Daniel 1
Amplified Bible
The Choice Young Men
1 In the third year of the reign of [a]Jehoiakim king of Judah, [b]Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles of the house of God; and he brought them into the land of [c]Shinar, to the house of his god, and brought the articles into the treasury of his god.(A)
3 And the [Babylonian] king told Ashpenaz, the chief of his [d]officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some from the royal family and from the nobles,(B) 4 young men without blemish and handsome in appearance, skillful in all wisdom, endowed with intelligence and discernment, and quick to understand, competent to stand [in the presence of the king] and able to serve in the king’s palace. He also ordered Ashpenaz to teach them the literature and language of the [e]Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned a daily ration for them from his finest food and from the wine which he drank. They were to be educated and nourished this way for three years so that at the end of that time they were [prepared] to enter the king’s service. 6 Among them from the sons of Judah were: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 The commander of the officials gave them [Babylonian] names: Daniel he named Belteshazzar, Hananiah he named Shadrach, Mishael he named Meshach, and Azariah he named Abed-nego.
Daniel’s Resolve
8 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile (taint, dishonor) himself with the [f]king’s finest food or with the wine which the king drank; so he asked the commander of the officials that he might [be excused so that he would] not defile himself.(C) 9 Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials, 10 and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has prearranged your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the young men who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.” 11 But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please, test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the young men who eat the king’s finest food be observed and compared by you, and deal with your servants in accordance with what you see.”
14 So the man listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it seemed that they were looking better and [g]healthier than all the young men who ate the king’s finest food. 16 So the overseer continued to withhold their fine food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables.
17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all kinds of literature and wisdom; Daniel also understood all kinds of visions and dreams.(D)
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring all the young men in [before him], the commander of the officials presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king spoke with them, and among them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; so they were [selected and] assigned to stand before the king and enter his personal service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the [learned] magicians and enchanters (Magi) in his whole realm. 21 And Daniel remained there until the [h]first year of [the reign of] King Cyrus [over Babylon; now this was at the end of the seventy-year exile of Judah (the Southern Kingdom) in Babylonia, as foretold by Jeremiah].(E)
Footnotes
- Daniel 1:1 Pharaoh Neco had killed Josiah king of Judah and installed Eliakim (Josiah’s son) as a vassal ruler. Neco changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim and he ruled for eleven years (2 Chr 36:4, 5).
- Daniel 1:1 Nebuchadnezzar II of the Chaldean Dynasty, more commonly known as Nebuchadnezzar the Great, ruled Babylon from 605-562 b.c. He conquered Jerusalem in 597 b.c.
- Daniel 1:2 I.e. southern Babylonia.
- Daniel 1:3 Or eunuchs, and so throughout.
- Daniel 1:4 The Chaldeans dominated and ruled Babylonia from 625 b.c. until their empire fell in 539 b.c., but they were known as early as 1000 b.c. as an aggressive, tribal people in the southern region of Babylonia. They were highly skilled in both the science of astronomy and the pseudo-science of astrology. They kept meticulous records of celestial motion and correctly calculated the length of a year to within just a few minutes. Babylon, their capital city, was the center of trade and learning in the western part of Asia. The classical literature of the Chaldeans was written in cuneiform, but the common language, both written and spoken in Babylon, was Akkadian increasingly influenced by Aramaic.
- Daniel 1:8 The first portions of the food and wine would have been presented to idols before being served at the table.
- Daniel 1:15 Lit fat of flesh.
- Daniel 1:21 Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Empire, ruled from 559-529 b.c. He conquered the Median (549 b.c.), the Lydian (546 b.c.), and the Neo-Babylonian (539 b.c.) kingdoms and formed the greatest empire the world had ever known. He returned a remnant of the Jewish population from Babylon to Jerusalem along with an edict to rebuild the temple.
Daniel 1
King James Version
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
3 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;
4 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.
5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
17 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.
18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Daniel 1
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Daniel y sus compañeros en la corte de Nabucodonosor
1 En el tercer año del reinado de Joacim, rey de Judá, vino Nabucodonosor, rey de Babilonia(A), a Jerusalén(B) y la sitió. 2 El Señor entregó en sus manos(C) a Joacim, rey de Judá, así como algunos de los utensilios de la casa de Dios(D). Estos se los llevó a la tierra de Sinar(E), a la casa de su dios[a], colocando[b] los utensilios en la casa del tesoro de su dios[c](F).
