Daniel 1 · Verse 7

Daniel 1:7

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 Abed–nego.
Daniel 1:7, King James Version

Daniel 1:7 in other translations

BSBThe chief official gave them new names: To Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
WEBThe prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
ASVAnd 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.
YLTand 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.
DARBYAnd 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.
BBEAnd 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.
WebsterTo 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.

What does Daniel 1:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. gave names--designed to mark their new relation, that so they might forget their former religion and country (Ge 41:45). But as in Joseph's case (whom Pharaoh called Zaphnath-paaneah), so in Daniel's, the name indicative of his relation to a heathen court ("Belteshazzar," that is, "Bel's prince"), however flattering to him, is not the one retained by Scripture, but the name marking his relation to God ("Daniel," God my Judge, the theme of his prophecies being God's judgment on the heathen world powers). Hananiah--that is, "whom Jehovah hath favored." Shadrach--from Rak, in Babylonian, "the King," that is, "the Sun"; the same root as in Abrech (Ge 41:43, Margin), "Inspired or illumined by the Sun-god." Mishael--that is, "who is what God is?" Who is comparable to God? Meshach--The Babylonians retained the first syllable of Mishael, the Hebrew name; but for El, that is, God, substituted Shak, the Babylonian goddess, called Sheshach (Jr 25:26; 51:41), answering to the Earth, or else Venus, the goddess of love and mirth; it was during her feast that Cyrus took Babylon. Azariah--that is, "whom Jehovah helps." Abed-nego--that is, "servant of the shining fire." Thus, instead of to Jehovah, these His servants were dedicated by the heathen to their four leading gods [Herodotus, Clio]; Bel, the Chief-god, the Sun-god, Earth-god, and Fire-god. To the last the three youths were consigned when refusing to worship the golden image (Da 3:12). The Chaldee version translates "Lucifer," in Is 14:12, Nogea, the same as Nego. The names thus at the outset are significant of the seeming triumph, but sure downfall, of the heathen powers before Jehovah and His people.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 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, Jer 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 so the end, without attending to the natural division of the word Abed-Nego.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Daniel 1:1-7

The captivity of Daniel and his companions. (Dn 1:1-7) Their refusal to eat the king's meat. (Dn 1:8-16) Their improvement in wisdom. (Dn 1:17-21) Verses 1-7 Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, took Jerusalem, and carried whom and what he pleased away. From this first captivity, most think the seventy years are to be dated. It is the interest of princes to employ wise men; and it is…

Read the full comment on Daniel 1:1-7 →

Daniel 1:7 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיָּ֧שֶׂםvai.Ya.semand he assignedH7760
לָהֶ֛םla.Hemto them
שַׂ֥רsar[the] chief ofH8269
הַסָּרִיסִ֖יםha.sa.ri.Simthe officialsH5631
שֵׁמ֑וֹתshe.MotnamesH8034
וַיָּ֨שֶׂםvai.Ya.semand he assignedH7760
לְדָֽנִיֵּ֜אלle.da.ni.Yelto DanielH1840
בֵּ֣לְטְשַׁאצַּ֗רbe.le.te.sha.TzarBelteshazzarH1095
וְלַֽחֲנַנְיָה֙ve.la.cha.nan.Yahand to HananiahH2608
שַׁדְרַ֔ךְshad.RakhShadrachH7714
וּלְמִֽישָׁאֵ֣לu.le.mi.sha.'Eland to MishaelH4332
מֵישַׁ֔ךְmei.ShakhMeshachH4335
וְלַעֲזַרְיָ֖הve.la.'a.zar.Yahand to AzariahH5838
עֲבֵ֥ד'a.VedAbed-H5664
נְגֽוֹ\׃ne.Go-negoH5664

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Daniel 1:7

  • Daniel 5:12

    Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

  • Daniel 4:8

    But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,

  • Daniel 2:49

    Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

  • 2 Kings 24:17

    And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father’s brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

  • 2 Kings 23:34

    And Pharaoh–nechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.

  • Daniel 1:3

    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;

  • Daniel 3:12-30

    There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? …

  • Genesis 41:45

    And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath–paaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti–pherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

  • Daniel 2:26

    The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?

  • Daniel 1:10-11

    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. Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the prince.
3,10,11
gave names.
4:8; 5:12; Ge 41:45; 2Ki 23:34; 24:17
Hananiah.
2:49; 3:12-30

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Daniel 1:6

    Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

  • Daniel 1:7

    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 Abed–nego.

  • Daniel 1:8

    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.

Read all of Daniel 1

Daniel 1:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
A los cuales el príncipe de los eunucos puso nombres: y puso á Daniel, Beltsasar; y á Ananías, Sadrach; y á Misael, Mesach; y á Azarías, Abed-nego.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
et le prince des eunuques leur donna des noms: à Daniel il donna le nom de Belteshatsar, et à Hanania celui de Shadrac, et à Mishaël celui de Méshac, et à Azaria celui d’Abed-Nego.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und der Oberste der Kämmerer gab ihnen Namen; und er nannte Daniel Beltsazar, und Hananja Sadrach, und Misael Mesach, und Asarja Abednego.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et imposuit eis præpositus eunuchorum nomina: Danieli, Baltassar; Ananiæ, Sidrach; Misaëli, Misach; et Azariæ, Abdenago.