Daniel 1:14 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע לָהֶ֖ם לַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַיְנַסֵּ֖ם יָמִ֥ים עֲשָׂרָֽה׃
BSASo he consentedshâmaʻ▸ [agreed, gave ear] to thiszeh [the matter, proposal] and tested themnâçâh▸ [tried, proved] for tenʻeser [a decade, a period of trial] daysyôwm [a period of time, a season of testing]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע | and he listened | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| לָהֶ֖ם | to them | Preposition, suffix |
| לַדָּבָ֣ר | to the thing | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| הַזֶּ֑ה | this | Particle, particle |
| וַיְנַסֵּ֖ם | and he put to [the] test them | Verb piel sequential imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| יָמִ֥ים | days | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| עֲשָׂרָֽה׃ | ten | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So he consented to this and tested them for ten days. |
| KJV | So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. |
| ASV | So he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them ten days. |
| YLT | And he hearkeneth to them, to this word, and trieth them ten days: |
| WEB | So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. |
| BBE | So he gave ear to them in this thing and put them to the test for ten days. |
Where they part company is לַדָּבָ֣ר — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence features a main clause followed by a participial phrase and a prepositional phrase, indicating the sequence of actions.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbשָׁמַע
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 1:14
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 Training in Babylongenerated
Daniel 1:14 describes how the chief official agreed to Daniel's request to test the young men with a different diet for ten days. This moment is part of a larger narrative about Daniel and his friends as they navigate their new environment in Babylon, seeking to remain faithful to their dietary laws while under the king's authority.
Cross References
The Key Word — וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע, vai.yish.Ma'generated
The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and involves listening attentively, often with an implication of obedience. This verb is used frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible, especially in contexts where God commands His people to listen and obey, as seen in passages like Exodus and Deuteronomy.
In this verse, the verb is in the sequential imperfect form, indicating an action that is ongoing or incomplete. The chief official's willingness to listen signifies his openness to consider Daniel's request, which is crucial for the unfolding events.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses consented for וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע and tested for וַיְנַסֵּ֖ם.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע governs the entire verse, indicating the chief official's action of consenting. The structure includes a prepositional phrase detailing the object of his consent and another verb phrase indicating the testing that follows.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the action of listening first, which highlights the importance of the official's agreement before the subsequent testing.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע as ἐξρήσατο, which means 'he consented' and carries a similar meaning to the Hebrew. This choice reflects a direct acknowledgment of the official's agreement to Daniel's proposal.
For וַיְנַסֵּ֖ם, the Greek word αὐτοὺς is used, indicating that the testing was directed at them, maintaining the focus on the subjects of the test.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Daniel 1:14 tells us that the chief official agreed to Daniel's request and tested him and his friends for ten days. This testing period was a way to see if they could maintain their dietary laws while in Babylon, showing their commitment to their faith.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The ten-day test allowed Daniel and his friends to demonstrate their commitment to their dietary laws while under the king's authority.
Daniel requested a different diet to avoid defiling himself with the royal food and wine, which may have been against his religious beliefs.
The chief official listened to Daniel's request and agreed to test them for ten days, showing a willingness to consider their needs.
At the end of ten days, Daniel and his friends appeared healthier and better nourished than those who ate the royal food.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I apply the principle of listening and obedience in my own life?
- What are some areas where I might need to stand firm in my beliefs like Daniel did?
- In what ways can I seek to honor my commitments while navigating challenging situations?
- How can I encourage others to remain faithful to their values in a diverse environment?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Daniel 1:14 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleSo he consented to them in all this matter,.... Or, "hearkened to them" (e); being convinced that it was a very reasonable request, and the matter was fairly put; and especially as he saw, if it
Read John Gill on Daniel 1 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThen let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
Read Robert Jamieson on Daniel 1 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsDaniel 1:14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.Ver. 14. So he consented to them in this matter.] This had been well done, if done for God’ s sake; but it was nothing less. He had a hawk’ s eye herein to his own profit; he favoured them because he meant to finger something from them. These four made a mess.
