The Life Foundations
Nexus
IQ, EINSTEIN, AND
THE PROPHET DANIEL
By Dr. Michael J. Bisconti
Most
people who attend school in the United States take an IQ test somewhere along
the way. The standard low end for genius level is 140. Einstein
tested 184. Don't let anyone lock you into an IQ score, however.
The reason is that everyone is born with an IQ RANGE, not an IQ SCORE.
For example, Einstein's IQ RANGE was 150 to 200. Your IQ score is
influenced by a variety of factors. One obvious one is “how much you
know.” Another is how rested you were when you were tested. Another
is how relaxed you were when you were tested. Generally, children
with great home lives test higher.
There are many other factors that affect your IQ score. In addition, the Bible plainly teaches that
God determines people's IQs. We direct your attention to Daniel, Chapter
One. We provide the entire passage for
your convenience. Note, for those of
you who are limited on time, you may read just the verses in bold (verses 17
and 20) then proceed to the rest of our commentary at the bottom of the page.
Book of
Daniel, Chapter One
(1) In the third year of the
reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto
Jerusalem, and besieged it.
(2) And the Lord gave
Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of
God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he
brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
(3) And the king spake
unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of
the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
(4) Children in whom was
no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in
knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to
stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the
tongue of the Chaldeans.
(5) And the king appointed
them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so
nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before
the king.
(6) Now among these were
of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
(7) Unto whom the prince
of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of
Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to
Azariah, of Abednego.
(8) But Daniel purposed in
his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat,
nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the
eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
(9) Now God had brought
Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
(10) 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.
(11) Then said Daniel to
Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael,
and Azariah,
(12) Prove thy servants, I
beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
(13) 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.
(14) So he consented to
them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
(15) 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.
(16) Thus Melzar took away
the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them
pulse.
(17) As for these four
children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and
Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
(18) Now at the end of the
days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the
eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
(19) And the king communed
with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael,
and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
(20) And in all matters of
wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them
ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were
in all his realm.
(21) And Daniel continued even
unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Daniel
1:17 says: “As for these four children,
God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom....” Daniel 1:20 says: “And in all
matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found
them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers
that were in all his realm.” Note that
“God gave them knowledge and skill.”
Skill is the “ability to use knowledge”; in other words, INTELLIGENCE. Note, in passing, that “the king...found
them ten times better than [ALL OF THE SMARTEST ADULTS]....” The words “ten times better” tell us that
the Bible, and therefore God, assigned a NUMERICAL VALUE to their
intelligence. They had a higher
“intelligence number,” A HIGHER “IQ.”
Scholarship
note: Note the word “skill” in
verse 17. The root Hebrew word is “שׂכל.” The
transliteration (equivalent in English letters) is “śâkal.” The Hebrew word is pronounced “saw-kal'.” It means “...to be (causatively make
or act) circumspect and hence intelligent…”(Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance).