What Does Daniel 1:10 Mean in the King James?
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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The youths’ faces can become evidence against the king’s assigned provision, and make the steward personally liable.
THE MEANING
The king assigns the food and drink, and the youths’ faces become a visible measure of that provision. If they look worse than their peers, the steward knows the king may hold him liable with his own head.
THE ROOT
חִיַּבְתֶּם
ḥiyyavtem
GROWS FROM
חוב
ḥ-w-b
To incur debt, guilt, or liability; to be held accountable.
“endanger” in this verse is ḥiyyavtem. The steward does not merely fear that the king may be displeased; he says his own head will be made liable. The word makes the youths’ visible condition a matter of personal accountability for the one entrusted with their care.
ALSO GROWS
ḥayyav: Liable or obligated.
חַיָּב
It names the steward’s position if the king judges the result as his failure.
ḥov: Debt or obligation.
חוֹב
It reveals the weight of responsibility behind the threat to his head.
מִנָּה
minnah
GROWS FROM
מנה
m-n-h
To count, assign, or allot.
“appointed” in this verse is minnah. The king has assigned the food and drink; the steward administers an allotment with consequences. The youths’ appearance can be read as evidence of how that assigned provision has worked.
ALSO GROWS
manah: To count, appoint, or assign.
מָנָה
It carries the idea of a provision deliberately allotted by the king.
maneh: A measured unit or portion.
מָנֶה
It echoes the measured character of the food and drink entrusted to the steward.
פְּנֵיכֶם
peneikhem
GROWS FROM
פנה
p-n-h
To turn or face toward.
“faces” in this verse is peneikhem. The face is what turns toward another person and becomes visible to them. Here, that visible surface is something the king may inspect and judge, with consequences for the steward.
ALSO GROWS
panah: To turn or face toward.
פָּנָה
It gives the face its orientation toward the person who sees it.
panim: Face or presence.
פָּנִים
It shows how the youths’ outward appearance becomes present before the king as evidence.
THE PATTERN
A visible face makes condition legible to others, who may judge it as evidence of what lies behind it.
And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.THE THREAD
And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?Both verses use פָּנִים (panim, face or countenance), connected with פנה (panah, turn toward): Cain’s face has fallen, while Daniel’s youths’ faces are what the king will inspect. The face becomes the surface turned toward another’s judgment.
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