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 Abednego.

Unto whom the prince {H8269} of the eunuchs {H5631} gave {H7760} names {H8034}: for he gave {H7760} unto Daniel {H1840} the name of Belteshazzar {H1095}; and to Hananiah {H2608}, of Shadrach {H7714}; and to Mishael {H4332}, of Meshach {H4335}; and to Azariah {H5838}, of Abednego {H5664}.

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.

The chief official gave them new names: To Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

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.

Daniel 1:7 describes a pivotal moment in the lives of Daniel and his three friends—Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—after their capture by the Babylonians. This verse details the forced renaming of these young Jewish men by the "prince of the eunuchs," a symbolic act of subjugation and an attempt to erase their Hebrew identity and integrate them into Babylonian culture and religion.

Historical and Cultural Context

Following the first Babylonian siege of Jerusalem (around 605 BC), King Nebuchadnezzar ordered that some of the brightest and noblest young men from Judah be brought to Babylon. The purpose was to train them for service in the Babylonian court. Part of this assimilation process involved providing them with a Babylonian education, food, and crucially, new names. The changing of names by conquerors was a common ancient Near Eastern practice, signifying ownership, authority, and a complete break from the individual's past identity and allegiances. It was a powerful psychological and spiritual tactic to indoctrinate the captives.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Identity Under Pressure: The primary theme is the challenge to the young men's Jewish identity. Their original Hebrew names explicitly honored the God of Israel. The new Babylonian names, however, were typically linked to pagan deities, attempting to shift their allegiance and worldview.
  • Spiritual Warfare: This act represents a subtle form of spiritual warfare, aiming to strip away their connection to Yahweh and bind them to the gods of Babylon. It sets the stage for the later trials of faith these men would face, particularly their refusal to compromise their religious convictions (as seen in Daniel chapter 3 and Daniel chapter 6).
  • God's Sovereignty (Implicit): While the Babylonians asserted their dominance, the narrative of Daniel consistently demonstrates God's ultimate sovereignty over earthly kingdoms and His ability to preserve His faithful servants, even in exile.

Linguistic Insights

The names given to Daniel and his friends are highly significant:

  • Daniel (Hebrew: Daniyyel) means "God is my judge." He was renamed Belteshazzar (Babylonian: Belteshassar), meaning "Bel protect his life" or "Bel's prince," honoring Bel (Marduk), the chief god of Babylon.
  • Hananiah (Hebrew: Ḥananyah) means "Yahweh has been gracious." He was renamed Shadrach, a name whose exact meaning is debated but is likely related to a Babylonian deity, possibly the god Aku or Marduk.
  • Mishael (Hebrew: Misha'el) means "Who is what God is?" (a rhetorical question affirming God's uniqueness). He became Meshach, also of uncertain Babylonian origin, possibly relating to Aku.
  • Azariah (Hebrew: ʿAzaryah) means "Yahweh has helped." He was given the name Abednego (Babylonian: ʿAbêd Nəḡō), meaning "servant of Nabu," another prominent Babylonian deity, son of Bel/Marduk.

The stark contrast between the Hebrew names, all containing elements referring to "El" (God) or "Yah" (Yahweh), and the Babylonian names, which invoked pagan deities, underscores the spiritual conflict inherent in this act of renaming.

Practical Application

Daniel 1:7 offers a timeless lesson about maintaining one's spiritual identity in a world that often seeks to conform believers to its own standards. Just as these young men faced pressure to assimilate, Christians today encounter cultural, social, and professional pressures that challenge their faith and values. The verse highlights the importance of understanding who we are in Christ and remaining faithful to God, even when circumstances attempt to strip away our core beliefs. Their later refusal to defile themselves (as seen in Daniel 1:8) demonstrates their commitment to their true identity despite the new names imposed upon them.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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 Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel [sat] in the gate of the king.

  • 2 Kings 23:34

    And Pharaohnechoh 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.

  • 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.

  • 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 1:10

    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.

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