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Daniel 1:11 — Word Study

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WLCוַיֹּ֥אמֶר דָּנִיֵּ֖אל אֶל־ הַמֶּלְצַ֑ר אֲשֶׁ֤ר מִנָּה֙ שַׂ֣ר הַסָּֽרִיסִ֔ים עַל־ דָּנִיֵּ֣אל חֲנַנְיָ֔ה מִֽישָׁאֵ֖ל וַעֲזַרְיָֽה׃

BSAsaidʼâmar toʼêl the stewardmeltsâr [or guard, appointed overseer] whomʼăsher the chiefsar officialçârîyç [ruler, prince of the eunuchs] had appointedmânâh overʻal HananiahChănanyâh [God has favored] MishaelMîyshâʼêl [who is like God] and AzariahʻĂzaryâh [God has helped]

Word
Listen & take awayDaniel 1
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 11 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (va.'a.zar.Yah) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Daniel 1:11quick helps
In a sentenceDaniel speaks to the steward appointed over him and his friends.
Who is speakingDaniel, a young man of God from Judah.
Where we areIn the royal court of Babylon, amidst a test of faith.
The hard wordמֶלְצָר
Take awayDaniel is taking a stand for his beliefs in a foreign land.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them › clause subjectדָּנִיֵּאל verbאָמַר The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Daniel 1:11

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Daniel's Stand in Babylongenerated

10but he said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking thinner than those of the other young men your age? You would endanger my head before the king!”
11Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12“Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given only vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13Then compare our appearances with those of the young men who are eating the royal food, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”

Daniel 1:11 describes a moment when Daniel addresses the steward overseeing him and his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. This occurs in the context of their dietary restrictions as they seek to remain faithful to God while living in Babylon. Daniel's request to the steward reflects his commitment to his faith and his desire to maintain his identity in a challenging environment.


Cross References


The Key Word דָּנִיֵּאל, da.ni.Yelgenerated

The Hebrew word דָּנִיֵּאל (Daniyel) means 'God is my judge.' This name signifies Daniel's role as a prophet and a key figure during the Babylonian exile, known for his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams.

The parsing indicates that דָּנִיֵּאל is a proper noun, specifically a masculine name, which emphasizes his identity and significance in the narrative.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The finite verb יֹּ֥אמֶר (he said) governs the main clause, with a prepositional phrase indicating to whom he spoke, and a noun phrase detailing the steward's role. The structure emphasizes Daniel's direct communication with authority.

The Hebrew word order places Daniel's name at the beginning, establishing him as the subject and highlighting his importance in the dialogue.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, the Hebrew מֶלְצָר is rendered as ἀναδειξθέντι, which suggests a focus on the steward's appointed role. This choice indicates a more formal interpretation of his authority.

The translation choices reflect the translators' understanding of the steward's position within the Babylonian court, aligning with the hierarchical structure of the narrative.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Daniel 1:11 shows Daniel speaking to the steward appointed over him and his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. This moment highlights Daniel's commitment to his faith while navigating life in Babylon, as he seeks to maintain his dietary practices.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What is the significance of Daniel speaking to the steward?

Daniel's conversation with the steward reflects his determination to uphold his dietary laws and maintain his identity as a follower of God in a foreign land.

Who are Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah?

They are Daniel's friends, also taken captive to Babylon, and share in his commitment to remain faithful to their beliefs.

What does the name Daniel mean?

Daniel means 'God is my judge,' emphasizing his faith and reliance on God for guidance and justice.

Why is the steward's role important in this context?

The steward represents the authority of the Babylonian court, and Daniel's interaction with him illustrates the challenges faced by those trying to remain faithful in a foreign culture.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How can I stand firm in my beliefs when faced with pressure to conform?
  2. What are some ways I can support friends who are also trying to maintain their faith?
  3. In what areas of my life do I need to seek God's guidance, like Daniel did?
  4. How can I better understand the cultural challenges that others face in their faith journeys?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Daniel 1:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then said Daniel to Melzar,.... The prince of the eunuchs, having put off Daniel with the above answer, seems to have left him; or, however, Daniel, finding he could not obtain of him what he sought

Read John Gill on Daniel 1 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Then said Daniel to Meizar - rather 'to the steward,' or chief butler, entrusted by

Read Robert Jamieson on Daniel 1 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Daniel 1:11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,Ver. 11. Then said Daniel to Melzar.] Or, To the steward, alimentator, the purveyor for the pages of honour. The prince of the eunuchs might haply give him a hint to go to this Melzar, who might do it with less danger.

Read John Trapp on Daniel 1 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) Melzar.—(See Introduction, § VI.) Not a proper name (Hamelsar), but a cellarman. The appeal of Daniel to the chief chamberlain having proved insufficient, he applies to the man with whom he was on more familiar terms.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Daniel 1 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 11. Then said Daniel to Melzar] Melzar was an officer under Ashpenaz, whose office it was to attend to the food, clothing, &c., of these royal captives. Others think מלצר meltsar, master of the inn or hotel, the name of an office.

