DAN 1:10 Interlinear View

1. Hebrew word
2. Hebrew lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. Gloss
8. CAPS codes
9. OET tags
10. OET word #
1. וַ,יֹּאמֶר
2. 509684,509685
3. And he/it said
4. ≈but and then
5. 559
6. SV-C,Vqw3ms
7. and=he/it_said
8. S
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356519
1. שַׂר
2. 509686
3. the chief of
4. -
5. 8269
6. S-Ncmsc
7. the_chief_of
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356520
1. הַ,סָּרִיסִים
2. 509687,509688
3. the officials
4. -
5. 5631
6. S-Td,Ncmpa
7. the=officials
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356521
1. לְ,דָנִיֵּאל
2. 509689,509690
3. to/for Dāniyyʼēl
4. -
5. 1840
6. S-R,Np
7. to/for=Dāniyy\sup ʼēl\sup*
8. -
9. Person=Daniel; TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356522
1. יָרֵא
2. 509691
3. +am fearing
4. -
5. 3373
6. V-Vqrmsa
7. [am]_fearing
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356523
1. אֲנִי
2. 509692
3. I
4. -
5. 589
6. S-Pp1cs
7. I
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356524
1. אֶת
2. 509693
3. DOM
4. -
5. 853
6. O-To
7. DOM
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356525
2. 509694
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 356526
1. אֲדֹנִ,י
2. 509695,509696
3. my master
4. master
5. 113
6. O-Ncmsc,Sp1cs
7. my=master
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356527
1. הַ,מֶּלֶךְ
2. 509697,509698
3. the king
4. -
5. 4428
6. O-Td,Ncmsa
7. the=king
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356528
1. אֲשֶׁר
2. 509699
3. who
4. -
6. O-Tr
7. who
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356529
1. מִנָּה
2. 509700
3. he has assigned
4. assigned
5. 4487
6. V-Vpp3ms
7. he_has_assigned
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356530
1. אֶת
2. 509701
3. DOM
4. -
5. 853
6. O-To
7. DOM
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356531
2. 509702
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 356532
1. מַאֲכַלְ,כֶם
2. 509703,509704
3. your(pl) food
4. -
5. 3978
6. O-Ncmsc,Sp2mp
7. your(pl)=food
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356533
1. וְ,אֶת
2. 509705,509706
3. and DOM
4. -
5. 853
6. O-C,To
7. and=\untr DOM\untr*
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356534
2. 509707
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 356535
1. מִשְׁתֵּי,כֶם
2. 509708,509709
3. your(pl) drink
4. drink
5. 4960
6. O-Ncmsc,Sp2mp
7. your(pl)=drink
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356536
1. אֲשֶׁר
2. 509710
3. that
4. -
6. S-Tr
7. that
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356537
1. לָ,מָּה
2. 509711,509712
3. to/for what
4. -
5. 4100
6. S-R,Ti
7. to/for=what
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356538
1. יִרְאֶה
2. 509713
3. will he see
4. -
5. 7200
6. V-Vqi3ms
7. will_he_see
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356539
1. אֶת
2. 509714
3. DOM
4. -
5. 853
6. O-To
7. DOM
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356540
2. 509715
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 356541
1. פְּנֵי,כֶם
2. 509716,509717
3. your(pl) faces
4. -
5. 6440
6. S-Ncbpc,Sp2mp
7. your(pl)=faces
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356542
1. זֹעֲפִים
2. 509718
3. looking thin
4. looking
5. 2196
6. V-Vqrmpa
7. looking_thin
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356543
1. מִן
2. 509719
3. more than
4. -
6. O-R
7. more_than
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356544
2. 509720
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 356545
1. הַ,יְלָדִים
2. 509721,509722
3. the youths
4. -
5. 3206
6. O-Td,Ncmpa
7. the=youths
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356546
1. אֲשֶׁר
2. 509723
3. who
4. -
6. O-Tr
7. who
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356547
1. כְּ,גִילְ,כֶם
2. 509724,509725,509726
3. +are about age of your(pl)
4. -
6. P-R,Ncmsc,Sp2mp
7. [are]_about,age_of,your(pl)
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356548
1. וְ,חִיַּבְתֶּם
2. 509727,509728
3. and you(pl) will endanger
4. -
5. 2325
6. SV-C,Vpq2mp
7. and=you(pl)_will_endanger
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356549
1. אֶת
2. 509729
3. DOM
4. -
5. 853
6. O-To
7. DOM
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356550
2. 509730
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 356551
1. רֹאשִׁ,י
2. 509731,509732
3. my head
4. head
6. O-Ncmsc,Sp1cs
7. my=head
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356552
1. לַ,מֶּֽלֶךְ
2. 509733,509734
3. to king
4. -
5. 4428
6. S-Rd,Ncmsa
7. to,king
8. -
9. TProphecies_of_Daniel
10. 356553
2. 509735
3. -
4. -
6. -x-sof-pasuq
8. -
9. -
10. 356554

