The Meaning of Daniel 1:20 Explained

Daniel 1:20

KJV: And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

YLT: and in any matter of wisdom and understanding that the king hath sought of them, he findeth them ten hands above all the scribes, the enchanters, who are in all his kingdom.

Darby: And in all matters of judicious wisdom, as to which the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the scribes and magicians that were in all his realm.

ASV: And in every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his realm.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Daniel 1:20 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 1:20 mean?

And in all matters of wisdom [and] understanding about which examined them the king and he found them ten hands [more] than all the magicians [and] astrologers who [were] in all his realm
וְכֹ֗ל דְּבַר֙ חָכְמַ֣ת בִּינָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־ בִּקֵּ֥שׁ מֵהֶ֖ם הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַֽיִּמְצָאֵ֞ם עֶ֣שֶׂר יָד֗וֹת עַ֤ל כָּל־ הַֽחַרְטֻמִּים֙ הָֽאַשָּׁפִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּכָל־ מַלְכוּתֽוֹ

וְכֹ֗ל  And  in  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
דְּבַר֙  matters 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
חָכְמַ֣ת  of  wisdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: חָכְמָה  
Sense: wisdom.
בִּינָ֔ה  [and]  understanding 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: בִּינָה  
Sense: understanding, discernment.
אֲשֶׁר־  about  which 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בִּקֵּ֥שׁ  examined 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
וַֽיִּמְצָאֵ֞ם  and  he  found  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
עֶ֣שֶׂר  ten 
Parse: Number, feminine singular construct
Root: עֶשֶׂר 
Sense: ten.
יָד֗וֹת  hands  [more] 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
עַ֤ל  than 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הַֽחַרְטֻמִּים֙  the  magicians 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: חַרְטֹם  
Sense: diviner, magician, astrologer.
הָֽאַשָּׁפִ֔ים  [and]  astrologers 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אַשָּׁף  
Sense: necromancer, conjurer,.
אֲשֶׁ֖ר  who  [were] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בְּכָל־  in  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מַלְכוּתֽוֹ  his  realm 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מַלְכוּת  
Sense: royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom, sovereign power.