Daniel 1:10

but he said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking thinner than those of the other young men your age? You would endanger my head before the king!”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The chief official of the eunuchs addresses Daniel while the king oversees their assigned rations. He voices concern over a potential royal inspection that would reveal their physical condition.

The words — יָרֵא (ya.Re') translates literally as "fearing" or "I fear," and אֲדֹנִי ('a.do.N/i) means "my master." The official uses these terms to express his anxiety about offending his superior.

The thread — This dynamic of fearing human authority appears in Proverbs 29:25, which warns that fear of man is a snare, and is echoed in John 12:42 where leaders conceal their belief due to fear of the Pharisees.

Why it lands — The text demands a clear assessment of where loyalty resides when institutional pressure conflicts with divine instruction. It requires readers to recognize that human consequences do not override obedience to God's provision.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּ֜אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said שַׂ֤רsar[the] chief of הַסָּרִיסִים֙ha./sa.ri.Simthe/ officials לְדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אלle./Da.ni.Yelto/ Daniel יָרֵ֤אya.Re'[am] fearing אֲנִי֙'a.NiI אֶת־'et-<obj.>אֲדֹנִ֣י'a.do.N/imaster/ my הַמֶּ֔לֶךְha./Me.lekhthe/ king אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwho מִנָּ֔הmi.Nahhe has assigned אֶת־'et-<obj.>מַאֲכַלְכֶ֖םma.'a.khal./Khemfood/ your וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>מִשְׁתֵּיכֶ֑םmish.tei./Khemdrink/ your אֲשֶׁ֡ר'a.Sherthat לָמָּה֩la./Mah<to>/ why?יִרְאֶ֨הyir.'Ehwill he see אֶת־'et-<obj.>פְּנֵיכֶ֜םpe.nei./Khemfaces/ your זֹֽעֲפִ֗יםzo.'a.Fimlooking thin מִן־min-more than הַיְלָדִים֙ha/y.la.Dimthe/ youths אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwho כְּגִֽילְכֶ֔םke./gi.le./Khem[are] about/ age/ your וְחִיַּבְתֶּ֥םve./chi.yav.Temand/ you will endanger אֶת־'et-<obj.>רֹאשִׁ֖יro.Sh/ihead/ my לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃la./Me.lekhto the/ king

King James Version

And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

Cross-references

Matthew 6:16 When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
John 12:42 Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue.
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.

People named

Daniel