The Meaning of Daniel 1:4 Explained

Daniel 1:4

KJV: Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

YLT: lads in whom there is no blemish, and of good appearance, and skilful in all wisdom, and possessing knowledge, and teaching thought, and who have ability to stand in the palace of the king, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

Darby: youths in whom was no blemish, and of goodly countenance, and skilful in all wisdom, and acquainted with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the language of the Chaldeans.

ASV: youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skilful in all wisdom, and endued with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king's palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Children  in whom [was] no blemish,  but well  favoured,  and skilful  in all wisdom,  and cunning  in knowledge,  and understanding  science,  and such as [had] ability  in them to stand  in the king's  palace,  and whom they might teach  the learning  and the tongue  of the Chaldeans. 

What does Daniel 1:4 Mean?

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 1:4 mean?

young men in whom [there was] no in all - blemish but good-looking and gifted in all wisdom and possessing knowledge and to understand quick and who [had] ability in to serve in palace of the king and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans
יְלָדִ֣ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֵֽין־ בָּהֶ֣ם כָּל־ [מאום] (מוּם֩) וְטוֹבֵ֨י מַרְאֶ֜ה וּמַשְׂכִּילִ֣ים בְּכָל־ חָכְמָ֗ה וְיֹ֤דְעֵי דַ֙עַת֙ וּמְבִינֵ֣י מַדָּ֔ע וַאֲשֶׁר֙ כֹּ֣חַ בָּהֶ֔ם לַעֲמֹ֖ד בְּהֵיכַ֣ל הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וּֽלֲלַמְּדָ֥ם סֵ֖פֶר וּלְשׁ֥וֹן כַּשְׂדִּֽים

יְלָדִ֣ים  young  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יֶלֶד  
Sense: child, son, boy, offspring, youth.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  in  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אֵֽין־  [there  was]  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
[מאום]  - 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
(מוּם֩)  blemish 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְאוּם 
Sense: blemish, spot, defect.
מַרְאֶ֜ה  good-looking 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַרְאֶה  
Sense: sight, appearance, vision.
וּמַשְׂכִּילִ֣ים  and  gifted 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural
Root: שָׂכַל 
Sense: to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper.
בְּכָל־  in  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
חָכְמָ֗ה  wisdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָכְמָה  
Sense: wisdom.
וְיֹ֤דְעֵי  and  possessing 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
דַ֙עַת֙  knowledge 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: דַּעַת 
Sense: knowledge.
וּמְבִינֵ֣י  and  to  understand 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
מַדָּ֔ע  quick 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַדָּע  
Sense: knowledge, thought.
וַאֲשֶׁר֙  and  who  [had] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
כֹּ֣חַ  ability 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּחַ 
Sense: strength, power, might.
לַעֲמֹ֖ד  to  serve 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
בְּהֵיכַ֣ל  in  palace 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הֵיכָל  
Sense: palace, temple, nave, sanctuary.
הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ  of  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
וּֽלֲלַמְּדָ֥ם  and  whom  they  might  teach 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לָמַד  
Sense: to learn. teach, exercise in.
סֵ֖פֶר  the  language 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: סֵפֶר 
Sense: book.
וּלְשׁ֥וֹן  and  literature 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular construct
Root: לָשֹׁון  
Sense: tongue.
כַּשְׂדִּֽים  of  the  Chaldeans 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: כַּשְׂדִּים  
Sense: a territory in lower Mesopotamia bordering on the Persian Gulf.