Daniel 1:15
New International Version
At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.

New Living Translation
At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king.

English Standard Version
At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food.

Berean Standard Bible
And at the end of ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than all the young men who were eating the king’s food.

King James Bible
And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

New King James Version
And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.

New American Standard Bible
And at the end of ten days their appearance seemed better, and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food.

NASB 1995
At the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food.

NASB 1977
And at the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food.

Legacy Standard Bible
At the end of ten days it was seen that their appearance was better and that they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food.

Amplified Bible
At the end of ten days it seemed that they were looking better and healthier than all the young men who ate the king’s finest food.

Christian Standard Bible
At the end of ten days they looked better and healthier than all the young men who were eating the king’s food.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
At the end of 10 days they looked better and healthier than all the young men who were eating the king’s food.

American Standard Version
And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths that did eat of the king's dainties.

Contemporary English Version
Ten days later, Daniel and his friends looked healthier and better than the young men who had been served food from the royal palace.

English Revised Version
And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths which did eat of the king's meat.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
After ten days they looked healthier and stronger than the young men who had been eating the king's rich food.

Good News Translation
When the time was up, they looked healthier and stronger than all those who had been eating the royal food.

International Standard Version
At the end of ten days their appearance was better and their faces were well-nourished compared to the young men who ate the king's rich food.

Majority Standard Bible
And at the end of ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than all the young men who were eating the king?s food.

NET Bible
At the end of the ten days their appearance was better and their bodies were healthier than all the young men who had been eating the royal delicacies.

New Heart English Bible
At the end of ten days their faces appeared better and fatter than all the youths who ate of the king's royal food.

Webster's Bible Translation
And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children who ate the portion of the king's provision.

World English Bible
At the end of ten days, their faces appeared fairer and they were fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate of the king’s delicacies.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and at the end of ten days their appearance has appeared better and fatter in flesh then any of the boys who are eating the king’s portion of food.

Young's Literal Translation
and at the end of ten days their appearance hath appeared better and fatter in flesh then any of the lads who are eating the king's portion of food.

Smith's Literal Translation
And from the end of ten days their aspect was seen good and fat of flesh above all the children eating of the king's dainties.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And after ten days their faces appeared fairer and fatter than all the children that ate of the king's meat.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But, after ten days, their faces appeared better and fatter than all the children who had eaten from the king’s food.

New American Bible
after ten days they looked healthier and better fed than any of the young men who ate from the royal table.

New Revised Standard Version
At the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And at the end of ten days he saw that their countenances were much fairer and fatter than those of all the boys who ate of the king's delicacies.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And after ten days he saw their faces were better, and their flesh fatter than that of all the boys who ate of the delicacies of the King
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths that did eat of the king's food.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And at the end of the ten days their countenances appeared fairer and stouter in flesh, than the children that fed at the king's table.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Daniel's Faithfulness
14So he consented to this and tested them for ten days. 15And at the end of ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than all the young men who were eating the king’s food. 16So the steward continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and he gave them vegetables instead.…

Cross References
Genesis 1:29-30
Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They will be yours for food. / And to every beast of the earth and every bird of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth—everything that has the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

Genesis 9:3
Everything that lives and moves will be food for you; just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you all things.

Exodus 23:25
So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take away sickness from among you.

Leviticus 11:1-47
The LORD spoke again to Moses and Aaron, telling them, / “Say to the Israelites, ‘Of all the beasts of the earth, these ones you may eat: / You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud. ...

Deuteronomy 8:3
He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

Proverbs 3:7-8
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. / This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.

Proverbs 4:20-22
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. / Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. / For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.

Isaiah 55:2
Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.

Ezekiel 4:9
But take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them in a single container and make them into bread for yourself. This is what you are to eat during the 390 days you lie on your side.

Ezekiel 47:12
Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of all kinds will grow. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for healing.”

Matthew 4:4
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 6:31-33
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ / For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. / But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

Matthew 15:11
A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

Mark 7:18-19
“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, / because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.)

Luke 12:22-23
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. / For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.


Treasury of Scripture

And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

their.

Exodus 23:25
And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: …

2 Kings 4:42-44
And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat…

Jump to Previous
Appearance Appeared Ate Better Children Choice Countenances Dainties Eat Eating End Faces Fairer Flesh Food King's Meat Nourished Portion Provision Rich Royal Seemed Table Ten Young Youths
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Appearance Appeared Ate Better Children Choice Countenances Dainties Eat Eating End Faces Fairer Flesh Food King's Meat Nourished Portion Provision Rich Royal Seemed Table Ten Young Youths
Daniel 1
1. Jehoiakim's captivity.
3. Ashpenaz takes Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
8. They refusing the king's portion do prosper with pulse and water.
17. Their proficiency in wisdom.