Read AdamClarke on Daniel 1 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8–16. The loyalty to their faith shewn by the four Jewish youths.

Read Cambridge on Daniel 1 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel ... - Margin, or, the “steward.” It is not easy to determine whether the word here used (מלצר meltsâr) is to be

Read Albert Barnes on Daniel 1 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

9-16. The Rab-saris objected to the proposed change of diet — to pulse (vegetables) and water — out of “favor and compassion” for Daniel (Daniel 1:9, R.V.), and for fear of his own life if the boys

Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Daniel 1 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Then Daniel said to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

NETBNew English Translation2006

Daniel then spoke to the warden whom the overseer of the court officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Then said Daniel to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

RVARevised Version, American1894

Then said Daniel to the steward, whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Then sayd Daniel to Melzar, whome the chiefe of the Eunuches had set ouer Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And Daniel said to the steward, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And Daniel saith unto the Meltzar, whom the chief of the eunuchs hath appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And Daniel says to the Meltzar, whom the chief of the eunuchs has appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Then said Daniel to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had given charge over Daniel, Chananyah, Mishael, and 'Azaryah,

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Then Daniel spoke to the steward whom the chief official had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And Daniel said to Malasar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias:

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

Daniel then spoke with the guard that the chief eunuch had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Then Daniel said to the keeper in whose care the captain of the unsexed servants had put Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseverbיֹּ֥אמֶרhe.saidsubjectדָּנִיֵּ֖אלDanielprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtonoun phraseהַthenoun phraseמֶּלְצַ֑רguardianrelpאֲשֶׁ֤רwhomclauseverbמִנָּה֙he.had.assignednoun phrase · subjectשַׂ֣רthe.chiefnoun phraseהַofסָּֽרִיסִ֔יםthe.officialsprepositional phrase · prepositionalעַלovernoun phraseדָּנִיֵּ֣אלDanielחֲנַנְיָ֔הHananiahמִֽישָׁאֵ֖לMishaelוַandעֲזַרְיָֽהAzariah

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Dead Sea Scrolls show agreement in the core elements of the verse, although the scrolls include some editorial restorations. The Septuagint matches only a few words, indicating a different approach to the text.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר דָּנִיֵּ֖אל אֶל־ הַמֶּלְצַ֑ר אֲשֶׁ֤ר מִנָּה֙ שַׂ֣ר הַסָּֽרִיסִ֔ים עַל־ דָּנִיֵּ֣אל חֲנַנְיָ֔ה מִֽישָׁאֵ֖ל וַעֲזַרְיָֽה׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֹּ֥אמֶרεἶπενאֶל־αβιεσδριהַמֶּלְצַ֑רἀναδειξθέντιהַסָּֽרִיסִ֔יםαζαριαν

4 of the 13 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 1Q71a copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

ויאמר דניאל אל [המלצר] [אשר] [מנה] [שר] הסריסים על דניאל חנניה [מישאל] [ועזריה]

7 words on the leather — 6 supplied entire by an editor.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Daniel 1:11אָמַרand he saidand he saidאָמַרדָּנִאֵלDanielDanielדָּנִאֵלאֶלtotoאֶלמֶלְצָרthe guardiathe guardianמֶלְצָראֲשֶׁרwhomwhomאֲשֶׁרמָנָהhe had assihe had assignedמָנָהשַׂר[the] chief[the] chief ofשַׂרסָרִיסthe officiathe officialsסָרִיסעַלoveroverעַלדָּנִאֵלDanielDanielדָּנִאֵלחֲנַנְיָ֫הוּHananiahHananiahחֲנַנְיָ֫הוּמִישָׁאֵלMishaelMishaelמִישָׁאֵלעֲזַרְיָ֫הוּand Azariahand Azariahעֲזַרְיָ֫הוּדָּןDanDanדָּןשָׂרַרto ruleto ruleשָׂרַרחָנַןbe gracioube graciousחָנַןמִיwho?who?מִיעָזַרto helpto helpעָזַררַברַבעַלheightheightעַלמִישָׁאֵלMishaelMishaelמִישָׁאֵלחֲנַנְיָ֫הוּHananiahHananiahחֲנַנְיָ֫הוּכֹּהthusthusכֹּהיהוהYHWH/GodYHWH/Godיהוהפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫הצָוָהto commandto commandצָוָהרֹבabundanceabundanceרֹבסָפַרto recountto recountסָפַרחֲמִשִּׁיםfiftyfiftyחֲמִשִּׁיםשַׂרrulerrulerשַׂר
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Daniel 1:11

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and he said Daniel to the guardian whom he had assigned [the] chief of the officials over Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah
וַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.mer and he said H559 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
5,309× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Tyndale gloss
to say
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say

Qal

Say

Say in the heart (= think)

Promise

Command (esp. late)

Niph. be said, told

Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

Hithp. act proudly, boast

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say

. Say in the heart (= think)

. Promise

. Command (esp. late)

. be said, told

. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)

. act proudly, boast

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

559 'amar aw-mar'

a primitive root; to say (used with great

latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,

certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),

commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X

expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,

publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X

suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),

utter, X verily, X yet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.

1) to say, speak, utter

1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend

1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called

1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly

1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vqw3ms
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said Daniel to the guardian whom he had assigned [the] chief of the officials over Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah
דָּנִיֵּ֖אלda.ni.Yel Daniel H1840 Noun proper masculine
24× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Daniel was a man from the tribe of Judah, son of David and Abigail, and his name means God is my judge.
Tyndale gloss
Daniel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּנִיֵּאל, or Daniyel, means 'God is my judge.' It refers primarily to the prophet Daniel, a significant figure during the Babylonian exile, known for his wisdom and interpretations of dreams. The name also applies to a son of David and a priest from the line of Ithamar. The entries indicate that Daniel is both a prophet and a historical figure, but they do not present any significant disagreements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּנִאֵל, later דָנִיֵּאל n.pr.m. (Ēl is my judge)

son of David

דָנִיֵּאל, priest of the line of Ithamar

דָּנִאֵל a great sage

דָנִיֵּאל, one of the noble young men taken into captivity by Nebuchadrezzar

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1840 דָּנִאֵל, דָנִיֵּאל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1840 Daniye'l daw-nee-yale'

in Ezekiel it is: Daniel {daw-nee-ale'}; from 1835 and 410;

judge of God; Daniel or Danijel, the name of two

Israelites:--Daniel.

see HEBREW for 01835

see HEBREW for 0410

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל (da.niy.yel) — Daniel.

A prophet living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezk.14.14; also called Belteshazzar at Dan.1.7; 2.26; 4.8,9,18,19; 5.12; 10.1;

§ Daniel = "God is my judge"

1) the 2nd son of David, by Abigail the Carmelitess

2) the 4th of the greater prophets, taken as hostage in the first deportation to Babylon, because of the gift of God of the interpretation of dreams, he became the 2nd in command of the Babylon empire and lasted through the end of the Babylonian empire and into the Persian empire. His prophecies are the key to the understanding of end time events. Noted for his purity and holiness by contemporary prophet, Ezekiel

2a) also, 'Belteshazzar' (H1095 or H1096)

3) a priest of the line of Ithamar who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah

דָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל (da.niy.yel) — Daniel.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpm — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

dan'-yel (daniye'l, dani'-el, "God is my judge"; Daniel):

(1) One of the sons of David (1Ch 3:1).

(2) A Levite of the family of Ithamar (Ezr 8:2; Ne 10:6).

(3) A prophet of the time of Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus, the hero and author of the Book of Daniel.

1. Early Life:

We know nothing of the early life of Daniel, except what is recorded in the book bearing his name. Here it is said that he was one of the youths of royal or noble seed, who were carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar in the third year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah. These youths were without blemish, well-favored, skillful in all wisdom, endued with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king's palace. The king commanded to teach them the…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Daniel

God is my judge, or judge of God. (1.) David’s second son, “born unto him in Hebron, of Abigail the Carmelitess” (1 Chr. 3:1). He is called also Chileab (2 Sam. 3:3).

(2.) One of the four great prophets, although he is not once spoken of in the Old Testament as a prophet. His life and prophecies are recorded in the Book of Daniel. He was descended from one of the noble families of Judah (Dan. 1:3), and was probably born in Jerusalem about B.C. 623, during the reign of Josiah. At the first deportation of the Jews by Nebuchadnezzar (the kingdom of Israel had come to an end nearly a century before), or immediately after his victory over the Egyptians at the second battle of Carchemish, in the fourth year of the reign of…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(judgment of God). The second son of David, by Abigail the Carmelitess. (1 Chronicles 3:1) In (2 Samuel 3:3) he is called Chileab. (B.C. about 1051.) The fourth of ’the greater prophets." Nothing is known of his parentage or family. He appears, however, to have been of royal or noble descent, (Daniel 1:3) and to have possessed considerable personal endowments. (Daniel 1:4) He was taken to Babylon in "the third year of Jehoiakim" (B.C. 604), and trained for the king’s service. He was divinely supported in his resolve to abstain from the "king’s meat" for fear of defilement. (Daniel 1:8-16) At the close of his three years…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. Called Belteshazzar by the Chaldeans, a prophet descended from the royal family of David, who was carried captive to Babylon, when very young, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim king of Judah, B. C. 606. He was chosen, with his three companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, to reside at Nebuchadnezzar’s court, where he received a suitable education, and made great progress in all the sciences of the Chaldeans, but declined to pollute himself by eating provisions from the king’s table, which would often be ceremonially unclean to a Jew, or defiled by some connection with idol-worship. At the end of their three years’ education, Daniel and his companions excelled all others, and received honorable appointments in the royal service. Here Daniel soon displayed his prophetic gifts in interpreting a dream of Nebuchadnezzar, by whom he was made governor of Babylon, and head of the learned…

and he said Daniel to the guardian whom he had assigned [the] chief of the officials over Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah
אֶל־'el- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
and he said Daniel to the guardian whom he had assigned [the] chief of the officials over Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah
הַמֶּלְצַ֑רha.mel.Tzar the guardian H4453 Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a high-ranking officer in a royal court, like a steward or butler. The man named Melzar in Daniel 1:11 is an example of this role.
Amplified meaning
or guard, appointed overseer
Tyndale gloss
`steward`
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מֶלְצָר (meltsar) is a term of Persian origin referring to a steward or officer in the Babylonian court. It appears in the context of the Babylonian exile, specifically mentioned in Daniel 1:11. The term's precise meaning is somewhat uncertain, with some sources suggesting it may also imply a guardian.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֶלְצָר n.m. a Bab. title; dubious; perhaps guardian ?;—only c. art.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4453 מֶלְצָר

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4453 meltsar mel-tsawr'

of Persian derivation; the butler or other officer in the

Babylonian court:--Melzar.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֶלְצָר (mel.tsar) — `steward`.

guardian, an officer of the court

or Melzar - a man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.1.11; also translated "steward";

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absolute
HTd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

gar'-di-an.

See FAMILY; ANGEL.

and he said Daniel to the guardian whom he had assigned [the] chief of the officials over Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah
אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.Sher whom H834 Particle
5,500× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Tyndale gloss
which
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.

base

בַאֲשֶׁר

in (that) which

adv. in (the place) where

conj. in that, inasmuch as

on account of whom?

base

מֵאֲשֶׁר

from (or than) that which

adv. from (the place) where

conj. from (the fact) that …, since

base

כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when

according to that which, according as, as

with a causal force, in so far as, since

with a temporal force, when

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which

. adv. in (the place) where

. conj. in that, inasmuch as

. on account of whom?

H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which

. adv. from (the place) where

. conj. from (the fact) that …, since

H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as

. with a causal force, in so far as, since

. with a temporal force, when

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

834 'aher ash-er'

a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)

when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X

alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +

from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,

wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where

(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +

whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is

indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun

expletively, used to show the connection.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.

A: 1) (relative part.)

1a) which, who

1b) that which

2) (conj)

2a) that (in obj clause)

2b) when

2c) since

2d) as

2e) conditional if

B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

D: Kaph+

1) (conj.), according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since

1c) with a temporal force: when

בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.

1) in (that) which

2) (adv)

2a) where

3) (conj)

3a) in that, inasmuch as

3b) on account of

מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.

1) from (or than) that which

2) from (the place) where

3) from (the fact) that, since

כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.

conj

1) according as, as, when

1a) according to that which, according as, as

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Rel — Particle
HTr
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said Daniel to the guardian whom he had assigned [the] chief of the officials over Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah
מִנָּה֙mi.Nah he had assigned H4487 Verb · Piel · perfect third person masculine singular
28× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To count or number something means to weigh it out or assign a value to it. In the Bible, this term is used to describe the act of counting or numbering people, animals, or things. For example, in the book of Numbers, the Israelites are counted and numbered before entering the Promised Land.
Tyndale gloss
to count
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָנָה (manah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to count, number, or reckon. It encompasses various forms, including appointing and assigning, and can indicate both active and passive senses, such as being counted or appointed. The entries suggest a range of uses in contexts of enumeration and official designation, but do not provide specific verse references.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָנָה vb. count, number, reckon, assign

Qal

count, number

reckon, assign, appoint

Niph.

be counted, numbered

be reckoned, assigned

Pi. appoint, ordain

Pu. appointed

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4487 מָנָה count, number, reckon, assign .. count, number

. reckon, assign, appoint

. . be counted, numbered

. be reckoned, assigned

. appoint, ordain

. appointed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4487 manah maw-naw'

a primitive root; properly, to weigh out; by implication, to

allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or

enroll:--appoint, count, number, prepare, set, tell.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָנָה (ma.nah) — to count.

1) to count, reckon, number, assign, tell, appoint, prepare

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to count, number

1a2) reckon, assign, appoint

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be counted, be numbered

1b2) to be reckoned, be assigned

1c) (Piel) to appoint, ordain

1d) (Pual) appointed (participle)

Aramaic equivalent: me.nah (מְנָה "to reckon/appoint" H4483)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Piel-Perf-3ms — Verb · Piel · perfect third person masculine singular
HVpp3ms
and he said Daniel to the guardian whom he had assigned [the] chief of the officials over Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah
שַׂ֣רsar [the] chief of H8269 Noun common · masculine singular construct
421× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A leader or person in charge, like a prince or captain, as seen in the Bible with King David and other rulers.
Tyndale gloss
ruler
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שַׂר (sar) refers to a leader or ruler, encompassing a range of meanings from prince and chief to official and captain. It denotes various ranks, including military commanders and religious leaders, and can also imply a noble or merchant of high status. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to rule'.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שַׂר 420 n.m. chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8269 שַׂר chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8269 sar sar

from 8323; a head person (of any rank or class):--captain

(that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper,

lord, ((-task- ))master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.

see HEBREW for 08323

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שַׂר (sar) — ruler.

1) prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain

1a) chieftain, leader

1b) vassal, noble, official (under king)

1c) captain, general, commander (military)

1d) chief, head, overseer (of other official classes)

1e) heads, princes (of religious office)

1f) elders (of representative leaders of people)

1g) merchant-princes (of rank and dignity)

1h) patron-angel

1i) Ruler of rulers (of God)

1j) warden

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ov:

(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]

1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.

I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:1.

The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.

Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.

That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.

Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…

and he said Daniel to the guardian whom he had assigned [the] chief of the officials over Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah
הַסָּֽרִיסִ֔יםha.sa.ri.Sim the officials H5631 Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
42× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A eunuch was a high-ranking official in a royal court, often in charge of the female apartments. This word is used in the Bible to describe important ministers of state. In the book of Acts, the Ethiopian eunuch was a prominent official who met Philip and became a Christian.
Amplified meaning
ruler, prince of the eunuchs
Tyndale gloss
eunuch
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

סָרִיס (sārîs) means 'eunuch' and is derived from a root implying castration. It can also refer to an official or minister of state, particularly one serving in female quarters. The term appears in contexts related to royal or governmental roles.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

סָרִיס 45 n.m. eunuch

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5631 סָרִיס eunuch

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5631 cariyc saw-reece'

or caric {saw-reece'}; from an unused root meaning to

castrate; a eunuch; by implication, valet (especially of the

female apartments), and thus, a minister of

state:--chamberlain, eunuch, officer. Compare 7249.

see HEBREW for 07249

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

סָרִיס (sa.ris) — eunuch.

official, eunuch

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absolute
HTd/Ncmpa
and he said Daniel to the guardian whom he had assigned [the] chief of the officials over Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah
עַל־'al- over H5921 Preposition
5,774× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Tyndale gloss
upon
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

עַל, עָ֑ל

subst. height

As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed

of clothing, etc., which any one wears

With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears

. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it

. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him

. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him

. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him

. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)

Read the full entry →
Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5921 `al al

properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the

singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a

particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always

in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great

variety of applications (as follow):--above, according

to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because

of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both

and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in

(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,

through(-out), to, touching, X with.

see HEBREW for 05920

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עַל (al) — upon.

prep

1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against

1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards

1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)

1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)

1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)

1e) over (of suspension or extension)

1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)

1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)

1h) to (as a dative)

[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.

conj

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and he said Daniel to the guardian whom he had assigned [the] chief of the officials over Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah
דָּנִיֵּ֣אלda.ni.Yel Daniel H1840 Noun proper masculine
24× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Daniel was a man from the tribe of Judah, son of David and Abigail, and his name means God is my judge.
Tyndale gloss
Daniel
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

דָּנִיֵּאל, or Daniyel, means 'God is my judge.' It refers primarily to the prophet Daniel, a significant figure during the Babylonian exile, known for his wisdom and interpretations of dreams. The name also applies to a son of David and a priest from the line of Ithamar. The entries indicate that Daniel is both a prophet and a historical figure, but they do not present any significant disagreements.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

דָּנִאֵל, later דָנִיֵּאל n.pr.m. (Ēl is my judge)

son of David

דָנִיֵּאל, priest of the line of Ithamar

דָּנִאֵל a great sage

דָנִיֵּאל, one of the noble young men taken into captivity by Nebuchadrezzar

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1840 דָּנִאֵל, דָנִיֵּאל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1840 Daniye'l daw-nee-yale'

in Ezekiel it is: Daniel {daw-nee-ale'}; from 1835 and 410;

judge of God; Daniel or Danijel, the name of two

Israelites:--Daniel.

see HEBREW for 01835

see HEBREW for 0410

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

דָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל (da.niy.yel) — Daniel.

A prophet living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezk.14.14; also called Belteshazzar at Dan.1.7; 2.26; 4.8,9,18,19; 5.12; 10.1;

§ Daniel = "God is my judge"

1) the 2nd son of David, by Abigail the Carmelitess

2) the 4th of the greater prophets, taken as hostage in the first deportation to Babylon, because of the gift of God of the interpretation of dreams, he became the 2nd in command of the Babylon empire and lasted through the end of the Babylonian empire and into the Persian empire. His prophecies are the key to the understanding of end time events. Noted for his purity and holiness by contemporary prophet, Ezekiel

2a) also, 'Belteshazzar' (H1095 or H1096)

3) a priest of the line of Ithamar who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah

דָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל (da.niy.yel) — Daniel.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HNpm — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

dan'-yel (daniye'l, dani'-el, "God is my judge"; Daniel):

(1) One of the sons of David (1Ch 3:1).

(2) A Levite of the family of Ithamar (Ezr 8:2; Ne 10:6).

(3) A prophet of the time of Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus, the hero and author of the Book of Daniel.

1. Early Life:

We know nothing of the early life of Daniel, except what is recorded in the book bearing his name. Here it is said that he was one of the youths of royal or noble seed, who were carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar in the third year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah. These youths were without blemish, well-favored, skillful in all wisdom, endued with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king's palace. The king commanded to teach them the…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Daniel

God is my judge, or judge of God. (1.) David’s second son, “born unto him in Hebron, of Abigail the Carmelitess” (1 Chr. 3:1). He is called also Chileab (2 Sam. 3:3).

(2.) One of the four great prophets, although he is not once spoken of in the Old Testament as a prophet. His life and prophecies are recorded in the Book of Daniel. He was descended from one of the noble families of Judah (Dan. 1:3), and was probably born in Jerusalem about B.C. 623, during the reign of Josiah. At the first deportation of the Jews by Nebuchadnezzar (the kingdom of Israel had come to an end nearly a century before), or immediately after his victory over the Egyptians at the second battle of Carchemish, in the fourth year of the reign of…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(judgment of God). The second son of David, by Abigail the Carmelitess. (1 Chronicles 3:1) In (2 Samuel 3:3) he is called Chileab. (B.C. about 1051.) The fourth of ’the greater prophets." Nothing is known of his parentage or family. He appears, however, to have been of royal or noble descent, (Daniel 1:3) and to have possessed considerable personal endowments. (Daniel 1:4) He was taken to Babylon in "the third year of Jehoiakim" (B.C. 604), and trained for the king’s service. He was divinely supported in his resolve to abstain from the "king’s meat" for fear of defilement. (Daniel 1:8-16) At the close of his three years…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. Called Belteshazzar by the Chaldeans, a prophet descended from the royal family of David, who was carried captive to Babylon, when very young, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim king of Judah, B. C. 606. He was chosen, with his three companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, to reside at Nebuchadnezzar’s court, where he received a suitable education, and made great progress in all the sciences of the Chaldeans, but declined to pollute himself by eating provisions from the king’s table, which would often be ceremonially unclean to a Jew, or defiled by some connection with idol-worship. At the end of their three years’ education, Daniel and his companions excelled all others, and received honorable appointments in the royal service. Here Daniel soon displayed his prophetic gifts in interpreting a dream of Nebuchadnezzar, by whom he was made governor of Babylon, and head of the learned…

and he said Daniel to the guardian whom he had assigned [the] chief of the officials over Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah
חֲנַנְיָ֔הcha.nan.Yah Hananiah H2608 Noun proper masculine
29× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Hananiah means God has favored, the name of thirteen Israelites, including a friend of Daniel. He was renamed Shadrach by Nebuchadnezzar and refused to eat unclean food.
Amplified meaning
God has favored
Tyndale gloss
Hananiah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חֲנַנְיָ֫הוּ (Chananyah) means 'God has favored' and refers to various individuals in the Old Testament, including a companion of Daniel, a captain in Uzziah's army, and a false prophet during Jeremiah's time. The name appears in multiple contexts, indicating its use among several postexilic figures. Notably, it is associated with thirteen Israelites, reflecting its popularity.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֲנַנְיָ֫הוּ, חֲנַנְיָה n.pr.m. (י׳ hath been gracious)

father of a prince under Jehoiakim

captain of Uzziah's army

chief of one of the divisions of musicians of David

a false prophet of Jeremiah's time

one of the three companions of Daniel

grandfather of an officer of the guard in Jeremiah's time

a son of Zerubbabel

a Benjamite

various postexilic persons

base

חֲנַנְיָה n.pr.m. (= BH id. [h.dz.ao] 5);—Dn 2:17.

done

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2608a חֲנַנְיָ֫הוּ, חֲנַנְיָה (י׳ hath been gracious) . father of a prince under Jehoiakim

. captain of Uzziah's army

. chief of one of the divisions of musicians of David

. a false prophet of Jeremiah's time

. one of the three companions of Daniel

. grandfather of an officer of the guard in Jeremiah's time

. a son of Zerubbabel

. a Benjamite

. various postexilic persons

H2608b חֲנַנְיָה (= BH id. [2608a] 5)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2608 Chananyah khan-an-yaw'

or Chananyahuw {khan-an-yaw'-hoo}; from 2603 and 3050; Jah

has favored; Chananjah, the name of thirteen

Israelites:--Hananiah.

see HEBREW for 02603

see HEBREW for 03050

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֲנַנְיָ֫הוּ (cha.nan.yah) — Hananiah.

A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.28.1;

son of: Azzur (H5809H)

§ Hananiah = "God has favoured"

1) the godly friend of Daniel whom Nebuchadnezzar renamed Shadrach; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord. See also, 'Shadrach' (H07714 or H07715)

2) one of the 14 sons of Heman and chief of the 16th course

3) a general in the army of King Uzziah

4) father of Zedekiah in the time of Jehoiakim

5) son of Azur, a Benjamite of Gibeon and a false prophet in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

han-a-ni'-a (chananyahu, chananyah; Ananias; also with aspirate, "Yahweh hath been gracious"): This was a common name in Israel for many centuries.

(1) A Benjamite (1Ch 8:24).

(2) A captain of Uzziah's army (2Ch 26:11).

(3) Father of one of the princes under Jehoiakim (Jer 36:12).

(4) One of the sons of Heman and leader of the 16th division of David's musicians (1Ch 25:4,23).

(5) Grandfather of the officer of the guard which apprehended Jeremiah on a charge of desertion (Jer 37:13).

(6) A false prophet of Gibeon, son of Azzur, who opposed Jeremiah, predicting that the yoke of Babylon would be broken in two years, and that…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Hananiah

Jehovah has given. (1.) A chief of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chr. 8:24). (2.) One of the sons of Heman (1 Chr. 25:4,23). (3.) One of Uzziah’s military officers (2 Chr. 26:11). (4.) Grandfather of the captain who arrested Jeremiah (Jer. 37:13). (5.) Jer. 36:12. (6.) Neh. 10:23. (7.) Shadrach, one of the “three Hebrew children” (Dan. 1; 6:7). (8.) Son of Zerubbabel (1 Chr. 3:19, 21). (9.) Ezra 10:28. (10.) The “ruler of the palace; he was a faithful…

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(gift of God). One of the fourteen sons of Heman, and chief of the sixteenth course of singers. (1 Chronicles 25:4,5,23) (B.C. 1014.) A general in the army of King Uzziah. (2 Chronicles 26:11) Father of Zedekiah, in the reign of Jehoiakim. (B.C. before 605.) Son of Azur, a Benjamite of Gibeon and a false prophet in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah. In the fourth year of his reign, B.C. 595, Hananiah withstood Jeremiah the prophet, and publicly prophesied in the temple that within two years Jeconiah and all his fellow captives with the vessels of the Lord’s house, should be brought back to Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 28:1) ... Hananiah corroborated his prophecy by taking from off the neck of Jeremiah the yoke which he wore by…

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. A false prophet of Gibeon, who for his impious hardihood was overtaken with speedy death, according to the word of God, Jer 28:15-17.

2. The Hebrew name of Shadrach.

3. A pious and faithful officer under Nehemiah, Ne 7:2.

and he said Daniel to the guardian whom he had assigned [the] chief of the officials over Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah
מִֽישָׁאֵ֖לmi.sha.'El Mishael H4332 Noun proper masculine
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Mishael was a godly friend of Daniel, who lived during the time of exile and return. He was given the name Meshach by King Nebuchadnezzar, and refused to eat unclean food from the king's table. Mishael's name means who is what God is.
Amplified meaning
who is like God
Tyndale gloss
Mishael
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִישָׁאֵל (Miysha'el) means "who is what God is?" It refers to a man from the tribe of Levi, a cousin of Moses, and notably one of Daniel's companions, also known as Meshach. He is recognized for refusing to eat the king's food and for surviving the fiery furnace. The name appears in several contexts, including Exodus and Daniel.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מִישָׁאֵל n.pr.m. (Who is what God is ?)

a cousin of Moses

one of Daniel’s companions

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4332 מִישָׁאֵל (Who is what God is ?) . a cousin of Moses

. one of Daniel’s companions

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4332 Miysha'el mee-shaw-ale'

from 4310 and 410 with the abbrev. insep. relatively (see

834) interposed; who (is) what God (is)?; Mishael, the name of

three Israelites:--Mishael.

see HEBREW for 04310

see HEBREW for 0410

see HEBREW for 0834

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִישָׁאֵל (mi.sha.el) — Mishael.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Exo.6.22;

son of: Uzziel (H5816);

brother of: Elizaphan (H0469), Sithri (H5644), Micah (H4318J) and Isshiah (H3449I)

§ Mishael = "who is what God is"

1) the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Meshach; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord

2) a son of Uzziel and a cousin of Moses and Aaron

3) one of those who stood at the left hand of Ezra when he read the law to the people

מִישָׁאֵל (mi.sha.el) — Mishael.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mish'-a-el, mi'-sha-el (misha'el, perhaps equals "who is equal to God?"):

(1) A Kohathite, 4th in descent from Levi (Ex 6:22). He and his brother Elzaphan carried out Moses' order to remove from the sanctuary and the camp the corpses of Nadab and Abihu (Le 10:4 f).

(2) A supporter of Ezra at the reading of the Law (Ne 8:4).

(3) The Hebrew name of one of Daniel's 3 companions (Da 1:6,7,11,19; 2:17). His Babylonian name was MESHACH (which see).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Mishael

Who is like God! (1.) A Levite; the eldest of the three sons of Uzziel (Ex. 6:22).

