Daniel 1:17 Meaning and Explanation
“As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God grants the four young men exceptional learning and wisdom, and gives Daniel insight into visions and dreams.
What Does Daniel 1:17 Mean?
Now the narrator names the true source of their excellence: "God gave them" knowledge and skill in all the learning of Babylon, and to Daniel He gave understanding in visions and dreams. They studied hard in the Chaldean schools, yet their gifting is credited to the Lord, not to the curriculum.
This is the heart of the chapter's promise. The God who sustained their bodies on simple food now fills their minds with wisdom that surpasses the world's. Daniel's gift of understanding dreams will carry through the whole book and stand him before kings. Genuine wisdom is His to give. When His servants honor Him, He equips them for the very place He has set them, granting insight no school could supply.
Daniel 1:17 in the Original Language
hokmah (חָכְמָה), 'wisdom' -- skill for living rightly, here named as God's gift rather than merely learned knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions About Daniel 1:17
What does Daniel 1:17 mean?
God grants the four young men exceptional learning and wisdom, and gives Daniel insight into visions and dreams.