Daniel 1:8

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיָּ֤שֶׂם דָּנִיֵּאל֙ עַל־לִבּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־יִתְגָּאַ֛ל בְּפַתְבַּ֥ג הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וּבְיֵ֣ין מִשְׁתָּ֑יו וַיְבַקֵּשׁ֙ מִשַּׂ֣ר הַסָּרִיסִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר לֹ֥א יִתְגָּאָֽל׃

Transliteration

wayyāśem Dāniyyēʾl upon-libbô ʾăsher not-yithgāʾal with-pathbagh the-melekh and-with-yêyn mishtāyw wayəbhaqqēsh from-śar the-sārîsîm ʾăsher not yithgāʾāl

Grammar Details

• *wayyāśem*: qal imperfect with waw consecutive, 3rd masculine singular - and he set/placed
• *Dāniyyēʾl*: proper noun, masculine singular - Daniel
• *libbô*: noun masculine singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his heart
• *ʾăsher*: relative pronoun - that
• *yithgāʾal*: hithpael imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he would defile himself
• *pathbagh*: noun masculine singular construct - food portion of
• *melekh*: noun masculine singular with definite article - the king
• *yêyn*: noun masculine singular - wine
• *mishtāyw*: noun masculine plural with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his drinks
• *wayəbhaqqēsh*: piel imperfect with waw consecutive, 3rd masculine singular - and he sought/requested
• *śar*: noun masculine singular construct - chief of
• *sārîsîm*: noun masculine plural with definite article - the eunuchs/officials
• *yithgāʾāl*: hithpael imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he would defile himself

Word Meanings

• *wayyāśem ʿal-libbô*: set in his heart/purposed/determined
• *yithgāʾal*: defile himself/pollute himself/make himself impure
• *pathbagh*: food portion/delicacies/royal food
• *wayəbhaqqēsh*: and he sought/and he requested/and he asked

Referenced Verses

• Hos 9:3-4 : 3 They shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria. 4 They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.
• Lev 11:45-47 : 45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. 46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: 47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.
• Ezek 4:13-14 : 13 And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them. 14 Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.
• Ps 141:4 : 4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
• 1 Cor 10:18-21 : 18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
• 1 Cor 7:37 : 37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
• Ps 119:115 : 115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
• Dan 1:5 : 5 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.
• Deut 32:38 : 38 Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.
• Ruth 1:17-18 : 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
• 2 Cor 9:7 : 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
• 1 Kgs 5:5 : 5 And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.
• Ps 106:28 : 28 They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
• Ps 119:106 : 106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
• 1 Cor 8:7-9 : 7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
• 1 Cor 10:28-31 : 28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: 29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? 30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
• Acts 10:14-16 : 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 {G1161} This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
• Acts 11:23 : 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
• Rom 14:15-17 : 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.