Bel and the dragon 1:7 - Then Daniel laughed, and said, O king, be not deceived: for this is but clay within, and brass without, and did never eat or drink anything.
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What does "Bel and the dragon 1:7" mean?
This verse comes from the apocryphal book of Bel and the Dragon, which is an addition to the Book of Daniel in some versions of the Bible (specifically the Septuagint and Vulgate). The story involves Daniel proving to King Astyages that the idol Bel, which the Babylonians worship, is not a living god but a mere artifact.
Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:
"Then Daniel laughed...": This indicates Daniel's amusement at the king's belief in the idol's divinity. He knows it's a fraud.
"...and said, O king, be not deceived...": Daniel directly addresses the king, warning him not to be fooled into thinking that Bel is a living god.
"...for this is but clay within, and brass without...": This reveals the composition of the idol. It's made of clay on the inside and covered with brass (or bronze) on the outside. This means the idol is simply a constructed object, not a supernatural being.
"...and did never eat or drink anything.": This points out the absurdity of believing that Bel actually consumes the food and drink that is offered to it. The idol is inanimate and incapable of eating or drinking.
In essence, Daniel is exposing the idol of Bel as a fake. He uses his knowledge of its construction to demonstrate that it cannot be a god, and that the offerings made to it are pointless.
The verse highlights the theme of the story: the foolishness of idolatry and the importance of worshipping the true God.
Bel and the dragon 1:7 - Then Daniel laughed, and said, O king, be not deceived: for this is but clay within, and brass without, and did never eat or drink anything.
What does "Bel and the dragon 1:7" mean?
This verse comes from the apocryphal book of Bel and the Dragon, which is an addition to the Book of Daniel in some versions of the Bible (specifically the Septuagint and Vulgate). The story involves Daniel proving to King Astyages that the idol Bel, which the Babylonians worship, is not a living god but a mere artifact.
Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:
"Then Daniel laughed...": This indicates Daniel's amusement at the king's belief in the idol's divinity. He knows it's a fraud.
"...and said, O king, be not deceived...": Daniel directly addresses the king, warning him not to be fooled into thinking that Bel is a living god.
"...for this is but clay within, and brass without...": This reveals the composition of the idol. It's made of clay on the inside and covered with brass (or bronze) on the outside. This means the idol is simply a constructed object, not a supernatural being.
"...and did never eat or drink anything.": This points out the absurdity of believing that Bel actually consumes the food and drink that is offered to it. The idol is inanimate and incapable of eating or drinking.
In essence, Daniel is exposing the idol of Bel as a fake. He uses his knowledge of its construction to demonstrate that it cannot be a god, and that the offerings made to it are pointless.
The verse highlights the theme of the story: the foolishness of idolatry and the importance of worshipping the true God.