3 Entonces el rey mandó[d] a Aspenaz, jefe de sus oficiales[e], que trajera de los israelitas a algunos de la familia[f] real y de los nobles(G). 4 Estos jóvenes no debían tener defecto alguno, serían de buen parecer(H), inteligentes en toda rama del saber(I), dotados de entendimiento y habilidad para discernir(J) y que tuvieran la capacidad para servir[g] en el palacio del rey; y le dio órdenes de que les enseñara la escritura y la lengua de los caldeos(K). 5 El rey les asignó una ración diaria de los manjares del rey y del vino que él bebía(L), y mandó que los educaran[h] por tres años, después de los cuales entrarían al servicio[i] del rey(M).
6 Entre estos estaban Daniel(N), Ananías, Misael y Azarías, de los hijos de Judá. 7 Entonces el jefe de oficiales les puso nuevos nombres: a Daniel le puso Beltsasar(O); a Ananías, Sadrac; a Misael, Mesac; y a Azarías, Abed Nego(P).
8 Pero Daniel se propuso en su corazón no contaminarse con los manjares(Q) del rey ni con el vino que él bebía(R), y pidió al jefe de oficiales que le permitiera no contaminarse(S). 9 Dios concedió a Daniel hallar favor[j] y gracia ante el jefe de oficiales(T), 10 y el jefe de oficiales dijo a Daniel: «Temo a mi señor el rey, porque él ha asignado su comida y su bebida. ¿Por qué ha de ver sus rostros más pálidos que los de los demás jóvenes de su edad? Así pondrían en peligro[k] mi cabeza ante el rey».
11 Pero Daniel dijo al mayordomo a quien el jefe de oficiales había nombrado sobre Daniel, Ananías, Misael y Azarías: 12 «Te ruego que pongas a prueba a tus siervos por diez días, y que nos den legumbres para comer y agua para beber(U). 13 Que se compare después[l] nuestra apariencia en tu presencia con la apariencia de los jóvenes que comen los manjares del rey, y haz con tus siervos según lo que veas».
14 El mayordomo los escuchó en esto y los puso a prueba por diez días. 15 Después de los diez días el aspecto de ellos parecía mejor y estaban más rollizos[m](V) que todos los jóvenes que habían estado comiendo los manjares del rey. 16 Así que el mayordomo siguió suprimiendo[n] los manjares y el vino que debían beber, y les daba legumbres(W).
17 A estos cuatro jóvenes Dios les dio conocimiento e inteligencia en toda clase de literatura[o] y sabiduría(X). Además, Daniel entendía toda clase de visiones y sueños(Y).
18 Después de los días que el rey había fijado[p] para que fueran presentados[q], el jefe de oficiales los trajo ante Nabucodonosor. 19 El rey habló con ellos, y de entre todos ellos no se halló ninguno como Daniel, Ananías, Misael y Azarías(Z). Entraron, pues, al servicio[r] del rey(AA). 20 Y en todo asunto de sabiduría y[s] conocimiento(AB) que el rey les consultó, los encontró diez veces(AC) superiores a todos los magos[t](AD) y encantadores que había en todo su reino(AE). 21 Daniel estuvo allí hasta el primer año del rey Ciro(AF).
Footnotes
- 1:2 O sus dioses.
- 1:2 Lit. llevando.
- 1:2 O sus dioses.
- 1:3 O dijo.
- 1:3 O eunucos, y así en el resto del cap.
- 1:3 Lit. simiente.
- 1:4 Lit. estar de pie.
- 1:5 O criaran.
- 1:5 Lit. estarían de pie delante.
- 1:9 Lit. misericordia.
- 1:10 Lit. harían culpable.
- 1:13 Lit. Que se vea.
- 1:15 Lit. llenos de carne.
- 1:16 Lit. llevándose.
- 1:17 O escritura.
- 1:18 Lit. dicho.
- 1:18 Lit. traídos.
- 1:19 Lit. estuvieron de pie delante.
- 1:20 Lit. de.
- 1:20 O sacerdotes adivinos.
Daniel 1
1599 Geneva Bible
Daniel
1 1 The captivity of Jehoiakim king of Judah. 4 The king chooseth certain young men of the Jews to learn his law. 5 They have the king’s ordinary appointed, 8 but they abstain from it.
1 In the [a]third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, came Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel unto Jerusalem and besieged it.
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand with part of the vessels of the house of God, which he carried into the land of [b]Shinar, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into his god’s treasury.
3 And the King spake unto [c]Ashpenaz the master of his [d]Eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, of the [e]King’s seed, and of the princes:
4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well [f]favored, and instruct in all wisdom, and well seen in knowledge, and able to utter knowledge, and such as were able to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might [g]teach the learning, and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed them provision every day of a [h]portion of the king’s meat, and of the wine, which he drank, so nourishing them [i]three years, that at the end thereof, they might stand [j]before the king.
6 Now among these were certain of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
7 Unto whom the chief of the Eunuchs [k]gave other names: for he called Daniel, Belteshazzar, and Hananiah, Shadrach, and Mishael, Meshach, and Azariah, Abednego.
