Daniel 1:4

New International Reader's Version

He was looking for young men who were healthy and handsome. They had to be able to learn anything. They had to be well educated. They had to have the ability to understand new things quickly and easily. The king wanted men who could serve in his palace. Ashpenaz was supposed to teach them the Babylonian language and writings.

Cross References

Genesis 41:46

Joseph was 30 years old when he began serving Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. He left Pharaoh’s palace and traveled all over Egypt.

2 Samuel 14:25

In the whole land of Israel there wasn’t any man as handsome as Absalom was. That’s why everyone praised him. From the top of his head to the bottom of his feet he didn’t have any flaws.

Proverbs 22:29

Do you see someone who does good work? That person will serve kings. That person won’t serve officials of lower rank.

Ecclesiastes 7:19

Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.

Isaiah 36:11

Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah spoke to the field commander. They said, “Please speak to us in the Aramaic language. We understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew. If you do, the people on the wall will be able to understand you.”

Jeremiah 5:15

“People of Israel, listen to me,” announces the Lord. “I am bringing against you a nation from far away. It is an old nation. And it will last for a long time. Its people speak a language you do not know. You can’t understand what they are saying.

Daniel 2:10

They answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what you are asking! No king has ever asked for anything like that. Not even a king as great and mighty as you has asked for it. Those who get knowledge by using magic have never been asked to do what you are asking. And those who study the heavens haven’t been asked to do it either.

Daniel 2:2

So the king sent for those who claimed to get knowledge by using magic. He also sent for those who practiced evil magic and those who studied the heavens. He wanted them to tell him what he had dreamed. They came in and stood in front of the king.

Daniel 3:8

At this time some people who studied the heavens came forward. They spoke against the Jews.

Daniel 4:7

Those who try to figure things out by using magic came. So did those who study the heavens. I told all of them what I had dreamed. But they couldn’t tell me what it meant.

Daniel 5:11

I know a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. He has understanding and wisdom and good sense just like the gods. He was chief of those who tried to figure things out by using magic. And he was in charge of those who studied the heavens. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him to that position.

Daniel 5:7

The king sent for those who try to figure things out by using magic. He also sent for those who study the heavens. All of them were wise men in Babylon. Then the king spoke to them. He said, “I want one of you to read this writing. I want you to tell me what it means. Whoever does this will be dressed in purple clothes. A gold chain will be put around his neck. And he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

Daniel 9:1

It was the first year that Darius was king of Babylon. He was from Media and was the son of Xerxes.

Zechariah 2:4

He said to him, “Run! Tell that young man Zechariah, ‘Jerusalem will be a city that does not have any walls around it. It will have huge numbers of people and animals in it.

Acts 7:20

“At that time Moses was born. He was not an ordinary child. For three months he was taken care of by his family.

Acts 7:22

Moses was taught all the knowledge of the people of Egypt. He became a powerful speaker and a man of action.

Ephesians 5:27

He did it to bring her to himself as a brightly shining church. He wants a church that has no stain or wrinkle or any other flaw. He wants a church that is holy and without blame.

Judges 8:18

Then he spoke to Zebah and Zalmunna. He asked, “What were the men like that you killed at Tabor?” “Men like you,” they answered. “Each one walked as if he were a prince.”