פַּת־בָּג (pat.bag)
pat.bag
choice
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun pat-bag refers to the special portion of food set aside for the king, specifically his choice or delicate provisions. In the book of Daniel, this term describes the rich diet that King Nebuchadnezzar ordered for his young captives, including Daniel and his friends (Daniel 1:5). It was not merely sustenance but a symbol of royal favor and high status within the Babylonian court.
Its meaning centers on quality and selection. The word implies something chosen from the best available options, often translated as "delicacies" or "fine food." By refusing this specific portion, Daniel demonstrated that his loyalty to God took precedence over political advancement or physical comfort, even when offered the finest things the empire could provide.
Translators typically render it as "the king's food" or "delicacies." The term highlights the tension between assimilation and faithfulness. Accepting the pat-bag would have meant full integration into Babylonian culture, while rejecting it was a quiet but firm act of resistance that preserved Daniel’s distinct identity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The phrase 'king’s delicacies' in Daniel describes more than just a high-end meal; it represents a package of royal favor, cultural assimilation, and political advancement. For Daniel and his friends, accepting this food was a subtle but significant step toward becoming Babylonians rather than remaining faithful to their covenant with God. It illustrates how even good or prestigious opportunities can carry hidden costs to our spiritual integrity.
We often face similar choices where success seems to require compromising our values. Daniel’s decision shows that loyalty to God is not always loud or dramatic; sometimes it is a quiet refusal to let the world define your identity. By choosing simplicity over status, they proved that their strength came from faithfulness, not from the approval of earthly powers.
This story invites us to examine what we might be accepting in our own lives that could slowly erode our distinctiveness as believers. It is a reminder that true security does not come from the finest tables or highest positions, but from a heart that remains fixed on God, even when the world offers its best.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] delicaci[es] of2×
- with/ [the] delicaci[es] of1×
- some of/ [the] deli-1×
- delicaci[es]/ their1×
- <of> deli-1×
- -cacies/ his1×
- -caci[es] of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פַּתְבָּגָ֔/ם1×
- פַּתְבַּ֥ג1×
- פַּתְבַּ֣ג1×
- פַת\־1×
- מִ/פַּת\־1×
- בָּג֛/וֹ1×
- בַּ֤ג1×
- בְּ/פַתְבַּ֥ג1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 1:8
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
This verse marks the decisive moment where Daniel actively chooses to avoid defilement, showing that faithfulness requires intentional boundaries rather than passive avoidance.
-
Daniel 1:5
The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years, that at its end they should stand before the king.
Here the term establishes the high stakes of the offer, revealing that the king’s food was designed to nourish and integrate the captives into Babylonian society over three years.
-
Daniel 1:16
So the steward took away their delicacies and the wine that they were given to drink, and gave them vegetables.
The removal of these delicacies highlights the practical outcome of Daniel’s request, showing that God provided for their needs through simple food rather than royal provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does pat-bag mean in Daniel?
Why did Daniel refuse the king’s delicacies?
Is this word used elsewhere in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (6 verses across 1 books)
Daniel 6 verses
The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and that they…
Daniel 1:8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which…
Daniel 1:13Then let our faces be examined before you, and the face of the youths who eat of the king’s delicacies; and as you see,…
Daniel 1:15At the end of ten days, their faces appeared fairer and they were fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate of the…
Daniel 1:16So the steward took away their delicacies and the wine that they were given to drink, and gave them vegetables.
Daniel 11:26Yes, those who eat of his delicacies will destroy him, and his army will be swept away. Many will fall down slain.