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;
• New International Version (NIV)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—
• 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,

Context of Daniel 1:3

1During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god. 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. 4“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.” 5The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal 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 is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord.
• Isaiah 39:7‘Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.’”
• Jeremiah 41:1But in midautumn of that year, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and grandson of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family and had been one of the king’s high officials, went to Mizpah with ten men to meet Gedaliah. While they were eating together,

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