New King James Version
Daniel 1:17
17As 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.
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 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
15And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. 16Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. 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. 18Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king.
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 2:21And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.
- 1 Kings 3:12behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.
- 1 Kings 4:29And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore.
- 2 Chronicles 1:10Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?”
- Job 32:8But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
- Psalms 119:98You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me.
- Proverbs 2:6For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
- Ecclesiastes 2:26For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
- Isaiah 28:26For He instructs him in right judgment, His God teaches him.
- Luke 21:15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
- Acts 6:10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
- Acts 7:10and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
- Colossians 1:9For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
- James 1:5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
- Acts 7:22And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.
- Acts 4:9If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries