What Does Daniel 1:13 Mean in the King James?

Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

Daniel 1:13 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The verse makes the face a visible record: what is received becomes something another can see.

THE MEANING

The comparison is placed in the open: you can see the condition of those receiving one portion beside the condition of those receiving another. What is visible becomes evidence, and the one who sees must decide how to respond.

THE ROOT

מַרְאֶה

mar'eh

GROWS FROM

ראה

To see, look at, or perceive.

“countenances” in this verse is mar'eh. Appearance, being seen, and seeing all grow from the same root here. The verse repeats that root from “let our appearance be seen” to “as thou seest,” making visible condition the evidence for the decision.

ALSO GROWS

ra'ah: To see or perceive.

רָאָה

This is the root verb behind the verse’s repeated language of seeing.

ro'eh: One who sees; a seer.

רֹאֶה

It echoes the role of the person asked to inspect the two groups and judge what to do.

mar'eh: Appearance or vision; what is seen.

מַרְאֶה

This is the form translated “countenance,” tying visible appearance directly to the act of seeing.

THE PATTERN

Visible outcomes can serve as evidence for judgment, even though appearance alone does not disclose the whole person.

And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.

Daniel 1:15 · KJVThe comparison requested in this verse becomes visible in the changed appearance of the two groups.

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7 · KJVThe verse recognizes visible appearance as something people judge while showing that it does not reveal the whole person.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Matthew 7:16 · KJVLike the observable condition in Daniel, fruit makes the result of a life visible and available to discern.

THE THREAD

And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.

Daniel 1:15 · KJV

⁨מַרְאֶה⁩ (mar’eh, appearance) and ⁨ראה⁩ (ra’ah, see) connect the request to look in this verse with the result that appears in the next. The comparison becomes something visible, answering the test the verse sets out.

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