Daniel 1 · Verse 17

Daniel 1:17

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.
Daniel 1:17, King James Version

Daniel 1:17 in other translations

BSBTo these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. And Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams.
WEBNow as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
ASVNow as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
YLTAs to these four lads, God hath given to them knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature, and wisdom; and Daniel hath given instruction about every kind of vision and dreams.
DARBYAs for these four youths,God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
BBENow as for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and made them expert in all book-learning and wisdom: and Daniel was wise in all visions and dreams.
WebsterAs for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

What does Daniel 1:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. God gave them knowledge--(Ex 31:2, 3; 1Ki 3:12; Job 32:8; Jas 1:5, 17). Daniel had understanding in ... dreams--God thus made one of the despised covenant-people eclipse the Chaldean sages in the very science on which they most prided themselves. So Joseph in the court of Pharaoh (Ge 40:5; 41:1-8). Daniel, in these praises of his own "understanding," speaks not through vanity, but by the direction of God, as one transported out of himself. See my Introduction, "Contents of the Book."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 As for these four children - Young men or youths. Our translation gives a false idea. In all visions and dreams - That is, such as are Divine; for as to dreams in general, they have as much signification as they have connection, being the effects of the state of the body, of the mind, or of the circumstances of the dreamer. A dream may be considered supernatural, if it have nothing preposterous, nothing monstrous, and nothing irregular. If the whole order and consequences of the things be preserved in them, from beginning to end, then we may presume they are supernatural. In such dreams Daniel had understanding.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Daniel 1:17-21
Daniel and his fellows kept to their religion; and God rewarded them with eminence in learning. Pious young persons should endeavour to do better than their fellows in useful things; not for the praise of man, but for the honour of the gospel, and that they may be qualified for usefulness. And it is well for a country, and for the honour of a prince, when he is able to judge who are best fitted to serve him, and prefers them on that account. Let young men steadily attend to this chapter; and let all remember that God will honour those who honour him, but those who despise him shall be lightly esteemed.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Daniel 1:17 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְהַיְלָדִ֤יםve.hay.la.Dimand the youthsH3206
הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ha.'E.leh<the> theseH428
אַרְבַּעְתָּ֔ם'ar.ba'.Tam[the] four of themH702
נָתַ֨ןna.Tanhe gaveH5414
לָהֶ֧םla.Hemto them
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֛יםha.'E.lo.Him<the> GodH430
מַדָּ֥עma.Da'knowledgeH4093
וְהַשְׂכֵּ֖לve.has.Keland insightH7919
בְּכָל\־be.kholin allH3605
סֵ֣פֶרSe.ferwritingH5612
וְחָכְמָ֑הve.cha.khe.Mahand wisdomH2451
וְדָנִיֵּ֣אלve.da.ni.Yeland DanielH1840
הֵבִ֔יןhe.Vinhe understoodH995
בְּכָל\־be.khol<in> everyH3605
חָז֖וֹןcha.ZonvisionH2377
וַחֲלֹמֽוֹת\׃va.cha.lo.Motand dreamsH2472

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Daniel 1:17

  • 1 Kings 3:12

    Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

  • James 1:5

    If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

  • Job 32:8

    But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

  • Daniel 2:21

    And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

  • Daniel 2:23

    I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.

  • Colossians 1:9

    For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

  • Proverbs 2:6

    For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

  • Psalms 119:98-100

    Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

  • Acts 6:10

    And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

  • Acts 7:22

    And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

  • Numbers 12:6

    And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

  • 2 Chronicles 26:5

    And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
God.
2:21,23; 1Ki 3:12,28; 4:29-31; 2Ch 1:10,12; Job 32:8; Ps 119:98-100
Pr 2:6; Ec 2:26; Isa 28:26; Lu 21:15; Ac 6:10; 7:10
Col 1:9; Jas 1:5,17
knowledge.
Ac 7:22
Daniel had understanding. or, he made Daniel understand.
4:9,10; 5:11,12,14; 10:1; Ge 41:8-15; Nu 12:6; 2Ch 26:5; Eze 28:3
1Co 12:7-11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Daniel 1:16

    Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

  • Daniel 1:17

    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.

  • Daniel 1:18

    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.

Read all of Daniel 1

Daniel 1:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y á estos cuatro muchachos dióles Dios conocimiento é inteligencia en todas letras y ciencia: mas Daniel tuvo entendimiento en toda visión y sueños.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et à ces jeunes gens, aux quatre, Dieu donna de la science et de l’instruction dans toutes les lettres et dans toute la sagesse; et Daniel avait de l’intelligence en toute vision et dans les songes.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und diesen vier Jünglingen, ihnen gab Gott Kenntnis und Einsicht in aller Schrift und Weisheit; und Daniel hatte Verständnis für alle Gesichte und Träume.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Pueris autem his dedit Deus scientiam et disciplinam, in omni libro et sapientia: Danieli autem intelligentiam omnium visionum et somniorum.