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Good News Translation

Daniel 1:7

The chief official gave them new names: Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Abed-Nego;   Azariah;   Belteshazzar;   Government;   Meshach;   Mishael;   School;   Thompson Chain Reference - Abed-Nego;   Bible Stories for Children;   Children;   Home;   Meshach;   Pleasant Sunday Afternoons;   Religion;   Shadrach;   Social Duties;   Stories for Children;   Temperance;   Temperance-Intemperance;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Babylon;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Abednego;   Ashpenaz;   Belshazzar;   Names;   Shadrach;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Adam;   Apocrypha;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Azariah;   Belteshazzar;   Captain;   Governor;   Meshach;   Shadrach;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Azariah;   Chronicles, the Books of;   Eunuch;   Hananiah;   Jehoiakim;   Mishael;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Abednego;   Ashpenaz;   Azariah;   Belteshazzar;   Daniel;   Daniel, Book of;   Hananiah;   Mishael;   Naming;   Shadrach;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Abednego;   Azariah;   Belteshazzar;   Hananiah;   Meshach;   Prince;   Shadrach;   Sheshbazzar;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Boanerges;   Handmaid;   Names;   Surname;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Abednego ;   Azariah ;   Eunuch;   Hananiah ;   Meshach ;   Mishael ;   Shadrach ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Abednego;   Belteshazzar;   Daniel;   Mishael;   Shadrach;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Abednego;   Belteshazzar;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Azari'ah;   Hanani'ah;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Abednego;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Abed-Nego;   Azariah;   Azarias;   Baltasar;   Belteshazzar;   Canon of the Old Testament;   Hananiah;   Jehoiachin;   Judah, Kingdom of;   Mishael;   Nebo (1);   Prince;   Song of the Three Children;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Ashpenaz;   Azariah;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Belshazzar;   Belteshazzar;   Hananiah;   Shadrach;   Shinnuy Ha-Shem;   Vegetarianism;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The chief eunuch gave them names; he gave the name Belteshazzar to Daniel, Shadrach to Hananiah, Meshach to Mishael, and Abednego to Azariah.
Hebrew Names Version
The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniyel he gave [the name of] Belteshatztzar; and to Hananyah, [of] Shadrakh; and to Misha'el, [of] Meshakh; and to `Azaryah, [of] `Aved-Nego.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
New American Standard Bible
Then the commander of the officials assigned new names to them; and to Daniel he assigned the name Belteshazzar, to Hananiah Shadrach, to Mishael Meshach, and to Azariah Abed-nego.
New Century Version
Ashpenaz, the chief officer, gave them Babylonian names. Daniel's new name was Belteshazzar, Hananiah's was Shadrach, Mishael's was Meshach, and Azariah's was Abednego.
Amplified Bible
The commander of the officials gave them [Babylonian] names: Daniel he named Belteshazzar, Hananiah he named Shadrach, Mishael he named Meshach, and Azariah he named Abed-nego.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Vnto whome the chiefe of the Eunuches gaue other names: for hee called Daniel, Belteshazzar, and Hananiah, Shadrach, & Mishael, Meshach, and Azariah, Abednego.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then the commander of the officials assigned new names to them; and to Daniel he assigned the name Belteshazzar, to Hananiah Shadrach, to Mishael Meshach and to Azariah Abed-nego.
Berean Standard Bible
The chief official gave them new names: To Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
Contemporary English Version
But the king's chief official gave them Babylonian names: Daniel became Belteshazzar, Hananiah became Shadrach, Mishael became Meshach, and Azariah became Abednego.
Complete Jewish Bible
The chief officer gave them other names — to Dani'el he gave the name Belt'shatzar; to Hananyah, Shadrakh; to Misha'el, Meishakh; and to ‘Azaryah, ‘Aved-N'go.
Darby Translation
And the prince of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel he gave [the name] Belteshazzar, and to Hananiah, Shadrach, and to Mishael, Meshach, and to Azariah, Abed-nego.
