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.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• 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.

Context of Daniel 1:4

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. 3Then 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. “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. 6Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah.

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 21:8When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion.
• Genesis 21:14So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.
• Leviticus 21:18No one who has a defect qualifies, whether he is blind, lame, disfigured, deformed,
• Leviticus 24:19“Anyone who injures another person must be dealt with according to the injury inflicted—
• Judges 8:18Then Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “The men you killed at Tabor—what were they like?” “Like you,” they replied. “They all had the look of a king’s son.”
• 2 Samuel 14:25Now Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot.
• Acts 7:20“At that time Moses was born—a beautiful child in God’s eyes. His parents cared for him at home for three months.
• Ephesians 5:27He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
• Daniel 2:20He said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power.
• Daniel 5:11There is a man in your kingdom who has within him the spirit of the holy gods. During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, this man was found to have insight, understanding, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your predecessor, the king—your predecessor King Nebuchadnezzar—made him chief over all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers of Babylon.
• Ecclesiastes 7:19One wise person is stronger than ten leading citizens of a town!
• Acts 7:22Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in both speech and action.
• Daniel 1:17God 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.
• Proverbs 22:29Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.

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