And at the end of ten days
The phrase "at the end of ten days" signifies a specific period of testing and faith. In the Hebrew context, the number ten often symbolizes completeness or divine order. This period was a test of faith for Daniel and his friends, who chose to honor God by adhering to dietary laws rather than indulging in the king's provisions. Historically, this reflects the Jewish practice of maintaining purity and obedience to God's commandments, even in foreign lands.

their appearance was better and healthier
The word "appearance" in Hebrew is "mar'eh," which can refer to both physical looks and overall demeanor. The miraculous improvement in their appearance signifies God's blessing and favor upon those who remain faithful. "Healthier" suggests not just physical well-being but also a holistic sense of vitality and strength. This outcome underscores the biblical principle that spiritual obedience can lead to physical and emotional well-being.

than all the young men
This comparison highlights the distinctiveness of Daniel and his friends. The phrase "all the young men" refers to the other captives or trainees in Babylon, who were likely consuming the rich, indulgent diet provided by the king. The contrast emphasizes the superiority of God's ways over worldly practices. It serves as a testament to the power of faith and obedience in setting believers apart in a secular world.

who were eating the king’s food
The "king’s food" symbolizes the allure and temptation of worldly pleasures and indulgences. In the Babylonian context, this food was not only rich but also likely included items forbidden by Jewish law. By abstaining, Daniel and his friends demonstrated their commitment to God's laws over the king's decrees. This act of defiance and faithfulness is a powerful reminder of the call to live according to divine principles, even when faced with societal pressures.

(15) Appeared fairer.--Thus was God beginning to assert His power among the Babylonians. This change in the appearance of Daniel was the effect of his free grace, not of the meat that came from the king's palace. May it not have been that the young exiles thought of the words of Isaiah (Isaiah 52:11), "Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out thence, touch no unclean thing"?

Verse 15. - At the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. The Septuagint is a little paraphrastic, and renders, "After ten days their countenance appeared beautiful and their habit of body better than that of the other young men who ate of the king's meat." Theodotion is painfully faithful to the Massoretic text. The Peshitta translates טוב (tob), "good," "fair," by sha-peera, "beautiful." We have here the result of the experiment. At the end of the ten days these youths who had lived plainly are fairer and fatter than those who partook of the royal dainties - a result that implies nothing miraculous; it was simply the natural result of living on food suited to the climate. The grammar of the passage is peculiar; mareehem, which so far as form goes might be plural, is construed with a singular verb and adjective, but bere'eem, "fatter," is plural. The explanation is that while "countenance," the substantive, is in the singular, it is not the substantive to the adjective "fat," but "they" understood. The sentence is not intended to assert that their faces merely were fatter than those of the other youths of their rank and circumstances, but that their whole body was so. This contrast of reference is brought out in the Septuagint paraphrase. Any one looking on the Assyrian and Babylonian sculptures, and comparing them with the sculptures and paintings of Egypt, will observe the relatively greater stoutness of the Assyrians. In the eunuchs especially, one cannot fail to notice the full round faces and the double chins of those in immediate attendance on the king. Among savage nations and semi-civilized ones, corpulence is regarded as a sign of nobility. The frequent long fasts, due to failure of their scanty crops or the difficulty of catching game, would keep the ordinary savage spare; only one who could employ the sinews and possessions of others would be sure of being always well fed, consequently the corpulent man was incontestably the wealthy nobleman. In semi-civilized countries, as Babylon, this was probably a survival. On the sculptures the kings are not unwieldy with corpulence, but the eunuchs have an evident tendency to this. A king, abstemious himself, might feel his consequence increased by having as his attendants those who bore about in their persons the evidence of how well those were nourished who fed at his table. There is no reason to imagine that Nebuchadnezzar was superior to his contemporaries in regard to this. The melzar, having thus seen the result of the experiment, must see that, so far as externals were concerned, the Hebrews who fed on pulse were better than their companions. The period of ten days was a short one, but not too short for effects such as those mentioned to be manifested. Jephet-ibn-Ali thinks that special leanness was inflicted on those who were unfaithful or had failed in courage. That, however, is an unnecessary supposition.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And at
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the end
וּמִקְצָת֙ (ū·miq·ṣāṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7117: A termination, a portion, after

of ten
עֲשָׂרָ֔ה (‘ă·śā·rāh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 6235: Ten

days,
יָמִ֣ים (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

their appearance was
נִרְאָ֤ה (nir·’āh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

better
ט֔וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

and healthier
וּבְרִיאֵ֖י (ū·ḇə·rî·’ê)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1277: Fatted, plump

than all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the young men
הַיְלָדִ֔ים (hay·lā·ḏîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3206: Something born, a lad, offspring

who were eating
הָאֹ֣כְלִ֔ים (hā·’ō·ḵə·lîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 398: To eat

the king’s
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

food.
פַּתְבַּ֥ג (paṯ·baḡ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6598: Portion, delicacies


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OT Prophets: Daniel 1:15 At the end of ten days their (Dan. Da Dn)
Daniel 1:14
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