New King James Version
Daniel 1:7
7To 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.
Daniel 1:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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 Living Translation (NLT)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.
Context of Daniel 1:7
5And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. 6Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 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. 8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.
Read all of Daniel 1Daniel 1:7 word by word
וַיָּ֧שֶׂם לָהֶ֛ם שַׂ֥ר הַסָּרִיסִ֖ים שֵׁמ֑וֹת וַיָּ֨שֶׂם לְדָֽנִיֵּ֜אל בֵּ֣לְטְשַׁאצַּ֗ר וְלַֽחֲנַנְיָה֙ שַׁדְרַ֔ךְ וּלְמִֽישָׁאֵ֣ל מֵישַׁ֔ךְ וְלַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה עֲבֵ֥ד נְגֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Unto whom the princeשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
- of the eunuchsסָרִיסsârîys sâris · eunuchH5631
- gaveשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: nameH7760
- namesשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
- unto Danielדָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵלdânîyê'l dâni'êl · DanielH1840
- of Belteshazzarבֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּרbêlţesha'tstsar · BelteshazzarH1095
- and to Hananiahחֲנַנְיָ֫הוּchănanyâh chănanyâhû · HananiahH2608
- of Shadrachשַׁדְרַךְshadrak · ShadrachH7714
- and to Mishaelמִישָׁאֵלmîyshâ'êl · MishaelH4332
- of Meshachמֵישַׁךְmêyshak · MeshachH4335
- and to Azariahעֲזַרְיָה‛ăzaryâh ‛ăzaryâhû · AzariahH5838
- of Abed–negoעֲבֵד נְגוֹ‛ăbêd negô · AbednegoH5664
Cross-references for Daniel 1:7
- Daniel 1:3Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles,
- Daniel 4:8But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying:
- Daniel 5:12Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”
- Genesis 41:45And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.
- 2 Kings 23:34Then Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Pharaoh took Jehoahaz and went to Egypt, and he died there.
- 2 Kings 24:17Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
- Daniel 2:49Also Daniel petitioned 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.
- Daniel 3:12There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Commentaries on Daniel 1:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Unto 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Unto 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-7Their new Babylonian names were meant to help bring the young Hebrews into Babylonian culture. Daniel, whose name means "God is my Judge" or "God has judged," became Belteshazzar, which means "Bel [a Babylonian god] protects his life." Hananiah, whose name means "the Lord is grace," became Shadrach, which may mean "command of Aku," another Babylonian god. Mishael, whose name means "who is God?" became Meshach, which means "who is Aku?" Azariah, whose name…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. 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…Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 1:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Daniel 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries