Daniel 1
International Standard Version
Hostages of the Babylonian Captivity
1 In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it. 2 Within a week, the Lord handed King Jehoiakim of Judah over to him, along with valuable objects from the house of God. Nebuchadnezzar[a] brought them to the temple of his god in the land of Shinar[b] and stored them[c] in its treasure house.[d]
3 Later, the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief officer,[e] to bring in some Israelis of royal and noble descent. 4 They were to be young men without physical defect, handsome in appearance, skilled in all wisdom, quick to learn, prudent in how they used knowledge, and capable of serving in the king’s palace. They were to learn the literature and language of the Chaldeans.[f]
5 The king assigned them fine food and choice wine on a daily basis, ordering them to be trained for three years, at the end of which time they would enter the king’s service.[g] 6 Included among the people of Judah were Daniel,[h] Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 The chief officer assigned the name “Belteshazzar” to Daniel, the name “Shadrach” to Hananiah, the name “Meshach” to Mishael, and the name “Abednego” to Azariah.
Daniel Chooses God’s Standard
8 Daniel determined within himself not to become defiled by the king’s menu of rich foods or by the king’s wine, so he requested permission[i] from the chief officer not to defile himself. 9 God granted to Daniel grace and compassion on the part of the chief officer. 10 The chief officer told Daniel, “I fear his majesty the king, who has determined what you eat and drink. If he notices that your faces are more pale than the other[j] young men in your group, I will forfeit my head to the king.”
11 But Daniel told the guard whom the chief officer had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days and let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare how we[k] look with the young men who ate the king’s rich food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you observe.”
14 So he listened to what Daniel said[l] and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days their appearance was better and their faces were well-nourished[m] compared to the young men who ate the king’s rich food. 16 So the guard took away their rich food and wine,[n] giving them vegetables. 17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge, aptitude for learning, and wisdom. Daniel also could understand all kinds of visions and dreams.
18 Then at the end of the training period[o] that the king had established, the chief officer brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 When the king spoke to them, none of them compared to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, or Azariah as they stood before the king. 20 In every matter of wisdom or understanding that the king discussed with[p] them, he found them ten times superior to all the astrologers and enchanters[q] in his entire palace.
21 So Daniel remained there in service[r] until the first year of King Cyrus.[s]
Footnotes
- Daniel 1:2 Lit. He
- Daniel 1:2 I.e. Babylon
- Daniel 1:2 Lit. the valuable objects
- Daniel 1:2 Lit. in the treasure house of his god
- Daniel 1:3 Lit. eunuch; i.e. an overseer in the king’s court; and so throughout the chapter
- Daniel 1:4 I.e. wise men and royal counselors from Mesopotamia who spoke the Babylonian Akkadian language and Aramaic; or magi-astrologers; and so throughout the book; cf. Jer. 5:15, Matt 2:1
- Daniel 1:5 Lit. would stand before the king
- Daniel 1:6 The Heb. name Daniel means God is my judge
- Daniel 1:8 The Heb. lacks permission
- Daniel 1:10 The Heb. lacks other
- Daniel 1:13 Lit. they
- Daniel 1:14 Lit. listened according to this word
- Daniel 1:15 Lit. were fatter of flesh
- Daniel 1:16 Lit. wine of their drinks
- Daniel 1:18 Lit. the days
- Daniel 1:20 Lit. king sought from
- Daniel 1:20 Or occult practitioners
- Daniel 1:21 The Heb. lacks in service
- Daniel 1:21 I.e. until the fall of Babylon as a world empire
Daniel 1
Lexham English Bible
Daniel’s Development in the King’s Court
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim the king of Judah into his hand and some of[a] of the utensils of the temple of God,[b] and he brought them to the land of Shinar to the temple of his gods, and he brought the utensils to the treasury[c] of his gods.
