Daniel 1:17

17 {And as for these four young men},[a] God[b] gave to them knowledge and insight into all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had insight into all visions[c] and dreams.

Daniel 1:17 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 1:17

As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and
skill in all learning and wisdom
As they prospered in their bodies, they succeeded in their studies, and improved in their minds, and became great proficients in all kind of lawful and useful knowledge; not owing so much to their own sagacity and diligence, and the goodness and ability of their teachers, as to the blessing of God on their instructions and studies; for, as all natural, so all acquired parts are to be ascribed to God; and which these were favoured with by him in a very great manner, to answer some purposes of his. This is to be understood, not of magic art, vain philosophy, judicial astrology, to which the Chaldeans were addicted; but of learning and wisdom, laudable and useful, both in things natural and political; for these men, who scrupled eating and drinking what came from the king's table, would never indulge themselves in the study of vain, curious, and unlawful knowledge; much less would God have blessed the study of such things, and still less be said to give them knowledge and skill therein: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams;
besides knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, in languages and sciences, in common with the other young men; he had the honour of seeing very remarkable visions of future things, and of interpreting dreams; and this not by rules of art, such as the Oneirocritics use, but by the gift of God; of which many singular instances follow in this book.

Daniel 1:17 In-Context

15 And at the end of ten days their appearances appeared better and [they were] healthier of body than all the young men who were eating the fine food of the king.
16 {So} the guard {continued to withhold} their fine food and the wine of their drink, and he gave them vegetables.
17 {And as for these four young men}, God gave to them knowledge and insight into all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had insight into all visions and dreams.
18 And at the end of the time the king had set to bring them, the commander of the court officials brought them in {before} Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king spoke with them, {and among all of them no one was found like} Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; then they stood {before} the king.

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Literally "And these young men, four of them"
  • [b]. Hebrew "the God"
  • [c]. Hebrew "vision"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.