Read John Trapp on Daniel 1 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges14. consented] hearkened (R.V.),—the expression exactly as 1 Samuel 30:24.
Read Cambridge on Daniel 1 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleSo he consented to them in this matter - Hebrew, “he heard them in this thing.” The experiment was such, since it was to be for so short a time, that he ran little risk in the matter, as at the end
Read Albert Barnes on Daniel 1 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible9-16. 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
So he consented to this and tested them for ten days.
So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.
So he consented to this and tested them for ten days.
So the warden agreed to their proposal and tested them for ten days.
Tyndale line
So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
So he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
So he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
So hee consented to them in this matter, an proued them ten dayes.
Strictly literal
And he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
And he hearkeneth to them, to this word, and trieth them ten days:
And he listens to them, to this word, and tries them ten days:
And he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
So the steward agreed with him to do this, and he tested them for ten days.
From the Latin
And when he had heard these words, he tried them for ten days.
Simplified
The guard agreed to the proposal they made and tested them for ten days.
So he gave ear to them in this thing and put them to the test for ten days.
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.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text aligns with the Septuagint in this verse, confirming that both agree on the key elements. The Dead Sea Scrolls also support the reading, though some words are partly restored, indicating minor textual variations but no significant differences in meaning.
וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע לָהֶ֖ם לַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַיְנַסֵּ֖ם יָמִ֥ים עֲשָׂרָֽה׃
7 of the 7 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.
[וישמע] ל׳הם לדבר הזה וינס׳ם ימים [עשרה]
4 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 2 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.
Lexicons — every word in Daniel 1:14
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.
The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear
Qal 1052
subj. pers. hum.
י׳ (God) subj.
Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound
be heard of
be regarded, obeyed
= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.
Pi. he caused the people to hear
Hiph. 63
of man
י׳ subj.
base
H8085 שָׁמַע hear
8085 shama` shaw-mah'
a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with
implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to
tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X
carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,
declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make
to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)
obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,
regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,
understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.
: hear
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to
1a5) to understand (language)
1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)
1a7) to listen, give heed
1a7a) to consent, agree
1a7b) to grant request
1a8) to listen to, yield to
1a9) to obey, be obedient
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)
1b2) to be heard of
1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed
1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound
1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)
1d3) to make proclamation, summon
1d4) to cause to be heard
n m
2) sound
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.
: obey
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
הֶם (hem) — them.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural
HR/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3mp
דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word
sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
sg. a word, words
sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
base
H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
. sg. a word, words
. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
1697 dabar daw-baw'
from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or
thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X
any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,
cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X
commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +
dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +
eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,
+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,
message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +
please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,
question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,
sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),
somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,
X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,
what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.
see HEBREW for 01696
דָּבָר (da.var) — word.
: word/speech/command
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.
: speaking
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.
: thing/matter
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.
: promised/duty
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.
: deed
HRd/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
זֶה (zeh) is a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' or 'here.' It can stand alone, be used appositively, or function as a predicate. The word can also attach enclitically to interrogative pronouns, adding emphasis and directness. In poetry, it may serve as a relative pronoun, though this usage is rare.
זֶה demonstr.pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here
standing alone
In appos. to subst.
More oft. as pred.
It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.
In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)
With prefixes (in special senses)
base
H2088 זֶה demonstr. pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here . standing alone
. In appos. to subst.
. More oft. as pred.
. It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.
. In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)
. With prefixes (in special senses)
2088 zeh zeh
a primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this
or that:--he, X hence, X here, it(-self), X now, X of him, the
one...the other, X than the other, (X out of) the (self) same,
such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on
that side, X thus, very, which. Compare 2063, 2090, 2097,
2098.
see HEBREW for 02063
see HEBREW for 02090
see HEBREW for 02097
see HEBREW for 02098
זֶה (zeh) — this.
1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, another, such
1a) (alone)
1a1) this one
1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another
1b) (appos to subst)
1b1) this
1c) (as predicate)
1c1) this, such
1d) (enclitically)
1d1) then
1d2) who, whom
1d3) how now, what now
1d4) what now
1d5) wherefore now
1d6) behold here
1d7) just now
1d8) now, now already
1e) (poetry)
1e1) wherein, which, those who
1f) (with prefixes)
1f1) in this (place) here, then
1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter
1f3) thus and thus
1f4) as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to that effect, in like manner, thus and thus
1f5) from here, hence, on one side...on the other side
1f6) on this account
1f7) in spite of this, which, whence, how
Art | Pron — Particle · particleHTd/Tm
נָסָה (nasah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to test or try. It encompasses actions like attempting, proving, and tempting, though not in a modern context. The word is built from a primitive root and is primarily used in the Piel form. All entries agree on its core meanings without significant disagreement.
[נָסָה] vb. Pi. test, try
test, try
attempt, assay, try to do a thing
test, try, prove, tempt [but not in the modern sense of the word]
base
H5254 נָסָה Pi. test, try . test, try
. attempt, assay, try to do a thing
. test, try, prove, tempt [but not in the modern sense of the word]
5254 nacah naw-saw'
a primitive root; to test; by implication, to
attempt:--adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try.
נָסָה (na.sah) — to test.
: test
1) to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof or test
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to test, try
1a2) to attempt, assay, try
1a3) to test, try, prove, tempt
נָסָה (na.sah) — to test: try.
: try/attempt
1) to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof or test
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to test, try
1a2) to attempt, assay, try
1a3) to test, try, prove, tempt
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff — Verb piel sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHc/Vpw3ms/Sp3mp
יוֹם (yowm) means 'day' and refers to a division of time, contrasting with night. It can denote a literal 24-hour period, a general time span, or even a year. The term is used in various contexts, including the 'day of Yahweh,' which signifies a time of divine judgment. It also appears in phrases indicating temporal references like today, yesterday, and tomorrow.
יוֹם 2285 n.m. day
day, opp. night
Day as division of time
יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
Pl. days of anyone
Days
יוֹם = time
Phrases
base
H3117 יוֹם day . day, opp. night
. Day as division of time
. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
. Pl. days of anyone
. Days
. יוֹם = time
. Phrases
3117 yowm yome
from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm
hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one
sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by
an associated term), (often used adverb):--age, + always, +
chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to)
day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, +
(for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as
(... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually,
presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space,
then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble,
weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole
(+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.
יוֹם (yom) — day.
: day/when/time/period
1) day, time, year
1a) day (as opposed to night)
1b) day (24 hour period)
1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
1b2) as a division of time
1b2a) a working day, a day's journey
1c) days, lifetime (pl.)
1d) time, period (general)
1e) year
1f) temporal references
1f1) today
1f2) yesterday
1f3) tomorrow
יוֹם (yom) — day: old.
: old/(full/many)[days]
1) day, time, year
1a) day (as opposed to night)
1b) day (24 hour period)
1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
1b2) as a division of time
1b2a) a working day, a day's journey
1c) days, lifetime (pl.)
1d) time, period (general)
1e) year
1f) temporal references
1f1) today
1f2) yesterday
1f3) tomorrow
יוֹם (yom) — day: year.
: year[of_days]
1) day, time, year
1a) day (as opposed to night)
1b) day (24 hour period)
1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
1b2) as a division of time
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
עֶשֶׂר (eser) means 'ten' in Hebrew. It is a masculine noun derived from the root related to counting, specifically indicating the number ten and its use in combination with other numbers. The Aramaic equivalent is עֲשַׂר (asar), also meaning 'ten.'
עֶשֶׂר, עֲשָׂרָה 176 n.m. and f. ten
base
H6235 עֶשֶׂר, עֲשָׂרָה ten
6235 `eser eh'ser
masculine of term aasarah {as-aw-raw'}; from 6237; ten (as an
accumulation to the extent of the digits):--ten, (fif-,
seven-)teen.
see HEBREW for 06237
עֶשֶׂר (e.ser) — ten.
1) ten
1a) ten
1b) with other numbers
Aramaic equivalent: a.sar (עֲשַׂר "ten" H6236)
Adj — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa