TRV
Translation
King James Version
¶ 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.
Complete Jewish Bible
To these four boys God had given knowledge and skill in every aspect of learning and wisdom; moreover, Dani'el could understand all kinds of visions and dreams.
Berean Standard Bible
To 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.
American Standard Version
Now 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.
World English Bible Messianic
Now 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.
Geneva Bible (1599)
As for these foure children, God gaue them knowledge, and vnderstanding in al learning and wisedome: also he gaue Daniel vnderstanding of all visions and dreames.
Young's Literal Translation
As 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.
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Commentary on Daniel 1 verses 17–21
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.
Concerning Daniel and his fellows we have here,
I. Their great attainments in learning, Dan 1:17. They were very sober and diligent, and studied hard; and we may suppose their tutors, finding them of an uncommon capacity, took a great deal of pains with them, but, after all, their achievements are ascribed to God only. It was he that gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; for every good and perfect gift is from above, from the Father of the lights. It is the Lord our God that gives men power to get this wealth; the mind is furnished only by him that formed it. The great learning which God gave these four children was, 1. A balance for their losses. They had, for the iniquity of their fathers, been deprived of the honours and pleasures that would have attended their noble extraction; but, to make them amends for that, God, in giving them learning, gave them better honours and pleasures than those they had been deprived of. 2. A recompence for their integrity. They kept to their religion, even in the minutest instances of it, and would not so much as defile themselves with the king's meat or wine, but became, in effect, Nazarites; and now God rewarded them for it with eminency in learning; for God gives to a man that is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy with them, Ecc 2:26. To Daniel he gave a double portion; he had understanding in visions and dreams; he knew how to interpret dreams, as Joseph, not by rules of art, such as are pretended to be given by the oneirocritics, but by a divine sagacity and wisdom which God gave him. Nay, he was endued with a prophetic spirit, by which he was enabled to converse with God, and to receive the notices of divine things in dreams and visions, Num 12:6. According to this gift given to Daniel, we find him, in this book, all along employed about dreams and visions, interpreting or entertaining them; for, as every one has received the gift, so shall he have an opportunity, and so should he have a heart, to minister the same, Pe1 4:10.
II. Their great acceptance with the king. After three years spent in their education (they being of some maturity, it is likely, when they came, perhaps about twenty years old) they were presented to the king with the rest that were of their standing, Dan 1:18. And the king examined them and communed with them himself, Dan 1:19. He could do it, being a man of parts and learning himself, else he would not have come to be so great; and he would do it, for it is the wisdom of princes, in the choice of the persons they employ, to see with their own eyes, to exercise their own judgment, and not trust too much to the representation of others. The king examined them not so much in the languages, in the rules of oratory or poetry, as in all matters of wisdom and understanding, the rules of prudence and true politics; he enquired into their judgment about the due conduct of human life and public affairs; not "Were they wits?" but, "Were they wise?" And he not only found them to excel the young candidates for preferment that were of their own standing, but found that they had more understanding than the ancients, than all their teachers, Psa 119:99, Psa 119:100. So far was the king from being partial to his own countrymen, to seniors, to those of his own religion and of an established reputation, that he freely owned that, upon trial, he found those poor young captive Jews ten times wiser and better than all the magicians that were in all his realm, Dan 1:20. He was soon aware of something extraordinary in these young men, and, which gave him a surprising satisfaction, was soon aware that a little of their true divinity was preferable to a great deal of the divination he had been used to. What is the chaff to the wheat? what are the magicians' rods to Aaron's? There was no comparison between them. These four young students were better, were ten times better, than all the old practitioners, put them all together, that were in all his realm, and we may be sure that they were not a few. This contempt did God pour upon the pride of the Chaldeans, and this honour did he put upon the low estate of his own people; and thus did he make not only these persons, but the rest of their nation for their sakes, the more respected in the land of their captivity. Lastly, This judgment being given concerning them, they stood before the king (Dan 1:19); they attended in the presence-chamber, nay, and in the council-chamber, for to see the king's face is the periphrasis of a privy-counsellor, Est 1:14. This confirms Solomon's observation, Seest thou a man diligent in his business, sober and humble? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. Industry is the way to preferment. How long the other three were about the court we are not told; but Daniel, for his part, continued to the first year of Cyrus (Dan 1:21), though not always alike in favour and reputation. He lived and prophesied after the first year of Cyrus; but that is mentioned to intimate that he lived to see the deliverance of his people out of their captivity and their return to their own land. Note, Sometimes God favours his servants that mourn with Zion in her sorrows to let them live to see better times with the church than they saw in the beginning of their days and to share with her in her joys.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 17–21. Public domain.
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Origen of AlexandriaAD 253
AGAINST CELSUS 7:7
In regard to the prophets among the Jews, some of them were wise men before they became divinely inspired prophets, while others became wise by the illumination that their minds received when divinely inspired. They were selected by divine providence to receive the divine Spirit and to be the depositaries of his holy oracles, on the ground of their leading a life of almost unapproachable excellence, intrepid, noble, unmoved by danger or death.
