The Meaning of Daniel 1:21 Explained

Daniel 1:21

KJV: And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

YLT: And Daniel is unto the first year of Cyrus the king.

Darby: And Daniel continued unto the first year of king Cyrus.

ASV: And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Daniel  continued [even] unto the first  year  of king  Cyrus. 

What does Daniel 1:21 Mean?

Study Notes

continued
i.e. to see the return of the remnant of Judah at the end of the 70 years, Jeremiah 25:11 ; Jeremiah 25:12 ; Jeremiah 29:10 . Daniel actually lived beyond the first year of Cyrus. Daniel 10:1 .

Verse Meaning

Daniel excelled quantitatively as well as qualitatively. The kings under which he served recognized and continued to employ his divinely bestowed talents for many years. Cyrus" first year as king of Babylon was538 B.C. This was the year in which Cyrus issued his decree permitting the Jews to return to their land. The first return took place the next year, in537 B.C. Thus Daniel"s ministry as a government official spanned approximately65 years. Daniel 10:1 clarifies that Daniel continued to receive revelations from the Lord even after his career as a government official ended.
Two dates bracket this first chapter, the year that Daniel went to Babylon as a captive (605 B.C.) and the year that his government career ended (538 B.C.). The content of this chapter focuses on the key to Daniel"s remarkable career. He purposed to remain faithful to God"s will even in a relatively minor matter. God blessed that commitment and gave this already gifted and diligent young man additional talents and opportunities with which to serve Him. The chapter introduces the rest of the book, which contains such amazing revelations that the reader might question their validity, without this introduction to the prophet himself.
"Daniel and his three friends became models of how Jews were to remain faithful to God while under gentile dominion." [1]

Context Summary

Daniel 1:1-21 - Moral Courage Rewarded
These young men of noble Jewish families were brought to Babylon to receive education for the civil service. Their names were altered to break, so far as possible, their connection with the past. The food provided probably contravened Leviticus 3:17. According to the usual custom it had been presented before an idol, 1 Corinthians 8:10. Note those words: Daniel purposed in his heart. It is all important to resolve in one's heart that certain things are not possible for us. Too many of us have a secret reserve. We barricade the front door but leave the back door on the latch. We ought to realize the extent to which Paul referred when he said, "dead to sin." God always cooperates with His servants when they are true to Him. He brought Daniel into favor; He gave him skill; He caused his face and that of his three friends, to bear the hue of health. Let us trust Him to do His part! This is the secret of continuance, Daniel 1:21. [source]

Chapter Summary: Daniel 1

1  Jehoiakim's captivity
3  Ashpenaz takes Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah
8  They refusing the king's portion do prosper with pulse and water
17  Their proficiency in wisdom

What do the individual words in Daniel 1:21 mean?

Thus continued Daniel until the year first of Cyrus King -
וַֽיְהִי֙ דָּֽנִיֵּ֔אל עַד־ שְׁנַ֥ת אַחַ֖ת לְכ֥וֹרֶשׁ הַמֶּֽלֶךְ פ

וַֽיְהִי֙  Thus  continued 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
דָּֽנִיֵּ֔אל  Daniel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּנִאֵל 
Sense: the 2nd son of David, by Abigail the Carmelitess.
עַד־  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
שְׁנַ֥ת  the  year 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
אַחַ֖ת  first 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
לְכ֥וֹרֶשׁ  of  Cyrus 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּורֶשׁ  
Sense: the king of Persia and conqueror of Babylon; first ruler of Persia to make a decree allowing the Israelite exiles to return to Jerusalem.
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ  King 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation

What are the major concepts related to Daniel 1:21?

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