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:1–21: Daniel and his friends began to serve King Nebuchadnezzar

This section forms the introduction to the first division and to the book of Daniel as a whole. It tells how some Hebrew boys came to live in Babylon and serve the Babylonian king.

God allowed the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, to defeat the king of Judah. King Nebuchadnezzar ordered his chief official to choose some boys from Judah and to train them to work in the government of Babylon. Daniel and his three friends were among these boys. They excelled in their studies and the king was pleased with the wise advice they gave.

The phrase “the Lord delivered” (“Adonay gave” in Hebrew) occurs in 1:2, the phrase “God had granted” (“Elohim had given” in Hebrew) occurs in 1:9, and the phrase “God gave” (“Elohim gave” in Hebrew) occurs in 1:17. (1:2a, 1:9, 1:17a). The author used these phrases to emphasize that the Lord is sovereign over the events of history and the lives of his people. God has authority over what happens to Gentile nations and also what happens to his people. This is the theme of this chapter.

Paragraph 1:8–10

Daniel decided not to eat the royal food. He did not want to become ritually impure or unclean.

1:10a

but he said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king,

But the chief/man said to Daniel, “I am afraid to disobey my master the king.
However, he said to Daniel, “The king is my master. I am afraid that he would punish me.

but: There are two ways to understand the Hebrew conjunction that the BSB translates as but:

It introduces contrast. For example:
however (GNT) (BSB, NIV, NJB, NET, GNT, NLT, CEV, NCV)
In introduces continuation. For example:
and (ESV) (KJV, NASB, RSV, ESV, REB)

The NRSV and GW leave this conjunction untranslated.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Although Ashpenaz was sympathetic toward Daniel, he was still afraid of disobeying the king. Other ways to translate this connection include:

Nevertheless…

In spite of this…

Express the contrast in a natural way in your language.

he: Here, the pronoun he refers to Ashpenaz, the chief of the kings court officials mentioned in 1:3 and 1:7. See the note on 1:3a.

I fear my lord the king: These words introduce Ashpenaz’s fear. Ashpenaz’s fear was that the king would kill him if he disobeyed his orders. The situation that Ashpenaz feared never actually happened. Languages have different ways to express fears like this. Use a natural way in your language. It may be necessary to make explicit that Ashpenaz was afraid of the king’s reaction to his request. For example:

I am afraid what my lord the king will do

I am afraid that my lord the king will be angry if I ask that

I am afraid he will kill me (CEV)

See also the General Comment on 1:10, which discusses reordering the verse, as the CEV has done.

my lord the king: Ashpenaz used two titles to refer to the king. In this way, he emphasized the authority that the king had over him. In some languages it may not be natural to use both of these titles here. If that is true in your language, there are at least two possibilities for translation:

Use only the title king. For example:
The king (GNT)
Use a descriptive phrase to translate my lord. For example:
the king, who has authority over me

1:10b

who has assigned your food and drink.

He has decided what you^(plur) should eat and drink
He is the one who determined what food you^(plur) young men are to eat and what you are to drink.

who has assigned your food and drink: Nebuchadnezzar had given orders concerning what Daniel and the other young Jewish men were to eat and drink. The chief official had not made the decision himself.

In some languages it may be more natural to make this clause a complete sentence or an independent clause. For example:

The king has decided what you are to eat and drink (GNT)

the king determined what you should eat and drink (GW)

your food and drink: The expression your food and drink means “the food you should eat and the drink you should drink.”

your: This reference is plural. It refers to Daniel and all the other young men in the group who were chosen to serve the king.

General Comment on 1:10b–c

In some languages it may be natural to reorder this, giving the background information first. For example:

^10b-cMy lord the king has ordered your food and drink, and I am afraid that…

1:10c

For why should he see your faces looking thinner than those of the other young men your age?

