Daniel 1

1 In the third [a period of time, a year of reckoning] year of the reign [royal power, kingdom] of Jehoiakim [Jehovah raises up, a king of Judah] king [a ruler, a monarch] of Judah [a tribe of Israel, the southern kingdom], Nebuchadnezzar [a powerful king of Babylon] king [a ruler, a monarch] of Babylon [a city and empire of confusion] came [to approach, to arrive] to Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Judah] and besieged [to confine, to surround] it. word study 2 And the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king [ruler, monarch] of Judah, along with some [a part, a portion] of the articles [utensils, vessels] from the house [temple, dwelling place] of God [Elohim, the one supreme God]. He carried these off to the land [territory, region] of Shinar [Babylonia, a land of exile], to the house [temple, shrine] of his god [idol, false deity], where he put them in the treasury [storehouse, depository] of his god. word study 3 Then the king [ruler, sovereign] ordered Ashpenaz [the chief official], the chief [master, ruler] of his court officials [eunuchs, high-ranking servants], to bring in [to fetch, to summon] some Israelites [descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] from the royal [kingly, noble] family and the nobility [princes, high-ranking officials, those of noble birth]— word study 4 young men [without physical defect, strong and healthy] without blemish, handsome [well-favored, good-looking], gifted in all [types of] wisdom, knowledgeable [endued with knowledge, intelligent], quick to understand [cunning in knowledge, having good insight], and qualified to serve [able to stand, suitable for working] in the king’s palace—and to teach them the language [tongue, literature] and literature [learning, written documents] of the Chaldeans [inhabitants of Babylon, skilled in astrology]. word study 5 The king [ruler, sovereign] assigned them daily provisions [a daily portion, food allowance] of the royal [king’s, luxurious] food [delicacies, fine cuisine] and wine [intoxicating drink, fermented beverage]. They were to be trained [nourished, educated] for three [a period of thrice, a trio of years] years, after which they were to enter [stand before, serve in] the king’s [royal, sovereign] service [attendance, ministry]. word study 6 Among these young men [chosen from the best, selected for royal service] were some from [the tribe of] Judah [a descendant of Jacob, the southern kingdom]: Daniel [God is my judge], Hananiah [God has favored], Mishael [who is like God?], and Azariah [God has helped]. word study 7 The chief official [ruler, captain of the eunuchs] gave them new names [designations, identities]: To Daniel [God is my judge] he gave the name Belteshazzar [lord of the straitened’s treasure]; to Hananiah [God has favored], Shadrach [royal, great]; to Mishael [who is like God?], Meshach [guest, one who is invited]; and to Azariah [God has helped], Abednego [servant of Nebo]. word study 8 But Daniel [purposed in his heart, made a decision] made up his mind that he would not defile [make unclean, pollute] himself with the king’s [royal, sovereign] food [delicacies, dainties] or wine [fermented drink, intoxicating beverage]. So he asked the chief official [ruler, prince of the eunuchs] for permission not to defile [be made impure, ritually unacceptable] himself. word study 9 Now God [the supreme Creator, Elohim] had granted Daniel [God is my judge] favor [kindness, loving actions] and compassion [tender love, womb-like care] from the chief official [ruler, captain of the eunuchs], word study 10 but he said to Daniel, “I [deeply] fear my lord [master, ruler] the king, who has assigned [appointed, designated] your food [sustenance, nourishment] and drink [beverage, refreshment]. For why should he see your faces [appearance, countenance] looking thinner [weaker, more frail] than those of the other young men [youths, adolescents] your age? You would endanger [put at risk, jeopardize] my head [life, well-being] before the king [ruler, sovereign]!” word study 11 Then Daniel [a man of God, having God’s judgment] said to the steward [or guard, appointed overseer] whom the chief official [ruler, prince of the eunuchs] had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah [God has favored], Mishael [who is like God], and Azariah [God has helped], word study 12 “Please [I pray, I beseech] test [prove, try] your servants [slaves, attendants] for ten [a decade, a period of testing] days. Let us be given only [nothing but] vegetables [pulse, plants] to eat [consume, devour] and water [liquid refreshment] to drink [swallow, ingest]. word study 13 Then compare our appearances [countenances, faces] with those of the young men [youths, children] who are eating the royal food [king’s delicacies, portion of the king’s meat], and deal with your servants [those who serve you, attendants] according to what you see [as thou seest, as it seems right to you].” word study 14 So he consented [agreed, gave ear] to this [the matter, proposal] and tested [tried, proved] them for ten [a decade, a period of trial] days [a period of time, a season of testing]. word study 15 And at the end [boundary, limit] of ten [a decade, a complete cycle] days, they looked [appeared, seemed] healthier [fairer, more robust] and better nourished [fatter, more plump in flesh] than all [every single one, the entirety] the young men [youths, adolescents] who were eating [consuming, devouring] the king’s [royal, sovereign] food [provision, delicacies]. word study 16 So the steward [high-ranking officer, royal butler] continued to withhold their choice food [delicacies, special portion] and the wine [fermented drink, intoxicating beverage] they were to drink, and he gave them vegetables [pulse, plants for food, namely legumes] instead. word study 17 To these [specific, chosen] four young men [youths, children] God [Elohim, the supreme God] gave [granted, bestowed] knowledge [intelligence, understanding] and understanding [insight, discernment] in every kind [all types, various] of literature [learning, book knowledge] and wisdom [prudence, good judgment]. And Daniel [the prophet, God’s judge] had insight [understanding, discernment] into all kinds [every type, various] of visions [revelations, prophetic messages] and dreams [prophetic dreams, heavenly communications]. word study 18 Now at the [specified, appointed] end of the time [period, duration] specified by the king [ruler, sovereign], the chief [high-ranking, principal] official [ruler, leader] presented [brought, introduced] them to Nebuchadnezzar [the king of Babylon, a powerful ruler]. word study 19 And the king [having royal authority] spoke [to communicate, to converse] with them, and among all [every single one] the young men he found [discovered, came to know] no one [not a single person] equal [like, comparable] to Daniel [God is my judge], Hananiah [God has favored], Mishael [who is like God], and Azariah [God has helped]. So they entered [stood before, served] the king’s [royal, sovereign] service [attendance, ministry]. word study 20 In every matter [of great importance, concerning all things] of wisdom [the ability to make wise decisions, having good judgment] and understanding [discernment, insight, having wisdom or knowledge] about which [in all things that] the king [the ruler, the monarch] consulted [sought advice from, inquired of] them, he found [discovered, learned] them ten [a decade, a multiple of completeness] times better [more excellent, superior] than all [every single one, the entirety of] the magicians [those who claim to have special knowledge, astrologers] and enchanters [those who practice magic, sorcerers] in his entire [whole, complete] kingdom [royal power, dominion]. word study 21 And Daniel [a man of God, God is my judge] remained [continued, stayed] there [in the royal court, in Babylon] until [as far as, up to] the first [one, single] year [a period of time, a cycle of seasons] of King [a ruler, a monarch] Cyrus [a Persian king, the ruler who allowed Israelite exiles to return]. word study