Daniel 1:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ 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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

But Dani'el resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food or the wine he drank, so he asked the chief officer to be excused from defiling himself.

Berean Standard Bible:

But 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.

American Standard Version:

But 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.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But Daniel^{H1840} purposed^{H7760} in his heart^{H3820} that he would not defile^{H1351} himself with the portion^{H6598} of the king's^{H4428} meat^{H6598}, nor with the wine^{H3196} which he drank^{H4960}: therefore he requested^{H1245} of the prince^{H8269} of the eunuchs^{H5631} that he might not defile^{H1351} himself.

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Commentary for Daniel 1:8

Daniel 1:8 is set within the broader narrative of the Babylonian exile, where Daniel, along with other Hebrew youths, was taken captive to serve in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar. This verse encapsulates a key moment of decision for Daniel, highlighting his commitment to his religious identity and dietary laws, which were integral to Jewish faith and practice. The "king's meat" and "wine" likely referred to food and drink that were either offered to idols or not prepared according to kosher laws, thus making them ritually unclean or "defiling" for a Jew.

In this verse, Daniel resolves ("purposed in his heart") not to compromise his religious convictions by partaking in the king's provisions. His request to the prince of the eunuchs, who was in charge of the captives, reflects his determination to maintain his ritual purity and fidelity to God, even in a foreign land and under potential duress. This act of defiance is not merely about dietary preferences but represents a profound statement of religious and cultural identity amidst pressures to assimilate.

The themes present in this verse include faithfulness to God, the tension between loyalty to one's heritage and the demands of a foreign culture, and the practice of personal piety and integrity. Daniel's actions set the stage for the book's recurring motifs of divine favor, the sovereignty of God over foreign kings, and the enduring power of faith in the face of adversity. Historically, this moment underscores the challenges faced by the Jewish people during the Babylonian exile and their strategies for preserving their religious identity in a diaspora context. Daniel's stance would have resonated with Jews in similar situations, providing a model for maintaining cultural and religious distinctiveness while living under foreign rule.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1840
   There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָנִיֵּאל
   Transliteration: Dânîyêʼl
   Pronunciation: daw-nee-yale'
   Description: in Ezekiel it is; דָּנִאֵל; from דָּן and אֵל; judge of God; Daniel or Danijel, the name of two Israelites; Daniel.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7760
   There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׂוּם
   Transliteration: sûwm
   Pronunciation: soom
   Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3820
   There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֵב
   Transliteration: lêb
   Pronunciation: labe
   Description: a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything; [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1351
   There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גָּאַל
   Transliteration: gâʼal
   Pronunciation: gaw-al'
   Description: a primitive root, (rather identified with גָּאַל, through the idea of freeing, i.e. repudiating); to soil or (figuratively) desecrate; defile, pollute, stain.
   
5. Strong's Number: H6598
   There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פַּתְבַּג
   Transliteration: pathbag
   Pronunciation: pathbag'
   Description: of Persian origin; a dainty; portion (provision) of meat.
   
6. Strong's Number: H4428
   There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: melek
   Pronunciation: meh'-lek
   Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3196
   There are 134 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יַיִן
   Transliteration: yayin
   Pronunciation: yah'-yin
   Description: from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication; banqueting, wine, wine(-bibber).
   
8. Strong's Number: H4960
   There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִשְׁתֶּה
   Transliteration: mishteh
   Pronunciation: mish-teh'
   Description: from שָׁתָה; drink, by implication, drinking (the act); also (by implication) a banquet or (generally) feast; banquet, drank, drink, feast((-ed), -ing).
   
9. Strong's Number: H1245
   There are 215 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּקַשׁ
   Transliteration: bâqash
   Pronunciation: baw-kash'
   Description: a primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after; ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).
   
10. Strong's Number: H8269
    There are 368 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שַׂר
    Transliteration: sar
    Pronunciation: sar
    Description: from שָׂרַר; a head person (of any rank or class); captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.
    
11. Strong's Number: H5631
    There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: סָרִיס
    Transliteration: çârîyç
    Pronunciation: saw-reece'
    Description: or סָרִס; from an unused root meaning to castrate; a eunuch; by implication, valet (especially of the female apartments), and thus, a minister of state; chamberlain, eunuch, officer. Compare רַב־סָרִיס.