Daniel 1:20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.

◄ Daniel 1:20 ►

New International Version
In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

New Living Translation
Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.

English Standard Version
And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.

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

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

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

New American Standard Bible
As for every matter of expertise and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the soothsayer priests and conjurers who were in all his realm.

NASB 1995
As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm.

NASB 1977
And as for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm.

Legacy Standard Bible
And as for every matter of wisdom in understanding which the king sought from them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his kingdom.

Amplified Bible
In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the [learned] magicians and enchanters (Magi) in his whole realm.

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king consulted them about, he found them 10 times better than all the diviner-priests and mediums in his entire kingdom.

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

Contemporary English Version
From then on, whenever the king asked for advice, he found their wisdom was ten times better than that of any of his other advisors and magicians.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whenever the king asked them about things that required wisdom and insight, he found that they knew ten times more than all the magicians and psychics in his whole kingdom.

Good News Translation
No matter what question the king asked or what problem he raised, these four knew ten times more than any fortuneteller or magician in his whole kingdom.

International Standard Version
In every matter of wisdom or understanding that the king discussed with them, he found them ten times superior to all the astrologers and enchanters in his entire palace.

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

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

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

Webster's Bible Translation
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times superior to all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

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

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and [in] any matter of wisdom [and] understanding that the king has sought of them, he finds them ten hands above all the enchanters, the conjurers, who [are] in all his kingdom.

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

Smith's Literal Translation
And every word of the wisdom of understanding which the king sought from them, and he will find them ten hands over all the sacred scribes, the enchanters which were in all his kingdom.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the diviners, and wise men, that were in all his kingdom.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And in every concept of wisdom and understanding, about which the king consulted with them, he found them to be ten times better than all the seers and astrologers put together, who were in his entire kingdom.

New American Bible
In any question of wisdom or understanding which the king put to them, he found them ten times better than any of the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.

New Revised Standard Version
In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

Translations from Aramaic

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

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And every word of wisdom and of understanding that the King asked them, he found them excelling ten times more than any Sorcerer and Enchanter that was in his kingdom

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his realm.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And in every matter of wisdom and knowledge wherein the king questioned them, he found them ten times wiser than all the enchanters and sorcerers that were in all his kingdom.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Daniel's Wisdom
…19And the king spoke with them, and among all the young men he found no one equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the king’s service. 20In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. 21And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 41:38-39
So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?” / Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.

1 Kings 4:29-31
And God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure, like the sand on the seashore. / Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. / He was wiser than all men—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread throughout the surrounding nations.

1 Kings 10:23-24
So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. / The whole world sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.

2 Chronicles 9:22-23
So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. / All the kings of the earth sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.

Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

Isaiah 28:29
This also comes from the LORD of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.

Jeremiah 10:7
Who would not fear You, O King of nations? This is Your due. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You.

Ezekiel 28:3
Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you!

Matthew 12:42
The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

Luke 2:47
And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.

Luke 21:15
For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

Acts 6:10
but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Acts 7:10
and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.

1 Corinthians 1:24
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Treasury of Scripture

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

in all.

1 Kings 4:29-34
And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore…

1 Kings 10:1-3,23,24
And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions…

Psalm 119:99
I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

wisdom and understanding.

Genesis 31:7
And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

Numbers 14:22
Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;

Nehemiah 4:12
And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.

the magicians.

Daniel 2:2-11,21-13
Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king…

Daniel 4:7,8
Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof…

Daniel 5:7,8,17
The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom…

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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.

Berean Study Bible

In every matter of wisdom and understanding
This phrase highlights the comprehensive nature of the evaluation. The Hebrew words for "wisdom" (חָכְמָה, chokmah) and "understanding" (בִּינָה, binah) suggest not only intellectual acumen but also practical insight and discernment. In the biblical context, wisdom is often associated with a divine gift, as seen in Solomon's request for wisdom (1 Kings 3:9). The emphasis here is on the God-given ability to discern and apply knowledge effectively, which Daniel and his friends possessed.

about which the king consulted them
The king, Nebuchadnezzar, sought counsel from Daniel and his friends, indicating their esteemed position in the Babylonian court. The Hebrew root for "consulted" (דָּרַשׁ, darash) implies a diligent seeking or inquiring, suggesting that the king valued their input highly. This reflects the biblical theme of God elevating His faithful servants to positions of influence, as seen in Joseph's rise to power in Egypt (Genesis 41:39-40).

he found them ten times better
The phrase "ten times better" is a hyperbolic expression in Hebrew, emphasizing the extraordinary superiority of Daniel and his friends. The number ten often symbolizes completeness or perfection in the Bible, suggesting that their wisdom and understanding were unmatched. This superiority is attributed to God's favor and blessing, as seen in the lives of other biblical figures who were set apart for divine purposes.

than all the magicians and enchanters
The "magicians" (חַרְטֹמִים, chartummim) and "enchanters" (אַשָּׁפִים, asaphim) were part of the Babylonian court's advisory class, skilled in the occult and mystical arts. These terms reflect the prevalent practices in ancient Near Eastern cultures, where such figures were believed to possess secret knowledge. The contrast between Daniel and these practitioners underscores the superiority of divine wisdom over human or demonic arts, a recurring theme in Scripture (e.g., Exodus 7:11-12).

