Daniel 1:12

“Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given only vegetables to eat and water to drink.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Daniel speaks to the steward appointed by the chief official over himself, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. This request occurs during their initial training period in Babylon, immediately before the steward evaluates their physical condition.

The words — The Hebrew נָא (na') translates as "please," while נַס (nas) means "put to the test." These terms frame the proposal as a limited trial rather than a permanent demand.

The thread — The request points to Genesis 1:29, which establishes plants and seeds as the original human diet, and anticipates Romans 14:2, where dietary convictions divide believers. It also stands in contrast to Deuteronomy 8:3, which describes God’s provision of manna to humble His people.

Why it lands — The verse requires a reader to evaluate whether adherence to a specific standard justifies requesting a temporary exemption from authority. It demands a willingness to accept a short-term trial to preserve long-term faithfulness.

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

נַס־nas-put to [the] test נָ֥אna'please אֶת־'et-<obj.>עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ'a.va.Dei./khaservants/ your יָמִ֣יםya.Mimdays עֲשָׂרָ֑ה'a.sa.Rahten וְיִתְּנוּ־ve./yi.te.nu-so/ let people giveלָ֜נוּLa./nuto/ usמִן־min-some of הַזֵּרֹעִ֛יםha./ze.ro.'Imthe/ vegetables וְנֹאכְלָ֖הve./no.khe.Lahso/ we may eat וּמַ֥יִםu./Ma.yimand/ water וְנִשְׁתֶּֽה׃ve./nish.Tehso/ we may drink

King James Version

Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Cross-references

Romans 14:2 For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables.
Genesis 1:29 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.
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.
Daniel 1:16 So the steward continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and he gave them vegetables instead.