Daniel 1:20

KJV1611 – Modern English

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

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְכֹ֗ל דְּבַר֙ חָכְמַ֣ת בִּינָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־בִּקֵּ֥שׁ מֵהֶ֖ם הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַֽיִּמְצָאֵ֞ם עֶ֣שֶׂר יָד֗וֹת עַ֤ל כָּל־הַֽחַרְטֻמִּים֙ הָֽאַשָּׁפִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּכָל־מַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃

Transliteration

and-every dəbhar ḥokhmath bînāh ʾăsher-biqqēsh from-them the-melekh wayyimtsāʾēm ten yādhôth above all-the-ḥarṭummîm the-ʾashshāphîm ʾăsher in-all-malkhûthô

Grammar Details

• *dəbhar*: noun masculine singular construct - matter of
• *ḥokhmath*: noun feminine singular construct - wisdom of
• *bînāh*: noun feminine singular - understanding
• *ʾăsher*: relative pronoun - who
• *biqqēsh*: piel perfect, 3rd masculine singular - he sought
• *melekh*: noun masculine singular with definite article - the king
• *wayyimtsāʾēm*: qal imperfect with waw consecutive, 3rd masculine singular + 3rd masculine plural suffix - and he found them
• *yādhôth*: noun feminine plural - hands/times
• *ḥarṭummîm*: noun masculine plural with definite article - the magicians
• *ʾashshāphîm*: noun masculine plural with definite article - the enchanters/astrologers
• *malkhûthô*: noun feminine singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his kingdom

Word Meanings

• *dəbhar ḥokhmath bînāh*: matter of wisdom and understanding/question requiring wisdom
• *biqqēsh*: sought/inquired/asked
• *wayyimtsāʾēm*: and he found them/and he discovered them
• *ʿeśer yādhôth*: ten times/tenfold
• *ḥarṭummîm*: magicians/diviners/dream interpreters
• *ʾashshāphîm*: enchanters/astrologers/conjurers
• *malkhûthô*: his kingdom/his realm/his domain

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

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

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

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

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And in every matter{H1697} of wisdom{H2451} and understanding,{H998} concerning which the king{H4428} inquired{H1245} of them, he found{H4672} them ten times{H6235} better{H3027} than all the magicians{H2748} and enchanters{H825} that were in all his realm.{H4438}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And in all matters{H1697} of wisdom{H2451} and understanding{H998}, that the king{H4428} enquired{H1245}{(H8765)} of them, he found{H4672}{(H8799)} them ten times{H6235} better{H3027} than all the magicians{H2748} and astrologers{H825} that were in all his realm{H4438}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  which in all wisdome and matters off vnderstodinge, that he enquered off them, founde them ten tymes better, the all the soythsayers and charmers, that were in all his realme.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And in all matters of wisedome, and vnderstanding that the King enquired of them, hee founde them tenne times better then all the inchanters and astrologians, that were in all his realme.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  In all matters of wysdome and vnderstanding that the king enquired of them, he founde them ten times better then all the wyse men and soothsayers that were in all his realme.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  In every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and `in' any matter of wisdom `and' understanding that the king hath sought of them, he findeth them ten hands above all the scribes, the enchanters, who `are' in all his kingdom.

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And in any business needing wisdom and good sense, about which the king put questions to them, he saw that they were ten times better than all the wonder-workers and users of secret arts in all his kingdom.

• World English Bible (2000)

  In every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  In every matter of wisdom and insight the king asked them about, he found them to be ten times better than any of the magicians and astrologers that were in his entire empire.

Referenced Verses

• 1 Kgs 4:29-34 : 29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart, like the sand on the seashore. 30 And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the East, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the nations around. 32 And he spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were a thousand and five. 33 And he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he also spoke of beasts, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish. 34 And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.
• Gen 31:7 : 7 And your father has deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God did not allow him to harm me.
• Gen 41:8 : 8 In the morning, his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for Pharaoh.
• Exod 7:22 : 22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he listen to them, as the LORD had said.
• Exod 8:7 : 7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
• Exod 8:19 : 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them; as the LORD had said.
• Num 14:22 : 22 Because all those men who have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not listened to my voice;
• 1 Kgs 10:23-24 : 23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. 24 And all the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
• Neh 4:12 : 12 And when the Jews who lived near them came, they said to us ten times, From whatever place you turn, they will be upon us.
• Job 19:3 : 3 These ten times you have reproached me; you are not ashamed that you make yourselves strange to me.
• Dan 2:13 : 13 And the decree went out that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his companions to be slain.
• Isa 19:3 : 3 The spirit of Egypt shall fail in its midst; I will destroy its counsel, and they shall seek the idols, the charmers, those with familiar spirits, and the wizards.
• Isa 47:12-14 : 12 Stand now with your enchantments and with the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth. Perhaps you will be able to profit, perhaps you may prevail. 13 You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from these things that shall come upon you. 14 Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them. They shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame; there shall not be a coal to warm by, nor a fire to sit before.
• Dan 2:2-9 : 2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream. 4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, O king, live forever: tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation. 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. 6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor: therefore show me the dream and its interpretation. 7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will provide the interpretation. 8 The king answered and said, I know for certain that you are buying time because you see the command has gone from me. 9 But if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you: for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me until the time changes. Therefore, tell me the dream, and I shall know you can reveal its interpretation. 10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, There is not a man on earth who can show the king's matter: therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 And it is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no one who can show it before the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
• Dan 2:21 : 21 And he changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings and sets up kings: he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who know understanding.
• Dan 2:27-28 : 27 Daniel answered before the king and said, The secret which the king has demanded cannot be shown to the king by the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, or the soothsayers. 28 But there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets, and makes known to King Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, are these.
• Dan 4:7-9 : 7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me its interpretation. 8 But at last, Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and before him I told the dream, saying, 9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation. 10 These were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 The tree grew and was strong, and its height reached unto heaven, and its sight to the end of all the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all; the beasts of the field had shade under it, and the birds of the heaven dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it. 13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. 14 He cried aloud, and said this, 'Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit; let the beasts get away from under it, and the birds from its branches. 15 Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. 16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given to him; and let seven times pass over him. 17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones, to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men. 18 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, O Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.
• Dan 5:7-8 : 7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever shall read this writing, and show me its interpretation, shall be clothed with scarlet, have a chain of gold around his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." 8 Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation.
• Dan 5:17 : 17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
• 2 Tim 3:8-9 : 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disqualified concerning the faith. 9 But they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifested to all, as theirs also was.
• Ps 119:99 : 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.
• Exod 7:11-12 : 11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers, now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents, but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
• 1 Kgs 10:1-3 : 1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions. 2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great entourage, with camels bearing spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him of all that was in her heart. 3 And Solomon answered all her questions: there was nothing hidden from the king, which he did not tell her.