(2.) One of the three Hebrew youths who were trained with Daniel in Babylon (Dan. 1:11, 19), and promoted to the rank of Magi. He and his companions were afterwards cast into the burning fiery furnace for refusing to worship the idol the king had set up, from which they were miraculously delivered (3:13-30). His Chaldean name was Meshach (q.v.).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(who is what God is?). One of the sons of Uzziel, the uncle of Aaron and Moses. (Exodus 6:22) when Nadab and Abihu were struck dead for offering strange fire, Mishael and his brother Elzaphan, at the command of Moses, removed their bodies from the sanctuary, and buried them without the camp, their loose-fitting tunics serving for winding-sheets. (Leviticus 10:4,5) One of those who stood at Ezra’s left hand when he read the law to the people. (Nehemiah 8:4) [MESHACH]

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

who is asked for or lent

and he said Daniel to the guardian whom he had assigned [the] chief of the officials over Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah
וַעֲזַרְיָֽה׃va.'a.zar.Yah and Azariah H5838 Conjunction · noun proper masculine
49× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Azariah was the name of nineteen different Israelites, including a king of Judah and a friend of Daniel who was renamed Abednego by King Nebuchadnezzar. His name means Jehovah has helped.
Amplified meaning
God has helped
Tyndale gloss
Azariah
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word עֲזַרְיָ֫הוּ (*Azaryah*) means 'Jah has helped' and is a personal name associated with numerous figures in the Old Testament, including kings, priests, and Levites. It is derived from the roots meaning 'to help' and 'Yah' (God). The entries highlight various individuals named Azariah, including a king of Judah and a friend of Daniel, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֲזַרְיָ֫הוּ, עֲזַרְיָה n.pr.m. (י׳ hath helped); Azariah

king of Judah

officer of Sol.

id. prophet

sons of Jehosh.

priests

Levites

a temple captain

wall-builder

one with Zerub.

12:33.

Ephraimite

name in Judah

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5838 עֲזַרְיָ֫הוּ, עֲזַרְיָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5838 `Azaryah az-ar-yaw'

or mAzaryahuw {az-ar-yaw'-hoo}; from 5826 and 3050; Jah has

helped; Azarjah, the name of nineteen Israelites:--Azariah.

see HEBREW for 05826

see HEBREW for 03050

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֲזַרְיָ֫הוּ (a.zar.yah) — Azariah.

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.4.2;

son of: Ahimaaz (H0290H);

father of: Johanan (H3110J)

§ Azariah = "Jehovah has helped"

1) son of king Amaziah of Judah and king of Judah himself for 52 years; also 'Uzziah'

2) the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Abednego; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord

2a) also, 'Abednego' (H5664 or H5665)

3) son of Nathan and an officer of Solomon; perhaps David's grandson and Solomon's nephew

4) a prophet in the days of king Asa of Judah

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-proper — Conjunction · noun proper masculine
HC/Npm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

az-a-ri'-a `azaryahu and `azaryah, ("Yahweh has helped"):

(1) King of Judah. See UZZIAH.

(2) A Judahite of the house of Ethan the Wise (1Ch 2:8).

(3) The son of Jehu, descended from an Egyptian through the daughter of Sheshan (1Ch 2:38).

(4) A son of Ahimaaz and grandson of Zadok (1Ch 6:9).

(5) A son of Zadok the high priest and an official of Solomon (1Ki 4:2).

(6) A high priest and son of Johanan (1Ch 6:10).

(7) A Levite, ancestor of Samuel, and Heman the singer (1Ch 6:36).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Azariah

Whom Jehovah helps. (1.) Son of Ethan, of the tribe of Judah (1 Chr. 2:8).

(2.) Son of Ahimaaz, who succeeded his grandfather Zadok as high priest (1 Chr. 6:9; 1 Kings 4:2) in the days of Solomon. He officiated at the consecration of the temple (1 Chr. 6:10).

(3.) The son of Johanan, high priest in the reign of Abijah and Asa (2 Chr. 6:10, 11).

(4.) High priest in the reign of Uzziah, king of Judah (2 Kings 14:21; 2 Chr. 26:17-20). He was contemporary with the prophets Isaiah, Amos, and Joel.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(whom the Lord helps) a common name in Hebrew, and especially in the families of the priests of the line of Eleazar, whose name has precisely the same meaning as Azariah. It is nearly identical, and is often confounded, with Ezra as well as with Zerahiah and Seraiah. The principal persons who bore this name were-- Son of Ahimaaz. (1 Chronicles 6:9) He appears from (1 Kings 4:2) to have succeeded Zadok, his grandfather, in the high priesthood, in the reign of Solomon, Ahimaaz having died before Zadok. (B.C. About 1000.) [AHIMAAZ] A chief officer of Solomon’s, the son of Nathan, perhaps David’s grandson. (1 Kings 4:5) Tenth king of Judah, more frequently called Uzziah. (2 Kings…

A king of Judah, 2Ki 15:1-7. In 2Ch 26:1-23, and elsewhere, he is called Uzziah. He began to reign at sixteen years of age, B. C. 806. The first part of his reign was prosperous and happy; but afterwards, presuming to offer incense in the temple, he was smitten with leprosy, and continued a leper till his death, 2Ch 26:16- 23. This name was very common among the Jews, and was borne by many briefly referred to in Scripture.

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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