8 ¶ But Daniel had determined in his heart, that he would not [l]defile himself with the portion of the King’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he required the chief of the Eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9 (Now God had brought Daniel into favor, and tender love with the chief of the Eunuchs.)
10 And the chief of the Eunuchs said unto Daniel, [m]I fear my lord the King, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: therefore if he see your faces worse liking than the other children which are of your sort, then shall you make me lose mine head unto the King.
11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the chief of the Eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, [n]ten days, and let them give us [o]pulse to eat, and water to drink.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenances of the children that eat of the portion of the King’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
14 So he consented to them in this matter, an proved them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days, their [p]countenances appeared fairer, and in [q]better liking than all the children’s, which did eat the portion of the King’s meat.
16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse.
17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge, and understanding in all learning [r]and wisdom: also he gave Daniel understanding of all [s]visions and dreams.
18 Now when the time [t]was expired, that the King had appointed to bring them in, the chief of the Eunuchs brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the King communed with them: and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom, and understanding that the King enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the enchanters and astrologians that were in all his realm.
21 And Daniel was unto [u]the first year of king Cyrus.
Footnotes
- Daniel 1:1 Read 2 Kings 24:1 and Jer. 25:1.
- Daniel 1:2 Which was a plain by Babylon, where was the Temple of their great god, and is here taken for Babylon.
- Daniel 1:3 Who was as master of the wards.
- Daniel 1:3 He calleth them Eunuchs whom the King nourished and brought up to be rulers of other countries afterward.
- Daniel 1:3 His purpose was to keep them as hostages, and that he might show himself victorious, and also by their good entreaty and learning of his religion, they might favor rather him than the Jews, and so to be able to serve him as governors in their land: moreover by this means the Jews might be better kept in subjection, fearing otherwise to procure hurt to these noble men.
- Daniel 1:4 The King required three things, that they should be of noble birth, that they should be witty and learned, and that they should be of a strong and comely nature, that they might do him better service: this he did for his own commodity, therefore it is not to praise his liberality: yet in this he is worthy praise, that he esteemed learning, and knew that it was a necessary means to govern by.
- Daniel 1:4 That they might forget their own religion, and country fashions to serve him the better to his purpose: yet it is not to be thought that Daniel did learn any knowledge that was not godly: in all points he refused the abuse of things and superstition, insomuch that he would not eat the meat which the King appointed him, but was content to learn the knowledge of natural things.
- Daniel 1:5 That by their good entertainment they might learn to forget the mediocrity of their own people.
- Daniel 1:5 To the intent that in this time they might both learn the manners of the Chaldeans, and also their tongue.
- Daniel 1:5 As well to serve at the table, as in other offices.
- Daniel 1:7 That they might altogether forget their religion: for the Jews gave their children names, which might ever put them in remembrance of some point of religion: therefore this was a great tentation and a sign of servitude, which they were not able to resist.
- Daniel 1:8 Not that he thought any religion to be in the meat or drink, (for afterward he did eat) but because the king should not entice him by this sweet poison to forget his religion and accustomed sobriety, and that in his meat and drink he might daily remember of what people he was: and Daniel bringeth this in to show how God from the beginning assisted him with his Spirit, and at length called him to be a Prophet.
- Daniel 1:10 He supposed they did this for their religion, which was contrary to the Babylonians, and therefore herein he representeth them, which are of no religion: for neither he would condemn theirs, nor maintain his own.
- Daniel 1:12 Meaning, that within this space he might have the trial, and that no man should be able to discern it: and thus he spake, being moved by the Spirit of God.
- Daniel 1:12 Not that it was a thing abominable to eat dainty meats, and to drink wine, as both before and after they did, but if they should have hereby been won to the King, and have refused their own religion, that meat and drink had been accursed.
- Daniel 1:15 This bare feeding and that also of Moses, when he fled from the court of Egypt, declareth that we must live in such sobriety as God doth call us unto, seeing he will make it more profitable unto us than all dainties: for his blessing only sufficeth.
- Daniel 1:15 Hebrew, fatter in flesh.
- Daniel 1:17 Meaning, in the liberal sciences, and natural knowledge, and not in the magical arts which are forbidden, Deut. 18:11.
- Daniel 1:17 So that he only was a Prophet and none of the others: for by dreams and visions God appeared to his Prophets, Num. 12:6
- Daniel 1:18 Of the three years above mentioned, verse 5.
- Daniel 1:21 That is, he was esteemed in Babylon as a Prophet so long as that commonwealth stood.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
Nueva Biblia de las Américas™ NBLA™ Copyright © 2005 por The Lockman Foundation
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.