Easy-to-Read Version
Ashpenaz gave them Babylonian names. Daniel's new name was Belteshazzar, Hananiah's was Shadrach, Mishael's was Meshach, and Azariah's was Abednego.
George Lamsa Translation
And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names; Daniel he named Belteshazzar; and Hananiah, Shadrach; and Mishael, Meshach; and Azariah, Abednego.
Lexham English Bible
And the commander of the court officials gave them names, and he called Daniel, Belteshazzar; and Hananiah, Shadrach; and Mishael, Meshach; and Azariah, Abednego.
Literal Translation
to whom the chief of the eunuchs gave names. For he called Daniel, Belteshazzar; and Hananiah, Shadrach; and Mishael, Meshach; and Azariah, Abednego.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Vnto these the chefe chamberlayne gaue other names, and called Daniel, Balthasar: Ananias, Sydrac: Misael, Misac: and Asarias, Abdenago.
American Standard Version
And the prince of the eunuchs gave names unto them: unto Daniel he gave the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.
Bible in Basic English
And the captain of the unsexed servants gave them names; to Daniel he gave the name of Belteshazzar, to Hananiah the name of Shadrach, to Mishael the name of Meshach, and to Azariah the name of Abed-nego.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the chief of the officers gave names unto them: unto Daniel he gave the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.
King James Version (1611)
Unto whom the Prince of the Eunuches gaue names: for he gaue vnto daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah of Abednego.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Unto these the chiefe chamberlayne gaue other names, and called Daniel, Baltassar: Ananias, Sidrach: Misael, Misach: and Azarias, Abednego.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel, Baltasar; and to Ananias, Sedrach; and to Misael, Misach; and to Azarias, Abdenago.
English Revised Version
And the prince of the eunuchs gave names unto them: unto Daniel he gave the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.
World English Bible
The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave [the name of] Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, [of] Shadrach; and to Mishael, [of] Meshach; and to Azariah, [of] Abed-nego.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the souereyn of onest seruauntis and chast puttide to hem names; to Danyel he puttide Balthasar; to Ananye, Sidrach; to Mysael, Misach; and to Azarie, Abdenago.
Update Bible Version
And the prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave [the name of] Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, [of] Shadrach; and to Mishael, [of] Meshach; and to Azariah, [of] Abed-nego.
Webster's Bible Translation
To whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave to Daniel [the name] of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego.
New English Translation
But the overseer of the court officials renamed them. He gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar, Hananiah he named Shadrach, Mishael he named Meshach, and Azariah he named Abednego.
New King James Version
To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
New Living Translation
The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego.
New Life Bible
The king's head ruler gave them new names. To Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar. To Hananiah he gave the name Shadrach. To Mishael he gave the name Meshach. And to Azariah he gave the name Abed-nego.
New Revised Standard
The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and the ruler of the eunuchs gave them names, - yea he gave to Daniel the name of Belteshazzar, and to Hananiah of Shadrach, and to Mishael of Meshach, and to Azariah of Abed-nego.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the master of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel, Baltassar: to Ananias, Sidrach: to Misael, Misach: and to Azarias, Abdenago.
Revised Standard Version
And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshaz'zar, Hanani'ah he called Shadrach, Mish'a-el he called Meshach, and Azari'ah he called Abed'nego.
Young's Literal Translation
and the chief of the eunuchs setteth names on them, and he setteth on Daniel, Belteshazzar; and on Hananiah, Shadrach; and on Mishael, Meshach; and on Azariah, Abed-Nego.