3 And the king ordered[d] Ashpenaz, the commander of his court officials, to bring some of the Israelites[e] from the royal family[f] and from the lords,[g] 4 youths who have no physical defect,[h] and who are handsome,[i] and who are prudent[j] in all wisdom and endowed with knowledge,[k] and who understand insight, and who have the ability[l] in them to serve in the palace of the king. And the king ordered him to teach them the literature and the language of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king assigned to them his daily portion[m] from the fine food of the king, and from the wine that he drank,[n] and instructed that they were to be educated for three years.[o] And at the end of their training, they were to be stationed[p] before[q] the king. 6 Now there was among them from the Judeans,[r] Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 And the commander of the court officials gave them names, and he called Daniel, Belteshazzar; and Hananiah, Shadrach; and Mishael, Meshach; and Azariah, Abednego.
Daniel’s Resolve
8 Now Daniel resolved[s] that he would not defile himself with the fine food of the king, and with the wine that he drank,[t] and so he requested from the commander of the court officials permission so that he would not defile himself. 9 And God[u] gave Daniel favor and compassion before[v] the commander of the court officials, 10 and the commander of the court officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord, the king, who has determined your food and your drink, for why should[w] he see your face having a worse appearance than the young men who are your age?[x] Then you will endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then[y] Daniel asked the guard[z] whom the commander of the court officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us some of the vegetables,[aa] and let us eat and let us drink water. 13 Then[ab] let our appearances and the appearance of the young men who are eating the fine food of the king be compared before you,[ac] and then deal with your servants according to what you see.”[ad] 14 So he agreed to this proposal with them, and he tested them for ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their appearances appeared better and they were healthier of body than all the young men who were eating the fine food of the king. 16 So[ae] the guard continued to withhold[af] their fine food and the wine of their drink, and he gave them[ag] vegetables.
17 And as for these four young men,[ah] God[ai] gave to them knowledge and insight into all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had insight into all visions[aj] and dreams. 18 And at the end of the time the king had set to bring them, the commander of the court officials brought them in before[ak] Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them no one was found like[al] Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; then they stood before[am] the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired from them, he found them ten times better than all of the magicians[an] and conjurers[ao] that were in his entire kingdom.[ap] 21 And Daniel was there until the first year of Cyrus the king.
Footnotes
- Daniel 1:2 Literally “from the end/extremity/limits”
- Daniel 1:2 Hebrew “the God”
- Daniel 1:2 Literally “the house of the treasury”
- Daniel 1:3 Literally “said to”
- Daniel 1:3 Literally “from the sons/children of Israel”
- Daniel 1:3 Literally “from the seed of the kingship”
- Daniel 1:3 Or “nobles”
- Daniel 1:4 Literally “there is not in them any physical defect”
- Daniel 1:4 Literally “good/pleasing of appearance”
- Daniel 1:4 Or “insightful”
- Daniel 1:4 Literally “who have knowledge of knowledge”
- Daniel 1:4 Literally “strength”
- Daniel 1:5 Literally “the portion of the day on its day”
- Daniel 1:5 Literally “the wine of his drink”
- Daniel 1:5 Literally “and to be educated them years three”
- Daniel 1:5 Literally “they would stand”
- Daniel 1:5 Literally “to the face of”
- Daniel 1:6 Literally “from the children of Judah”
- Daniel 1:8 Literally “Daniel placed upon his heart”
- Daniel 1:8 Literally “the wine of his drink”
- Daniel 1:9 Hebrew “the God”
- Daniel 1:9 Literally “to the face of”
- Daniel 1:10 Literally “to what would”
- Daniel 1:10 Literally “like your age”; “your” is plural
- Daniel 1:11 Hebrew “And”
- Daniel 1:11 Or “overseer”
- Daniel 1:12 Literally “from the vegetables”
- Daniel 1:13 Hebrew “And”
- Daniel 1:13 Literally “in your presence”
- Daniel 1:13 Literally “and according to/that you see”
- Daniel 1:16 Literally “And it happened”
- Daniel 1:16 Literally “he was … withdrawing”
- Daniel 1:16 Hebrew “to them”
- Daniel 1:17 Literally “And these young men, four of them”
- Daniel 1:17 Hebrew “the God”
- Daniel 1:17 Hebrew “vision”
- Daniel 1:18 Literally “to the face of”
- Daniel 1:19 Literally “and he was not found from all of them like”
- Daniel 1:19 Literally “to the face of”
- Daniel 1:20 Or “soothsayer-priests”
- Daniel 1:20 Or “enchanters”
- Daniel 1:20 Literally “in the whole of his kingdom”
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