Daniel 1
English Standard Version
Daniel Taken to Babylon
1 In the third year of (A)the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of (B)the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to (C)the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, (D)and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. 3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, (E)his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family[a] and of (F)the nobility, 4 youths without (G)blemish, of good appearance and (H)skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to (I)teach them the literature and language of the (J)Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of (K)the food that the king ate, and of (L)the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for (M)three years, and at the end of that time they were to (N)stand before the king. 6 Among these were (O)Daniel, (P)Hananiah, (Q)Mishael, and (R)Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And (S)the chief of the eunuchs (T)gave them names: (U)Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
Daniel's Faithfulness
8 But Daniel (V)resolved that he would not (W)defile himself with (X)the king's food, or with (Y)the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to (Z)defile himself. 9 (AA)And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for (AB)ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat (AC)the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate (AD)the king's food. 16 (AE)So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them (AF)vegetables.
17 As for these four youths, (AG)God gave them learning and (AH)skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had (AI)understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of (AJ)the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore (AK)they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all (AL)the magicians and (AM)enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel (AN)was there until the first year of (AO)King Cyrus.
Footnotes
- Daniel 1:3 Hebrew of the seed of the kingdom
Daniel 1
New King James Version
Daniel and His Friends Obey God(A)
1 In the third year of the reign of (B)Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with (C)some of the articles of [a]the house of God, which he carried (D)into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; (E)and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring (F)some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men (G)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 (H)whom they might teach the language and [b]literature of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might (I)serve before the king. 6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 (J)To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: (K)he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself (L)with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now (M)God had brought Daniel into the favor and [c]goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”
11 So Daniel said to [d]the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.
15 And 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. 16 Thus [e]the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 As for these four young men, (N)God gave them (O)knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had (P)understanding in all visions and dreams.
18 Now 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. 19 Then the king [f]interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore (Q)they served before the king. 20 (R)And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. 21 (S)Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.
Footnotes
- Daniel 1:2 The temple
- Daniel 1:4 Lit. writing or book
- Daniel 1:9 kindness
- Daniel 1:11 Or Melzar
- Daniel 1:16 Or Melzar
- Daniel 1:19 Lit. talked with them
Daniel 1
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Four Young Israelites at the Babylonian Court
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoi′akim king of Judah, Nebuchadnez′zar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoi′akim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. 3 Then the king commanded Ash′penaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, handsome and skilful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to serve in the king’s palace, and to teach them the letters and language of the Chalde′ans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the rich food which the king ate, and of the wine which he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hanani′ah, Mish′a-el, and Azari′ah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshaz′zar, Hanani′ah he called Shadrach, Mish′a-el he called Meshach, and Azari′ah he called Abed′nego.
8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself[a] with the king’s rich food, or with the wine which he drank; therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs; 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear lest my lord the king, who appointed your food and your drink, should see that you were in poorer condition than the youths who are of your own age. So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hanani′ah, Mish′a-el, and Azari′ah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s rich food be observed by you, and according to what you see deal with your servants.” 14 So he hearkened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s rich food. 16 So the steward took away their rich food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all letters and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnez′zar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hanani′ah, Mish′a-el, and Azari′ah; therefore they stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.
Footnotes
- 1.8 would not defile himself. When the Greek persecution broke out, the king tried to get the Jews to break their laws about food and drink, and such breaches of the law were taken to be apostasy; cf. 2 Macc 6.18–7.42.
Daniel 1
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015
Daniels fångenskap i Babel
1 (A) I Juda kung Jojakims tredje regeringsår[a] kom Babels kung Nebukadnessar[b] mot Jerusalem. Han belägrade staden, 2 (B) och Herren gav Juda kung Jojakim i hans hand liksom en del av kärlen i Guds tempel. Nebukadnessar förde dem till sin guds hus[c] i Shinars land och satte kärlen i sin guds skattkammare.
3 (C) Kungen befallde sin förste hovmarskalk Ashpenas att hämta några av Israels barn från kungaätten[d] eller av förnäm börd, 4 unga män utan defekter som såg bra ut. De skulle kunna tillägna sig all slags lärdom, vara kloka, ha lätt för att lära och vara dugliga att tjäna i kungens palats. De skulle få undervisning i kaldeernas litteratur och språk[e]. 5 Kungen bestämde åt dem en daglig tilldelning av kungens egen mat och av vinet som han själv drack. De skulle läras upp i tre år och därefter tjänstgöra[f] hos kungen.
