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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The most striking thing here is how the Babylonian names deliberately erase the divine names in the young men's original Hebrew names. Daniel ("God is my Judge") became Belteshazzar (linked to Babylonian gods), Hananiah ("Yahweh is gracious") became Shadrach, Mishael ("Who is like God?") became Meshach, and Azariah ("Yahweh has helped") became Abednego. This name-changing wasn't just a formality; it was a powerful statement of control and an attempt to sever their connection to the God of their ancestors.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The narrative is unfolding within the Babylonian court, where these young Jewish exiles are being assimilated into Nebuchadnezzar's system. Following their selection and initial training, the chief eunuch renames them, stripping them of their Hebrew identities and bestowing upon them names tied to Babylonian deities. This act signifies a deliberate attempt to sever their connection to their past and integrate them fully into Babylonian culture and religion.
Imagine your name, the very sound of who you are, being taken away and replaced by something foreign. This wasn't just a nickname; it was a deliberate act of cultural and spiritual erasure.
The Babylonian authorities, led by the chief of the eunuchs, didn't just give these young Hebrew men new names; they imposed them. This practice was a common tool of conquest and assimilation in the ancient world.
A Mark of Dominion
The original names of these four young men weren't just pretty sounds; they were declarations of faith. The new names were designed to silence those declarations.
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A key element of the name-changing was the deliberate removal of any reference to the God of Israel. The new names pointed instead to Babylonian deities.
Trading Yahweh for Bel
This wasn't accidental. It was a strategic move to disconnect them from the God their names honored and to draw them into the worship of Babylonian idols.
Understand the original words
saris · Hebrew Noun
A title for a palace official, often an officer of the court. In a biblical context, it frequently denotes an official of the king tasked with the oversight and administration of specific royal duties or captive populations.
The act of renaming these young men wasn't just a bureaucratic change; it was a deliberate cultural and religious strategy by the Babylonian empire to strip them of their identity and allegiance to God, aiming to sever their connection to their heritage and assimilate them completely into a foreign, idolatrous system.
605 BC— this verse
First deportation of Judahites
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquers Judah and carries away a group of noble youths, including Daniel and his friends, to Babylon to be trained for service in the royal court.
c. 605 BC
Forced name changes in Babylonian court
As part of their assimilation into Babylonian society and culture, the captive youths are given new names that honor Babylonian deities, replacing their original Hebrew names which praised Yahweh.
c. 587/586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Following further rebellions, Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, deporting a larger portion of the population to Babylon. This event marks a significant turning point in Jewish history and faith.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
The Babylonian Empire falls to Cyrus the Great of Persia, bringing an end to Babylonian dominance.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus allowing Jewish return
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, though many remain in Babylon.
This passage shows a similar practice where Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphnath-paaneah, signifying the king's authority and an attempt to integrate Joseph into Egyptian culture and identity.
2 Kings 23:34Here, Pharaoh Necho changed the name of Eliakim to Jehoiakim upon making him king of Judah, demonstrating how foreign powers imposed new names as a sign of subjugation and control over conquered territories.
Isaiah 46:1This prophecy directly mentions the Babylonian gods Bel and Nebo, who are the likely sources of the new names given to Daniel and Azariah, highlighting the pagan religious context into which these youths were thrust.
Jeremiah 50:2This verse speaks of the downfall of Babylon and mentions Merodach (often associated with the god Marduk), a deity whose name may be related to the new name given to Mishael, Meshach, further underscoring the connection to Babylonian religious practices.
barnesDaniel 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 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…
pulpitDaniel 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."
Verse 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. The only thing to be noted in regard to the versions is that, with the exception of the Peshitta, all o…
The most striking thing here is how the Babylonian names deliberately erase the divine names in the young men's original Hebrew names. Daniel ("God is my Judge") became Belteshazzar (linked to Babylonian gods), Hananiah ("Yahweh is gracious") became Shadrach, Mishael ("Who is like God?") became Meshach, and Azariah ("Yahweh has helped") became Abednego. This name-changing wasn't just a formality; it was a powerful statement of control and an attempt to sever their connection to the God of their ancestors.
The narrative is unfolding within the Babylonian court, where these young Jewish exiles are being assimilated into Nebuchadnezzar's system. Following their selection and initial training, the chief eunuch renames them, stripping them of their Hebrew identities and bestowing upon them names tied to Babylonian deities. This act signifies a deliberate attempt to sever their connection to their past and integrate them fully into Babylonian culture and religion.
The narrative is unfolding within the Babylonian court, where these young Jewish exiles are being assimilated into Nebuchadnezzar's system. Following their selection and initial training, the chief eunuch renames them, stripping them of their Hebrew identities and bestowing upon them names tied to Babylonian deities. This act signifies a deliberate attempt to sever their connection to their past and integrate them fully into Babylonian culture and religion.
"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." — The most striking thing here is how the Babylonian names deliberately erase the divine names in the young men's original Hebrew names. Daniel ("God is my Judge") became Belteshazzar (linked to Babylo…
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Last reviewed October 2026