JeromeAD 420
St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER ONE
Verse 17. "But God gave these lads knowledge and learning in every book and branch of wisdom, and He gave to Daniel besides an understanding of all visions and dreams." Note that God is said to have given the holy lads knowledge and learning in secular literature, in every book and branch of wisdom. Symmachus rendered this by "grammatical art," implying that they understood everything they read, and by the Spirit of God could make a judgment concerning the lore of the Chaldeans. But Daniel had an outstanding gift over and above the three lads, in that he could astutely discern the significance of visions and dreams in which things to come are shown forth by means of certain symbols and mysteries. Therefore that which others saw only in a shadowy appearance he could perceive clearly with the eyes of his understanding.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Daniel 1:17 unveils the divine source of the exceptional intellectual and spiritual aptitudes bestowed upon Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, the four young Hebrew exiles undergoing training in the Babylonian court. Far exceeding their natural talents or the rigorous education provided by King Nebuchadnezzar, this verse emphatically declares that "God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom," signifying a supernatural endowment. Moreover, it distinctively highlights Daniel, affirming his unique prophetic gift of "understanding in all visions and dreams," an indispensable ability that would profoundly shape his future ministry and the unfolding narrative of the book of Daniel.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. Divine Intervention is paramount, explicitly stating "God gave them," which establishes the supernatural source of their abilities and underscores God's active hand in their lives, rather than attributing their success solely to human effort or Babylonian education. There is also a clear element of Distinction or Emphasis through the use of parallelism and the singling out of Daniel: "God gave them knowledge... and Daniel had understanding..." This highlights Daniel's unique prophetic gift within the broader context of the general intellectual gifts bestowed upon all four. Furthermore, the phrase "all learning and wisdom" and "all visions and dreams" uses Intensification to emphasize the comprehensive and extraordinary nature of the divine endowment, indicating a level of insight far surpassing ordinary human capability. This verse also serves as Foreshadowing, particularly regarding Daniel's specific gift, which anticipates his later pivotal role in interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's dreams (Daniel 2) and receiving profound prophetic visions himself (Daniel 7 onwards).
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 1:17 stands as a powerful testament to God's sovereignty and His active role in equipping His faithful servants. It aligns with the broader biblical principle that true wisdom and understanding ultimately originate from God, not from human intellect or worldly education alone. This divine endowment is often a direct consequence of obedience and faithfulness, demonstrating God's commitment to honoring those who honor Him. The specific gifting of Daniel with understanding in visions and dreams also connects to the theme of prophetic revelation throughout scripture, where God communicates His will and future plans through chosen individuals. This verse sets the stage for Daniel's unique prophetic ministry, positioning him as a conduit for divine truth in a pagan empire, and foreshadows God's continued use of individuals to reveal His mysteries.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Daniel 1:17 offers profound encouragement for believers navigating complex and often hostile environments. It reminds us that our abilities, when submitted to God, can be supernaturally enhanced for His purposes. In a world that often values human achievement and self-reliance, this verse calls us to acknowledge God as the ultimate source of all true knowledge, skill, and wisdom. It challenges us to cultivate a spirit of faithfulness and obedience, trusting that God will equip us for the tasks He has prepared, even if those tasks seem daunting or require gifts beyond our natural capacity. Whether in academic pursuits, professional careers, or ministry, we are invited to lean on divine wisdom rather than solely on our own understanding, recognizing that God can use us powerfully wherever He places us, turning seemingly ordinary circumstances into opportunities for divine display.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of "God gave them" in this verse?
Answer: The phrase "God gave them" is profoundly significant because it explicitly attributes the youths' extraordinary intellectual and spiritual abilities directly to divine intervention, rather than to their natural intelligence or the rigorous Babylonian education system. It underscores God's active sovereignty and His personal involvement in equipping His faithful servants. This highlights that true wisdom and skill are ultimately gifts from God, not solely products of human effort or worldly training. It sets the stage for their future influence in the Babylonian court, demonstrating that their success was divinely ordained and empowered.
Why is Daniel singled out for understanding "visions and dreams"?
Answer: Daniel is singled out because this specific gift of understanding "visions and dreams" is central to his unique prophetic ministry throughout the book of Daniel. While all four youths received general knowledge and wisdom, Daniel's specialized ability allowed him to interpret divine communications that were otherwise incomprehensible to others, including King Nebuchadnezzar's own wise men. This unique prophetic insight positioned him as God's primary messenger and revealer of future events, distinguishing him as a prophet of the Lord in a pagan land. This gift is crucial for the unfolding narrative, as seen in his interpretation of the king's dream in Daniel 2 and his own profound visions in later chapters like Daniel 7.
How does this verse relate to the concept of spiritual gifts in the New Testament?
Answer: While Daniel 1:17 describes a divine endowment in the Old Testament context, it foreshadows and aligns thematically with the New Testament concept of spiritual gifts. Just as God supernaturally equipped Daniel and his friends for specific purposes in their context, the New Testament teaches that the Holy Spirit bestows diverse gifts upon believers for the common good and the building up of the church (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Daniel's unique understanding of visions and dreams can be seen as an Old Testament parallel to prophetic or revelatory gifts. Both instances demonstrate God's desire to empower His people with supernatural abilities to fulfill His will and bear witness to His truth in the world.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel 1:17, though set in the Old Testament, powerfully points forward to the ultimate source of all wisdom and revelation in Jesus Christ. Daniel, divinely gifted with understanding in "all visions and dreams," foreshadows Christ as the perfect revealer of God's mysteries and the very embodiment of divine wisdom. In Christ, "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). Daniel's ability to interpret the king's dreams and God's future plans finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, who perfectly declared the Father and His will, for "no one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known" (John 1:18). He is not merely a recipient of understanding but the very "wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24) incarnate, through whom all things were created and by whom all truth is made known. The divine enablement given to Daniel and his friends, allowing them to excel in a foreign land, ultimately culminates in Christ, who empowers His followers with the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses in every nation, even "to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Thus, Daniel's unique insight into divine revelation finds its full and final expression in the person and work of Jesus, who is the "Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation" (Revelation 3:14).