in his entire kingdom
This phrase underscores the vastness of Nebuchadnezzar's realm, which was one of the largest empires of the ancient world. The Hebrew word for "kingdom" (מַלְכוּת, malkuth) denotes not just a political entity but also the king's dominion and authority. The fact that Daniel and his friends were found superior throughout the entire kingdom highlights the reach of God's influence and the fulfillment of His promises to His people, even in exile. This serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and His ability to work through His faithful servants in any circumstance.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 20. - And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. The Septuagint rendering here has a considerable addition, which really means, as it seems to us, the coalescence of two readings. It reads thus: "And in all learning (λόγῳ, a literal rendering of דָבָר, dabhar, 'a word' or 'thing'), and knowledge and education (παιδείᾳ) whatsoever the king asked of them, he found them ten times wiser than all the wise and learned men in all his kingdom." Thus far the verse is a rendering, almost slavishly close, of the Massoretic text; while the translator has recognized that the sentence is incomplete as it stands, and has inserted σοφωτέρους, and translated עַל (al) by ὑπὲρ. But the translation proceeds, "And the king honoured them, and appointed them rulers." This seems to have been due to a various reading. The sentence here translated was probably, in an old recension of the text, all that stood here, and some scribe, finding it, inserted it here to complete the sentence. The translation, however, proceeds yet further, "And constituted (ἀνεδείξεν) them wiser than all those of his in affairs in all his land and in his kingdom." This sentence has all the appearance of an attempt to render into Greek a piece of Hebrew that the translator imperfectly understood. As we find that ἀναδείκνυμι, represents occasionally הודע, and as the Syriac vav and the old Hebrew ע were almost identical in shape, יֹדע (yod'a,) might be read as ידוה evidently the translator has read חכמים (hacmeem) instead of חַרְטֻמִים (hartummeem), and has transferred the 'al col from before hartummeem to before the next word, which seems to have read, not 'ashshapheem, but hartzo, the relative seems to have been omitted, and the second col, "all." This great variety of reading suggests suspicions of the verse altogether, which the content of the verse rather strengthens. Theodotion is in strict agreement with the Massoretic text. The Peshitta also is at one with it in this, but these are late compared with the Septuagint. It has been tea,sued that the Book of Daniel is a story modelled on the history of Joseph, and the presence of harlummeem here is regarded as a proof of this quasi Egyptian origin (see Genesis 41:8; Exodus 7:11, etc.). One thing is clear, that the word - whatever it was - was unknown in Alexandria, where this translation was made; hartummeern, as occurring in the Pentateuch, the earliest part of the Old Testament translated, was certain to be known: how did the word here happen not to be known? We can understand the phenomenon if some word, probably of Babylonian origin, and unknown in Egypt and Palestine, occupied the place and was modified into a more intelligible shape by being turned into hartummeem. As the verse stands, hartummeem is grammatically placed in apposition to the following word, 'ashshapheem, as there is no conjunction to unite the two words. It is acknowledged by Professor Bevan that the latter word has an Assyrian origin; it is not inconceivable that hartummeem is really the explanatory word, though the arrangement of the words is decidedly against this view. It is to be observed here that 'ashshapheem has been naturalized in Eastern Aramaic, but has not found a lodgment in Western, save in Daniel. We cannot help feeling a little suspicion of the authenticity of this verse. This phrase, "ten times better," has all the look of that exaggeration which became the prevailing vice of later Judaism. As we have indicated, the variations in regard to the precise reading deepen this suspicion. If, however, the reference here is really to Daniel's revelation to the king of his dream, then the statement in the text is less objectionable. This was such a marvellous feat, and one that so put Daniel boys all the wise men of Babylon, that the language of the verse before us is rather rhetorical than exaggerated.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

In every
וְכֹ֗ל (wə·ḵōl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

matter
דְּבַר֙ (də·ḇar)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of wisdom
חָכְמַ֣ת (ḥā·ḵə·maṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2451: Wisdom

and understanding
בִּינָ֔ה (bî·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 998: An understanding

about which
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

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

consulted
בִּקֵּ֥שׁ (biq·qêš)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

them,
מֵהֶ֖ם (mê·hem)
Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

he found them
וַֽיִּמְצָאֵ֞ם (way·yim·ṣā·’êm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

ten
עֶ֣שֶׂר (‘e·śer)
Number - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6235: Ten

times
יָד֗וֹת (yā·ḏō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 3027: A hand

better than
עַ֤ל (‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

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

the magicians
הָֽאַשָּׁפִ֔ים (hā·’aš·šā·p̄îm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 825: A conjurer, necromancer

and enchanters
הַֽחַרְטֻמִּים֙ (ha·ḥar·ṭum·mîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2748: An engraver, writer

in his entire
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

kingdom.
מַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃ (mal·ḵū·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4438: Royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom

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OT Prophets: Daniel 1:20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding (Dan. Da Dn)