Daniel 1:9
in Daniel 1Now God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Now God made Daniel to find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.
KJV
Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
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This verse in Daniel 1
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
God . . . brought Daniel into favour--The favor of others towards the godly is the doing of God. So in Joseph's case (Ge 39:21). Especially towards Israel (Ps 106:46; compare Pr 16:7).
This site's exposition
Daniel made up his mind
on Daniel 1:8-10
The text puts the resolve first: “Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself,” then “he asked the chief official for permission”. The older commentators note that food and wine from the king's table were likely offered to idols first.
This site's exposition
granted Daniel favor and compassion
The verse credits God with the favor Daniel found with the chief official, and Jamieson, Fausset and Brown set it beside Joseph in Genesis 39:21. Albert Barnes notes that the verse does not say how. He presumed God used Daniel's manners and his evident gifts of wisdom and understanding.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"And God gave Daniel mercy and favor before the chief eunuch. But the chief eunuch was saying to them, 'I myself fear my lord the king who has marked out your bread and your drink, lest he see that your face is sullen compared to the other youths at your assembly and you condemn my head to the king.'" [Daniel 1:9-10] And so what was spoken by Melgad was true. For he did not understand them because of their purposes, and was concerned that their appearance would seem sullen compared to the youths who were eating from the table of the king and that by this he, having been found culpable, would be put to death.
Verse 9. "God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the prince of eunuchs..." He who was taken into captivity on account of the sins of his forebears received an immediate recompense for the magnitude of his own virtues. For he had purposed in his heart that he would not be denied by food from the king's table, and preferred humble fare to royal delicacies; therefore by the bounteous bestowal of the Lord he received favor and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
Note, The interest which we think we make for ourselves we must acknowledge to be God's gift, and must ascribe to him the glory of it. Whoever are in favour, it is God that has brought them into favour; and it is by him that they find good understanding.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Now God had brought Daniel into favor - Compare Gen 39:21; Pro 16:7. By what means this had been done is not mentioned. It may be presumed, however, that it was by the attractiveness of his person and manners, and by the evidence of promising talent which he had evinced. Whatever were the means, however, two things are worthy of notice: (1) The effect of this on the subsequent fortunes of Daniel.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּתֵּ֤ן | vaiyiten | and he gave | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ | haelohim | <the> God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| דָּ֣נִיֵּ֔אל | daniyel | Daniel | H1840 → | 24 times |
| לְחֶ֖סֶד | lechesed | <to> favor | H2617 → | |
| וּֽלְרַחֲמִ֑ים | ulerachamim | and <to> compassion<s> | H7356 → | 45 times |
| לִפְנֵ֖י | lifnei | <to> before | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| שַׂ֥ר | sar | [the] chief of | H8269 → | 421 times |
| הַסָּרִיסִֽים׃ | hasarisim | the officials | H5631 → | 42 times |
וַיִּתֵּ֤ןand he gave
vaiyitenH5414 →2011 times
הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙<the> God
haelohimH430 →2601 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
דָּ֣נִיֵּ֔אלDaniel
daniyelH1840 →24 times
לְחֶ֖סֶד<to> favor
lechesedH2617 →
וּֽלְרַחֲמִ֑יםand <to> compassion<s>
ulerachamimH7356 →45 times
לִפְנֵ֖י<to> before
lifneiH6440 →2123 times
שַׂ֥ר[the] chief of
sarH8269 →421 times
הַסָּרִיסִֽים׃the officials
hasarisimH5631 →42 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 16:7When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 15:11
The LORD said: “Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will intercede with your enemy in your time of trouble, in your time of distress.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- 1 John 3:22
and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.
- 2 Chronicles 17:10
And the dread of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.
- Colossians 1:10
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
- Jeremiah 15:11
Through
Nehemiah 2:4“What is your request?” replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven
it leads to
- Nehemiah 1:11
O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him…
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Nehemiah 1:11
Through
Genesis 39:21the LORD was with him and extended kindness to him, granting him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.
it leads to
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- Exodus 3:21
And I will grant this people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that when you leave, you will not go away empty-handed.
- Isaiah 41:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Daniel
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on Daniel 1.11.2-3; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER ONE; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.