Daniel 1:20 kjv

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.

Daniel 1:20 nkjv

And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.

Daniel 1:20 niv

In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

Daniel 1:20 esv

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

Daniel 1:20 nlt

Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.

Daniel 1 verses

Daniel 1 20 Meaning

Daniel 1:20 reveals the profound superiority of the God-given wisdom and understanding bestowed upon Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, as recognized by King Nebuchadnezzar. Following their three-year training and faithfulness to God, they were found by the king to possess knowledge and discernment that far surpassed the most esteemed occult practitioners in the Babylonian empire. This verse emphasizes God's sovereign hand in empowering His faithful servants, demonstrating His wisdom to be supreme over all earthly and pagan wisdom systems.

Daniel 1 20 Context

Daniel 1:20 concludes the introductory narrative of Daniel and his three friends in Babylon. Following their capture from Judah by Nebuchadnezzar's forces, they were selected for special training in the language and literature of the Chaldeans, alongside other youths. Critically, Daniel and his friends resolved not to defile themselves with the king's rich food and wine, requesting a diet of vegetables and water instead. Their faithfulness in this initial test led to them being physically healthier and given "knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom" by God, with Daniel also receiving understanding in visions and dreams. This verse describes the outcome of their comprehensive examination before King Nebuchadnezzar, establishing their immediate favor and superior position within the court. It sets the stage for Daniel's prominent role in subsequent events, affirming God's power and ability to uplift and empower His faithful servants even in a hostile foreign land, clearly distinguishing divine wisdom from all forms of human or occultic knowledge.

Daniel 1 20 Word analysis

• And in all matters: Signifies a comprehensive assessment, covering every area of royal inquiry, leaving no stone unturned in the test of their capabilities.
• of wisdom: (Hebrew: חָכְמָה, chokmah) Refers to practical skill, prudence, insight, and comprehensive understanding. In biblical context, true chokmah often denotes discernment and the ability to apply divine knowledge correctly, implying moral uprightness. It is God-given and leads to righteous living.
• and understanding: (Hebrew: בִּינָה, binah) Implies discernment, intelligence, and the ability to distinguish or perceive deeper meaning. It signifies insight into complex situations, to grasp connections and relationships. This is an intellectual quality, enabling clear judgment.
• concerning which the king inquired of them: This highlights an objective, royal examination. The king, not an appointed biased party, personally assessed them, validating their proven ability.
• he found them: The king’s direct observation and conclusion; an undeniable finding.
• ten times better: (Hebrew: עֶשֶׂר יָדוֹת, `eser yadot) Literally "ten hands" or "ten portions," it's an idiom indicating vastly superior or incomparably better, a hyperbole denoting extraordinary excellence. This isn't just slight superiority but a profound, undeniable, God-empowered advantage, demonstrating supernatural ability.
• than all the magicians: (Hebrew: חַרְטֻמִּים, chartummim) These were the scribes and interpreters of sacred writings, often associated with secret knowledge, spells, and divination, tracing roots back to Egyptian practices (Exod 7:11).
• and enchanters: (Hebrew: אַשָּׁפִים, ashshaphim) Also translated as "astrologers" or "conjurers." These were practitioners of magic arts, those who cast spells, recited incantations, or interpreted omens based on celestial bodies, common in Babylonian culture (Dan 2:2).
• that were in all his kingdom: Emphasizes the global and unparalleled nature of King Nebuchadnezzar's rule and thus the breadth of talent Daniel and his friends outshone, highlighting God's supremacy over all earthly powers and false spiritual systems.

Words-group Analysis:

• wisdom and understanding: These two terms together emphasize a complete mental acumen—the ability to grasp truth and apply it effectively. This is the very gift from God, contrasting with mere intellectual training.
• magicians and enchanters: This pairing represents the pinnacle of Babylonian occult and intellectual systems. They were the king's advisors on hidden knowledge and future events. The direct comparison underlines the decisive defeat of these pagan arts by God-given wisdom.
• ten times better than all...in all his kingdom: This phrasing emphasizes a monumental and absolute superiority. It declares that divine wisdom is not merely better but exponentially better and unequivocally dominant over all forms of worldly, occultic, or self-derived wisdom within even the most powerful empire of the day. It’s God's triumph clearly demonstrated.

Daniel 1 20 Bonus section

The demonstration of Daniel and his friends' superior wisdom acted as an initial "spiritual warfare" engagement in the narrative, subtly asserting God's sovereignty over the formidable Babylonian empire and its demonic influences. This public display of divine favor set a precedent for later, more dramatic confrontations in the book, where Daniel would continue to reveal secrets beyond the reach of human or demonic wisdom, pointing consistently to the One true God. The passage establishes a key theme of Daniel: God honors those who honor Him (1 Sam 2:30), and He uses them as instruments to reveal His power and truth in seemingly hopeless or hostile circumstances. The very term "magicians and enchanters" connects this encounter to Moses' triumph over Pharaoh's magicians, echoing a historical pattern of God humbling the wise of this world through His humble servants.

Daniel 1 20 Commentary

Daniel 1:20 is a powerful testament to God's faithfulness and the incomparable nature of His wisdom. After a period of dedicated physical and academic training, infused by their unwavering faith, Daniel and his friends faced the ultimate intellectual test from Nebuchadnezzar himself. The outcome was not a slight advantage, but a demonstrable, measurable superiority described as "ten times better" than Babylon's best. This phrase, far from literal arithmetic, conveys an overwhelming, divinely empowered excellence. It was not their inherent human brilliance that caused this outcome, but God's divine enablement (Dan 1:17). This served a critical polemic purpose: to prove to a pagan king, in his own terms, that the God of Israel was supreme, His wisdom true, and His servants empowered beyond anything his kingdom's dark arts or natural intellect could muster. The verse thus affirms that honoring God leads to extraordinary favor and that true wisdom comes from Him alone, effortlessly surpassing all worldly knowledge or spiritual counterfeits.