשְׂכִּילִ֣ים בְּכָל־חָכְמָ֗ה וְיֹ֤דְעֵי דַ֙עַת֙ וּמְבִינֵ֣י מַדָּ֔ע וַאֲשֶׁר֙ כֹּ֣חַ בָּהֶ֔ם לַעֲמֹ֖ד בְּהֵיכַ֣ל הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וּֽלֲלַמְּדָ֥ם סֵ֖פֶר וּלְשׁ֥וֹן כַּשְׂדִּֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Childrenיֶ֫לֶדyeled · youthH3206
• no blemishמאוּםm'ûm mûm · blemishH3971
• but wellטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• favouredמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
• and skilfulשָׂכַלώâkal · be prudentH7919
• in all wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• and cunningיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• in knowledgeדַּ֫עַתda‛ath · knowledgeH1847
• and understandingבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
• scienceמַדָּעmaddâ‛ madda‛ · knowledgeH4093
• abilityכֹּחַkôach kôach · strengthH3581
• in them to standעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• in the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• palaceהֵיכָלhêykâl · temple: palaceH1964
• and whom they might teachלָמַדlâmad · to learn: teachH3925
• the learningסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: bookH5612
• and the tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongue: languageH3956
• of the Chaldeansכַּשְׂדִּיםkaώdîy kaώdîymâh · ChaldeaH3778

Cross-references for Daniel 1:4

• Genesis 21:8The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast.
• Genesis 21:14Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.
• Leviticus 21:18No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed;
• Leviticus 24:19Anyone who injures their neighbor is to be injured in the same manner:
• Judges 8:18Then he asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?” “Men like you,” they answered, “each one with the bearing of a prince.”
• 2 Samuel 14:25In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.
• Acts 7:20“At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for by his family.
• Ephesians 5:27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
• Daniel 2:20and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.
• Daniel 5:11There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.
• Ecclesiastes 7:19Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.
• Acts 7:22Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
• Daniel 1:17To 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.
• Proverbs 22:29Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.

Commentaries on Daniel 1:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Children - ילדים yeladim, youths, young men; and so the word should be rendered throughout this book. Skilled in all wisdom - Rather, persons capable of every kind of literary accomplishment, that they might be put under proper instruction. And as children of the blood and of the nobles mere most likely, from the care usually taken of their initiatory education, to profit most by the elaborate instruction here designed, the master of the eunuchs, the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Children in whom was no blemish - The word rendered “children” in this place (ילדים yelâdı̂ym ) is different from that which is rendered “children” in Job 1:3 - בנים bânnı̂ym ). That word denotes merely that they were “sons,” or “descendants,” of Israel, without implying anything in regard to their age; the word here used would be appropriate only to those who were at an early period of life, and makes it certain that the king meant that those who were…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4without blemish: They had no defects or blemishes that would disqualify them. The Lord required the same for Israel’s priests (Leviticus 21:16–24; 22:17–25). These youths had the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and character needed to work in high government positions. Babylon had a wide range of literature that covered many kinds of knowledge. It included: wisdom and secret writings, creation stories, magic spells, theogonies (origins and family trees…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. no blemish--A handsome form was connected, in Oriental ideas, with mental power. "Children" means youths of twelve or fourteen years old. teach ... tongue of ... Chaldeans--their language and literature, the Aramaic-Babylonian. That the heathen lore was not altogether valueless appears from the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses; the Eastern Magi who sought Jesus, and who may have drawn the tradition as to the "King of the Jews" from Da 9:24, &c…Read the comment

Topics related to Daniel 1:4

• Chaldeans
• Civil Service
• Government
• Instruction
• Language
• School
• Statecraft

In the dictionaries

• Daniel
• Hananiah
• Liking
• Palace
• Ability
• Chaldea; Chaldeans
• Cunning
• Genealogy
• Jehoiachin
• Judah, Kingdom of

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