Contextual Overview

1 In the third year that Jehoiakim was king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia attacked Jerusalem and surrounded the city. 2 The Lord let him capture King Jehoiakim and seize some of the Temple treasures. He took some prisoners back with him to the temple of his gods in Babylon, and put the captured treasures in the temple storerooms. 3 The king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief official, to select from among the Israelite exiles some young men of the royal family and of the noble families. 4 They had to be handsome, intelligent, well-trained, quick to learn, and free from physical defects, so that they would be qualified to serve in the royal court. Ashpenaz was to teach them to read and write the Babylonian language. 5 The king also gave orders that every day they were to be given the same food and wine as the members of the royal court. After three years of this training they were to appear before the king. 6 Among those chosen were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, all of whom were from the tribe of Judah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the prince: Daniel 1:3, Daniel 1:10, Daniel 1:11

gave names: Daniel 4:8, Daniel 5:12, Genesis 41:45, 2 Kings 23:34, 2 Kings 24:17

Hananiah: Daniel 2:49, Daniel 3:12-30

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 8:15 - officers 2 Chronicles 18:8 - officers Esther 2:7 - Hadassah Daniel 2:17 - Hananiah Daniel 2:26 - Daniel Daniel 4:19 - Daniel Daniel 10:1 - whose

Cross-References

Genesis 1:8
He named the dome "Sky." Evening passed and morning came—that was the second day.
Genesis 1:9
Then God commanded, "Let the water below the sky come together in one place, so that the land will appear"—and it was done.
Genesis 1:11
Then he commanded, "Let the earth produce all kinds of plants, those that bear grain and those that bear fruit"—and it was done.
Genesis 1:15
they will shine in the sky to give light to the earth"—and it was done.
Genesis 1:24
Then God commanded, "Let the earth produce all kinds of animal life: domestic and wild, large and small"—and it was done.
Genesis 1:28
blessed them, and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals.
Genesis 1:29
I have provided all kinds of grain and all kinds of fruit for you to eat;
Job 26:8
It is God who fills the clouds with water and keeps them from bursting with the weight.
Psalms 104:10
You make springs flow in the valleys, and rivers run between the hills.
Psalms 148:4
Praise him, highest heavens, and the waters above the sky.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names,.... Other names, Chaldee names, according to the names of the gods of that country, for honour and glory, as Saadiah observes; which was done either to make them more acceptable to the court and courtiers of the king of Babylon; and to show that they were his servants, and naturalized subjects; and chiefly to cause them to forget the names their fathers gave them, and out of hatred to them, having all of them in them the names of the true God, El or Jah; and, most of all, that they might forget the God of their fathers, whose names they bore. This prince of the eunuchs seems to be the same with the master of the eunuchs, Ashpenaz, before mentioned, so Jacchiades; but some take him to be another person: what he did in changing the names of these four Hebrew youths was not his own idea and by his own authority, but by the order of the king; Daniel 5:12:

for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; which signifies "Bel hath hid and treasured"; or Bel's treasurer, or the keeper of his treasures; see Daniel 1:2. Bel was the chief idol of the Chaldeans, Isaiah 46:1, and Daniel was named according to him, as Nebuchadnezzar himself says, Daniel 4:8 and differs but in one letter from the name of a successor of his, Belshazzar, Daniel 5:1, hence Daniel is thought by Broughton, and others, to be the Belesis of Diolorus Siculus: or it may be he had this name given him from "beltis" or "baaltis" u, a queen and goddess of the Babylonians, and may be compounded of that and "azer":

and to Hananiah of Shadrach; which some interpret a "tender pap", or "breast": others, the "king's messenger", or "the messenger the sun". The word "rach" signifies a "king" with the Chaldeans, as it did with the Egyptians, as may be observed in the word "abrec", the king's father, in Genesis 41:43 and is used by them of the sun, the prince of planets, whom they worshipped: others, "the inspiration of the sun", their idol. Hillerus w explains it of fire, the object of their adoration:

and to Mishael of Meshach; or; "of Shach", which was a name of a god or goddess of the Chaldeans, they worshipped; at the celebration of whose feast they were when Babylon was taken by Cyrus:

and to Azariah of Abednego; or "a servant, or worshipper of Nego". The word signifies "shining brightness": which some understand of fire worshipped by them; others of the bright planet Venus; and others of Lucifer, or the morning star. Saadiah takes it to be the same with Nebo, by a change of a letter, which was a god of the Chaldeans; see

Isaiah 46:1.

u Vid Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 1. p 38. &. l. 9. c. 41. p. 456. w Onomast. Sacr. p. 924.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names - This practice is common in Oriental courts. “The captive youths referred to in the notes on Daniel 1:5, in the Turkish court also receive new names, that is, Mahometan names, their former names being Christian.” - “Pict. Bible.” It is “possible” that this changing of their names may have been designed to make them forget their country, and their religion, and to lead them more entirely to identify themselves with the people in whose service they were now to be employed, though nothing of this is intimated in the history. Such a change, it is easy to conceive, might do much to make them feel that they were identified with the people among whom they were adopted, and to make them forget the customs and opinions of their own country. It is a circumstance which may give some additional probability to this supposition, that it is quite a common thing now at missionary stations to give new names to the children who are taken into the boarding-schools, and especially the names of the Christian benefactors at whose expense they are supported. Compare the same general character, for this change of names may have been, that the name of the true God constituted a part of their own names, and that thus they were constantly reminded of him and his worship. In the new names given them, the appellation of some of the idols worshipped in Babylon was incorporated, and this might serve as remembrancers of the divinities to whose service it was doubtless the intention to win them.