If I allow you^(plur) to eat other food, the king will see that you^(plur) are not as healthy as the other young men of your^(plur) age.
What will happen if I do not obey him, and then you^(plur) do not thrive/grow as well as the other youths? If/When the king sees that,

For why should he see your faces looking thinner than those of the other young men your age?: This is a rhetorical question. It functions as a strong statement that it would not be good for the king to see Daniel and his friends looking unhealthy. Ashpenaz was implying that the king’s food was nutritious and good for the young men. If Daniel and his companions did not eat it, they would not thrive. They would not look as healthy as the other young men who were training to become court officials. This would make the king angry.

There are several ways to translate this verse part:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
What is the good/benefit of letting him see you looking worse than the other young men?
For what will happen if he sees you looking less healthy than the other young men?
Translate it as a statement of possibility or a conditional clause:
He may see that you do not look as healthy as the other young men.
If he sees that you look worse than the other young men your age (GW)
If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age (NLT)
Translate it as a statement of result. For example:
If you do not eat the king’s food, he will see that you look worse than the other young men.
Translate it as a statement of fear that is connected to 1:10a.
I am afraid that he will see that you look worse than the other young men.See the French Common Language translation 1997.

Express this in a way that is natural in your language. It may be natural to include the implied information as to why it would be bad for the king to see Daniel and his friends in an unhealthy state. It would make the king angry. For example:

If the king sees that you look worse than the other young men, he will become angry.

If you do not eat the king’s food , you will get haggard/unhealthy. The king will see it and will be angry.

looking thinner than those of the other young men your age: This is a comparison. It compares Daniel and his three friends to the other Jewish youths Ashpenaz had chosen. Ashpenaz did not want Nebuchadnezzar to see Daniel and his friends appearing less healthy than the other Jewish youths. Consider how to indicate such a comparison in your language. For example:

less strong and healthy than the other youths

the other young men look healthy but you look unhealthy

not strong like the other young men

In your translation, be careful to avoid suggesting that the other young men looked a little unhealthy and Daniel and his friends more so. The other young men were not going to appear unhealthy at all. Ashpenaz assumed they would become strong and healthy on the king’s diet.

your faces looking thinner: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as your faces looking thinner is more literally “your faces looking gaunt/haggard.” See also Genesis 40:6, where the same word meaning “gaunt/haggard” is used. Other ways to translate this include:

pale and thin (NLT)

looking miserable (REB)

looking weak

your: This pronoun is plural. It refers to Daniel and his three companions. Daniel’s friends had also decided not to eat the king’s special food and wine.

those of the other young men your age: The phrase probably refers to the other captives who were in the same general age group as Daniel. These young men would have eaten the king’s diet and grown strong and healthy. Some translations omit the phrase your age since it is implied in the phrase other young men. For example:

the other young men (GNT)

1:10d

You would endanger my head before the king!”

Then he will command his servants to cut my head off.”
he will be angry about it and have me killed/executed.”

This verse part connects to the previous verse part with a conjunction. Many versions translate it as “then.” The RSV translates as “So.” Here it introduces the result of the king seeing Daniel and his friends looking unhealthy. The BSB does not translate this conjunction explicitly. You should introduce this verse part in a way that is natural in your language.

You would endanger my head before the king!: The Hebrew is more literally “you (plural) would make guilty my head with the king.” This is an idiom that probably refers to execution. Ashpenaz was afraid that the king would blame him for the poor appearance of his servants. He knew that the king might have him put to death for failing to take good care of the young men.

We do not know what method of execution the king would have used. The king might have ordered Ashpenaz’s head cut off, but not necessarily. It is good to translate this in a general way referring to any kind of execution.

Other ways to translate this include:

my head will be in danger with the king (NJB)

you would endanger my life with the king (NET)

he may kill me (GNT)

he will hold me responsible and I will pay with my life because of youLa Bible du Semeur.

General Comment on 1:10

In Hebrew, this verse is a long, complex sentence. The main point is that Ashpenaz was afraid to agree to Daniel’s request. In some languages it may be more natural to separate the information into shorter sentences. It may also be more natural to change the order of some of the information. For example:

^10aBut the man still told him, ^10c“The king has decided what you must eat and drink. ^10bAnd I am afraid ^10ehe will kill me, ^10dif you eat something else and end up looking worse than the other young men.” (CEV)

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear DAN 1:10

Hebrew word order