6 (D) Bland dem var Daniel, Hananja, Mishael och Asarja av Juda stam. 7 (E) Men förste hovmarskalken gav dem andra namn. Daniel kallade han Belteshassar, Hananja Shadrak, Mishael Meshak och Asarja[g] Abed-Nego.
8 Men Daniel bestämde sig i sitt hjärta för att inte orena sig med kungens mat eller med vinet som han drack, och han bad förste hovmarskalken att han inte skulle behöva orena sig. 9 (F) Gud lät Daniel finna nåd och barmhärtighet hos förste hovmarskalken, 10 men han sade till Daniel: ”Jag är rädd att min herre kungen, som har bestämt vad ni ska äta och dricka, ska finna att ni är magrare än era jämnåriga bland de unga männen. Då drar ni skuld över mig inför kungen.”
11 Då sade Daniel till hovmästaren[h] som förste hovmarskalken satt över Daniel, Hananja, Mishael och Asarja: 12 (G) ”Gör ett försök med dina tjänare i tio dagar. Låt oss få äta grönsaker[i] och dricka vatten. 13 Jämför oss sedan med de unga män som har ätit av kungens mat, och gör med dina tjänare efter vad du då ser.”
14 Han lyssnade till deras begäran och gjorde ett försök med dem i tio dagar. 15 Efter de tio dagarna visade det sig att de såg bättre ut och var mer välnärda än alla de unga män som åt av kungens mat. 16 Då tog hovmästaren bort maten de skulle ha fått och vinet de skulle ha druckit och gav dem grönsaker i stället.
17 (H) Åt dessa fyra unga män gav Gud kunskap och insikt i all slags skrift och vishet, och Daniel förstod alla slags syner och drömmar. 18 När tiden var inne då kungen bestämt att de skulle hämtas, fördes de av förste hovmarskalken inför Nebukadnessar. 19 Kungen talade med dem, och det fanns ingen bland dem alla som kunde jämföras med Daniel, Hananja, Mishael och Asarja. De fick därför tjänstgöra hos kungen. 20 (I) Han fann att de i allt som krävde vishet och förstånd var tio gånger klokare än alla de spåmän och besvärjare som fanns i hela hans rike.
21 (J) Och Daniel blev kvar där ända till kung Koreshs första regeringsår.[j]
Footnotes
- 1:1 Jojakims tredje regeringsår År 605 f Kr. Denna sommar kom Nebukadnessar, efter sin seger vid Karkemish (Jer 46:2), och samlade tribut från Israel och dess grannfolk (2 Kung 24:1).
- 1:1 Nebukadnessar Regerade 605-562 f Kr och byggde upp Babel till en stormakt och världsstad (4:27).
- 1:2 sin guds hus Troligen templet Esagila med den 90 meter höga pyramiden Etemenanki, tillägnad Babels skyddsgud Marduk. Här samlade babylonierna gudabilder från sina erövrade folk.
- 1:3 hämta … från kungaätten Babel tog ofta gisslan för att säkerställa ett erövrat folks lydnad.
- 1:4 kaldeernas ... språk Arameiska, det internationella språket (Jes 36:11), besläktat med hebreiskan.
- 1:4f läras upp … tjänstgöra Babylonierna assimilerade sina erövrade folk (jfr vers 7) genom att omskola deras ledande skikt (se 2 Kung 24:14). Tre år var en tjänstemans normala utbildning.
- 1:7 Hananja ... Mishael ... Asarja Betyder ”Herren är barmhärtig”, ”vem är som Gud” och ”Herren hjälper”. De nya namnen knyter an till Babels avgudar Bel, Aku och Nebo.
- 1:11 hovmästaren Annan översättning: ”övervakaren” (även i vers 16).
- 1:12 grönsaker Hebr. zeroím leder tanken till frön eller gryn. Enklare folk i kungens tjänst kunde få sin lön i korn och olja.
- 1:21 kung Koreshs första regeringsår År 539 f Kr (jfr 6:28, Esra 1:1).
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015, Copyright © 2015 by Svenska Folkbibeln Foundation