For he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar - The name Belteshazzar (בלטשׁאצר bêlṭesha'tstsar) is compounded of two words, and means according to Gesenius, “Bel’s prince;” that is, he whom Bel favors. “Bel” was the principal divinity worshipped at Babylon (notes, Isaiah 46:1), and this name would, therefore, be likely to impress the youthful Daniel with the idea that he was a favorite of this divinity, and to attract him to his service. It was a flattering distinction that he was one of the favorites of the principal god worshipped in Babylon, and this was not improbably designed to turn his attention from the God whose name had been incorporated in his own. The giving of this name seemed to imply, in the apprehension of Nebuchadnezzar, that the spirit of the gods was in him on whom it was conferred. See Daniel 4:8-9.

And to Hananiah, of Shadrach - The name “Hananiah” (חנניה chănanyâh) means, “whom Jehovah has graciously given,” and is the same with Ananias (Greek, Ανανίας Ananias), and would serve to remind its possessor of the name of “Jehovah,” and of his mercy. The name Shadrach (שׁדרך shadrak), according to Lorsbach, means “young friend of the king;” according to Bohlen, it means “rejoicing in the way,” and this last signification is the one which Gesenius prefers. In either signification it would contribute to a forgetfulness of the interesting significancy of the former name, and tend to obliterate the remembrance of the early training in the service of Jehovah.

And to Mishael, of Meshach - The name “Mishael” (מישׁאל mı̂yshâ'êl) means, “who is what God is?” - from מי mı̂y “who,” שׁ sha “what,” and אל ēl “God.” It would thus be a remembrancer of the greatness of God; of his supremacy over all his creatures, and of his “incomparable” exaltation over the universe. The signification of the name “Meshach” (מישׁך mêyshak) is less known. The Persian word ovicula means a little sheep (Gesenius), but why this name was given we are not informed. Might it have been on account of his beauty, his gentleness, his lamb-like disposition? If so, nothing perhaps would be better fitted to turn away the thoughts from the great God and his service to himself.

And to Azariah, of Abednego - The name “Azaziah” (עזריה ăzaryâh) means, “whom Jehovah helps,” from עזר âzar “to help,” and יה yâh, the same as “Jah” (a shortened form of Jehovah, יהוה yehovâh), This name, therefore, had a striking significancy, and would be a constant remembrancer of the true God, and of the value of his favor and protection. The name Abed-nego (עבד נגו ăbêd negô) means, “a servant of Nego,” or perhaps of “Nebo” - נבו nebô. This word “Nebo,” among the Chaldeans, probably denoted the planet Mercury. This planet was worshipped by them, and by the Arabs, as the celestial scribe or writer. See the notes at Isaiah 46:1. The Divine worship paid to this planet by the Chaldeans is attested, says Gesenius, by the many compound proper names of which this name forms a part; as Nebuchadnezzar, Nebushasban, and others mentioned in classic writers; as Nabonedus, Nabonassar, Nabonabus, etc. This change of name, therefore, was designed to denote a consecration to the service of this idol-god, and the change was eminently adapted to make him to whom it was given forget the true God, to whom, in earlier days, he had been devoted. It was only extraordinary grace which could have kept these youths in the paths of their early training, and in the faithful service of that God to whom they had been early consecrated, amidst the temptations by which they were now surrounded in a foreign land, and the influences which were employed to alienate them from the God of their fathers.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Daniel 1:7. Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names — This change of names, Calmet properly remarks, was a mark of dominion and authority. It was customary for masters to impose new names upon their slaves; and rulers often, on their ascending the throne, assumed a name different from that which they had before.

דניאל DANIEL signifies "God is my Judge." This name they changed into בלטשאצר BELTESHATSTSAR; in Chaldee, "The treasure of Bel," or "The despository of the secrets (or treasure) of Bel."

הנניה HANANIAH signifies, "The Lord has been gracious to me," or "He to whom the Lord is gracious." This name was changed into שדרך SHADRACH, Chaldee, which has been variously translated: "The inspiration of the sun;" "God the author of evil, be propitious to us;" "Let God preserve us from evil."

מישאל MISHAEL signifies "He who comes from God." Him they called מישך MESHACH, which in Chaldee signifies, "He who belongs to the goddess Sheshach," a celebrated deity of the Babylonians, mentioned by Jeremiah, Jeremiah 25:26.

עזריה AZARIAH, which signifies "The Lord is my Helper," they changed into אבד נגו ABED-NEGO, which in Chaldee is "the servant of Nego," who was one of their divinities; by which they meant either the sun, or the morning star; whether Jupiter or Venus.

The vicious pronunciation of this name should be carefully avoided; I mean that which lays the accent on the first syllable, and hurries to the end, without attending to the natural division of the word Abed-Nego.


 
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