Daniel 1:5 kjv

And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

Daniel 1:5 nkjv

And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king's delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.

Daniel 1:5 niv

The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service.

Daniel 1:5 esv

The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king.

Daniel 1:5 nlt

The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.

Daniel 1 verses

Daniel 1 5 Meaning

Daniel 1:5 details King Nebuchadnezzar's arrangement to provide a special daily diet of rich food and wine from his own table to the selected young Jewish exiles. This provision was part of a three-year intensive training and acculturation program, with the ultimate goal that these young men, after their comprehensive education, would be deemed fit to serve in the king's direct presence, effectively becoming integral to the Babylonian royal administration. This highlights a strategic effort by the Babylonian empire to assimilate and exploit the talents of conquered peoples.

Daniel 1 5 Context

Daniel chapter 1 opens with Judah's subjugation by Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar. As part of Babylon's policy, young, intelligent, and physically appealing Jewish nobility, including Daniel and his three friends, were chosen to be deported to Babylon. This specific verse (Dan 1:5) details the practical aspect of their integration into the imperial system: a mandated, long-term training program directly under royal patronage. This comprehensive program, which included instruction in Babylonian language and literature, was designed to groom these potential leaders to serve Nebuchadnezzar. The provision of the king's special food and wine was a privilege and a symbol of royal favor, but it also presented an immediate cultural and spiritual challenge to their Jewish faith, setting the stage for Daniel's pivotal decision in Daniel 1:8.

Daniel 1 5 Word analysis

• And the king: (וְהַמֶּלֶךְ, v'hammelekh) Refers specifically to Nebuchadnezzar, the powerful ruler of the Babylonian Empire. The Hebrew melekh signifies sovereign authority and implies that the command issued here is absolute and not subject to appeal from those who receive it. His command reflects his agenda for imperial expansion and cultural assimilation.
• appointed them: (וַיְמַן, vayman) From the root מָנָה (manah), meaning "to appoint, assign, provide, set apart." This verb signifies a deliberate and systematic allocation or arrangement. It suggests that this was not a casual act but a formal, organized plan for the long-term training and assimilation of the exiles. It highlights the structured nature of the Babylonian acculturation process.
• a daily provision: (דְּבַר־יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ, devar-yom b'yomo) Literally "a matter of a day in its day." This phrase emphasizes the regularity and consistency of the supply. It implies that the king's provision was to be delivered consistently, ensuring constant access to these specific items and continuous integration into the court lifestyle.
• of the king's delicacies: (פַּתְבַּג הַמֶּלֶךְ, patbag hammelekh) This Aramaic loanword, patbag, refers to a choice portion, a special rich food or dainties, often associated with a royal table. Such food was typically prepared by court chefs, reflecting the height of luxury and status. More critically for Daniel, these foods would have included items forbidden by Mosaic law (e.g., non-kosher meats) or meat and wine that had been consecrated to Babylonian idols. Partaking of this food signified participating in Babylonian customs and potentially its religion.
• and of the wine which he drank: (וּמֵיד בְּשִׁתְיָאוֹ, u-meid b'shityahw) This indicates access to the king's personal wine supply, reinforcing the high status of the provision. Like the food, this wine would be of the finest quality. It also likely shared the same religious concerns as the food—potentially offered to deities or simply representing a form of worldly excess that faithful Jews might wish to avoid to maintain spiritual purity.
• so nourishing them: (וּלְמָנָן, u-l'manan) Derived from the same root as "appointed" (manah). It indicates the intention behind the provision: to provide sustenance and physically nourish them. The aim was to ensure these youths remained in peak physical and intellectual condition throughout their training, vital for effective service.
• three years: (שָׁלשׁ שָׁנִים, shalosh shanim) A specific and substantial duration. This extended period highlights the intensity and depth of the indoctrination process. It provided ample time not only for physical development but more importantly for comprehensive re-education in Chaldean language, literature, culture, and perhaps religion, intended to reshape their identity and allegiance.
• that at the end thereof: (מִקְצָתֵהּ, miqtsateh) Refers to the completion of the designated three-year training period. It marks the culmination point of their assimilation and preparation for their ultimate role.
• they might stand before the king: (לַעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, la'amod lifnei hammelekh) This phrase denotes a position of honor and service, specifically appearing in the royal court, likely as administrators, advisors, or trusted servants. It signifies complete integration and active participation in the Babylonian government. This was the desired outcome for the king—to gain skilled, loyal individuals who would benefit his empire.

Words-group Analysis:

• "King appointed them a daily provision of the king's delicacies, and of the wine which he drank": This entire phrase highlights the royal source and nature of the provision. It emphasizes that this was a privilege directly from the supreme authority, loaded with prestige, but also implying allegiance to the giver. The lavishness contrasted with the diet of simple Israelites, emphasizing the magnitude of the cultural shift and spiritual temptation.
• "so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof": This segment clearly outlines the deliberate, long-term nature of the Babylonian educational and assimilation process. The "nourishing" goes beyond physical sustenance, aiming at intellectual and cultural nourishment over three years to fundamentally change their worldview and prepare them for royal service.
• "they might stand before the king": This phrase encapsulates the strategic goal of Nebuchadnezzar's program: to convert talented Judean captives into loyal, skilled functionaries within his own court. It's the ultimate aspiration from the Babylonian perspective – integration into the ruling elite.

Daniel 1 5 Bonus section

• The Babylonian custom often involved feasting in dedication to their deities. Consuming the king's food and wine would implicitly participate in or endorse such idolatrous practices, violating the core of Jewish monotheism.
• This provision was an offer of high status and material comfort in exchange for allegiance. Daniel and his friends were presented with the choice between physical comfort and potential advancement, or spiritual fidelity and perceived risk.
• The long training period demonstrates the Babylonians' understanding of how to indoctrinate and shape individuals for imperial service. It highlights the strategic planning of the pagan king to suppress God-given identity.
• This verse prefaces Daniel's firm resolve in verse 8, making the nature of the challenge (food and drink from the king) explicit, thereby enhancing the impact of Daniel's counter-proposal and demonstrating his conviction.

Daniel 1 5 Commentary

Daniel 1:5 introduces the initial, seemingly benevolent, act of Nebuchadnezzar toward the captured Judean elite. However, what appears as generous royal patronage was a calculated maneuver for acculturation and integration. The "king's delicacies" and "wine" were not merely luxury; they represented a fundamental spiritual and cultural compromise for a faithful Jew. These provisions were likely prepared in ways or from animals forbidden by Mosaic dietary laws (Leviticus 11, Deuteronomy 14), and potentially part of meals offered or dedicated to Babylonian gods, thus constituting a direct threat of ritual defilement. The mandated three-year period further signifies a systematic process to strip away their Jewish identity and replace it with Babylonian loyalties, education, and values, grooming them to serve a foreign pagan monarch rather than the one true God. This provision, therefore, was not merely physical sustenance but a test of faithfulness, setting the stage for Daniel's resolute decision in verse 8 to remain true to God and His covenant.