Daniel 1 · Verse 8

Daniel 1:8

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.
Daniel 1:8, King James Version

Daniel 1:8 in other translations

BSBBut Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself.
WEBBut Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
ASVBut Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s dainties, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
YLTAnd Daniel purposeth in his heart that he will not pollute himself with the king's portion of food, and with the wine of his drinking, and he seeketh of the chief of the eunuchs that he may not pollute himself.
DARBYAnd Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not pollute himself with the king's delicate food, nor with the wine which he drank; and he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not have to pollute himself.
BBEAnd Daniel had come to the decision that he would not make himself unclean with the king's food or wine; so he made a request to the captain of the unsexed servants that he might not make himself unclean.
WebsterBut Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's food, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

What does Daniel 1:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. Daniel ... would not defile himself with ... king's meat--Daniel is specified as being the leader in the "purpose" (the word implies a decided resolution) to abstain from defilement, thus manifesting a character already formed for prophetical functions. The other three youths, no doubt, shared in his purpose. It was the custom to throw a small part of the viands and wine upon the earth, as an initiatory offering to the gods, so as to consecrate to them the whole entertainment (compare De 32:38). To have partaken of such a feast would have been to sanction idolatry, and was forbidden even after the legal distinction of clean and unclean meats was done away (1Co 8:7, 10; 10:27, 28). Thus the faith of these youths was made instrumental in overruling the evil foretold against the Jews (Eze 4:13; Ho 9:3), to the glory of God. Daniel and his three friends, says Auberlen, stand out like an oasis in the desert. Like Moses, Daniel "chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (He 11:25; see Da 9:3-19). He who is to interpret divine revelations must not feed on the dainties, nor drink from the intoxicating cup, of this world. This made him as dear a name to his countrymen as Noah and Job, who also stood alone in their piety among a perverse generation (Eze 14:14; 28:3). requested--While decided in principle, we ought to seek our object by gentleness, rather than by an ostentatious testimony, which, under the plea of faithfulness, courts opposition.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 But Daniel - would not defile himself - I have spoken of this resolution in the introduction. The chief reasons why Daniel would not eat meat from the royal table were probably these three: - 1. Because they ate unclean beasts, which were forbidden by the Jewish law. 2. Because they ate, as did the heathens in general, beasts which had been strangled, or not properly blooded. 3. Because the animals that were eaten were first offered as victims to their gods. It is on this account that Athenaeus calls the beasts which here served up at the tables of the Persian kings, ἱερια, victims, lib. 4 c. 10, p. 145.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Daniel 1:8-16
The interest we think we make for ourselves, we must acknowledge to be God's gift. Daniel was still firm to his religion. Whatever they called him, he still held fast the spirit of an Israelite. These youths scrupled concerning the meat, lest it should be sinful. When God's people are in Babylon they need take special care that they partake not of her sins. It is much to the praise of young people, not to covet or seek the delights of sense. Those who would excel in wisdom and piety, must learn betimes to keep the body under. Daniel avoided defiling himself with sin; and we should more fear that than any outward trouble. It is easier to keep temptation at a distance, than to resist it when near. And we cannot better improve our interest in any with whom we have found favour, than to use it to keep us from sin. People will not believe the benefit of avoiding excess, and of a spare diet, nor how much they contribute to the health of the body, unless they try. Conscientious temperance will always do more, even for the comfort of this life, than sinful indulgence.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Daniel 1:8 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.

וַיָּ֤שֶׂםvai.Ya.semand he setH7760
דָּנִיֵּאל֙da.ni.yeLDanielH1840
עַל\־'al-onH5921
לִבּ֔וֹli.Boheart hisH3820
אֲשֶׁ֧ר'a.SherthatH834
לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
יִתְגָּאַ֛לyit.ga.'Alhe defiled himselfH1351
בְּפַתְבַּ֥גbe.fat.Bagwith [the] delicaci[es] ofH6598
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
וּבְיֵ֣יןu.ve.Yeinand with [the] wine ofH3196
מִשְׁתָּ֑יוmish.Tavdrink hisH4960
וַיְבַקֵּשׁ֙vay.va.Keshand he requestedH1245
מִשַּׂ֣רmi.Sarfrom [the] chief ofH8269
הַסָּרִיסִ֔יםha.sa.ri.Simthe officialsH5631
אֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherthatH834
לֹ֥אlo'notH3808
יִתְגָּאָֽל\׃yit.ga.'Alhe will defile himselfH1351

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

Cross references for Daniel 1:8

  • Psalms 141:4

    Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

  • Ezekiel 4:13-14

    And the Lord said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them. Then said I, Ah Lord God! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.

  • Leviticus 11:45-47

    For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:18-21

    Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:37

    Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

  • Psalms 119:115

    Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.

  • Hosea 9:3-4

    They shall not dwell in the Lord’s land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria. They shall not offer wine offerings to the Lord, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the Lord.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:7-10

    Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

  • Romans 14:15-17

    But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

  • Psalms 119:106

    I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

  • Daniel 1:5

    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.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:28-31

    But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
purposed.
Ru 1:17,18; 1Ki 5:5; Ps 119:106,115; Ac 11:23; 1Co 7:37; 2Co 9:7
defile.Heathen nations not only ate unclean beasts, which were forbidden by Jewish law, but even the clean animals that were eaten were first offered as victims to their gods, and part of the wine was poured out as a libation on their altars. Hence Athenæus calls the beasts served up at the tables of the Persian kings, [hieria,] victims. Daniel was therefore resolved not to defile himself with their viands; yet he did not rudely refuse what was intended as a kindness, but mildly and modestly requested the proper officers to indulge him in this respect.
Le 11:45-47; De 32:38; Ps 106:28; 141:4; Eze 4:13,14; Ho 9:3,4
Ac 10:14-16; Ro 14:15-17; 1Co 8:7-10; 10:18-21,28-31

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

Context

  • Daniel 1:7

    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 Abed–nego.

  • Daniel 1:8

    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.

  • Daniel 1:9

    Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

Read all of Daniel 1

Daniel 1:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y Daniel propuso en su corazón de no contaminarse en la ración de la comida del rey, ni en el vino de su beber: pidió por tanto al príncipe de los eunucos de no contaminarse.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Daniel arrêta dans son cœur qu’il ne se souillerait point par les mets délicats du roi et par le vin qu’il buvait; et il demanda au prince des eunuques de lui permettre de ne pas se souiller.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Daniel nahm sich in seinem Herzen vor, sich nicht mit der Tafelkost des Königs und mit dem Weine, den er trank, zu verunreinigen; und er erbat sich von dem Obersten der Kämmerer, daß er sich nicht verunreinigen müsse.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Proposuit autem Daniel in corde suo ne pollueretur de mensa regis, neque de vino potus ejus: et rogavit eunuchorum præpositum ne contaminaretur.