Daniel 1

Daniel · Chapter 1

Daniel 1:7

1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.3And 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;4Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.5And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.6Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:7Unto 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.8But 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.9Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.10And 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.11Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,12Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.13Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.14So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.15And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.16Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.17As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.18Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.19And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.20And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.21And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
7Unto 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.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.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Four young men of Judah, taken to Babylon to be trained for the king's service, are given new names by the official in charge of them. Daniel becomes Belteshazzar, and his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah become Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The very next verse shows that the new names did not change Daniel's loyalty to God. Daniel 1:3Daniel 1:4Daniel 1:6Daniel 1:7Daniel 1:8

SpeakingThe narrator of the book tells this part of the story about Daniel in the third person, as chapters 1-6 do. Daniel overview

ToThe book is written for God's people in exile in Babylon and after it. Daniel overview

Also involvedDaniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, young men of Judah's royal family and nobles, are renamed by the prince of the eunuchs. Ashpenaz is named as the master of the king's eunuchs. Daniel 1:3Daniel 1:6Daniel 1:7

The prince of the eunuchs gives each young man a new name. Two of the old names speak of God: Hananiah means "God has favoured" and Mishael means "who is what God is." The new names point elsewhere: Shadrach is given as "royal" or "the great scribe," Meshach as "guest of a king," Abednego as "servant of Nebo," and Nebuchadnezzar says Belteshazzar was given "according to the name of my God." Daniel 1:7Strong's H2608TStrong's H4332IStrong's H7714Strong's H4335Strong's H5664Daniel 4:8

Babylon, in the land of Shinar, where the young men were being prepared to stand in the king's palace. Daniel 1:2Daniel 1:4Daniel overview

BABYLONIAMEDIABabylon 1SusaUlai

The eventsThis happens after Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem in the third year of Jehoiakim, about 605 BC, at the start of the young men's three years of training. Daniel 1:1Daniel 1:5Daniel overview

WrittenTraditional view: Daniel wrote the book in the 500s BC. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date its final form to about 167-164 BC, while others hold to the 500s BC date. Daniel overview

HereThe renaming came along with the rest of the young men's preparation for the king's service: teaching them the Chaldeans' learning and language and feeding them from the king's table. Foreign kings had also changed the names of Judah's kings, as Pharaoh renamed Eliakim Jehoiakim and Nebuchadnezzar renamed Mattaniah Zedekiah. Daniel 1:4Daniel 1:52 Kings 23:342 Kings 24:17

In the whole of ScriptureThe book shows God's people how to stay faithful under foreign rulers. The young men went by their new names in public life, yet Daniel refused the king's food and his friends later refused to bow down to the king's image. Daniel overviewDaniel 1:8Daniel 2:49Strong's H4332I

For readersOthers may give us a new name or a new role, but they cannot decide whom we serve. Daniel was still known as Daniel, "whom the king named Belteshazzar"; God brought him into favour with the prince of the eunuchs and gave all four young men knowledge and skill in that foreign court. Daniel 5:12Daniel 1:9Daniel 1:17

  • Abednegoעֲבֵד נְגוֹ
    Hebrew · a.ved ne.go · H5664

    The lexicon gives the meaning "servant of Nebo." It is the new name given to Azariah, so the name he answered to in Babylon called him a servant of Nebo. Strong's H5664Strong's H5838Z

  • Belteshazzarבֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר
    Hebrew · be.le.te.shats.tsar · H1095

    Nebuchadnezzar says Daniel was named Belteshazzar "according to the name of my God." The name ties Daniel to the king's god, yet the book keeps calling him Daniel. Strong's H1095Daniel 4:8Daniel 5:12

  • Meshachמֵישַׁךְ
    Hebrew · me.shakh · H4335

    The lexicon gives the meaning "guest of a king." It replaced Mishael, "who is what God is." The name moved from speaking of God to speaking of a king. Strong's H4335Strong's H4332I

  • eunuchsסָרִיס
    Hebrew · sa.ris · H5631

    The word is glossed "official, eunuch." It names the court officials who were placed in charge of the young men's training and care. Strong's H5631Daniel 1:3Daniel 1:11

Takeaway

Babylon gave these young men new names as it trained them to serve its king. Yet Daniel purposed not to defile himself with the king's food, and all four ate pulse and drank water instead, and God gave them knowledge and skill. Daniel 1:4Daniel 1:7Daniel 1:8Daniel 1:12Daniel 1:16Daniel 1:17

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.

The world around the text

Behind this verse

New names
Daniel and his friends were given Babylonian names. Nebuchadnezzar says Belteshazzar was named "according to the name of my god." Daniel 1:7Daniel 4:8

About 605-536 BC. King of Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC). Where Daniel lived and served for about seventy years. The capital of the Babylonian empire, on the Euphrates south of modern Baghdad, in the land the Bible calls Shinar and Chaldea.

Who ruled
  • King of BabylonNebuchadnezzar605-562 BC

    The king who besieged Jerusalem, carried Daniel and the temple vessels to Babylon, and later destroyed the city and temple. His own building inscriptions boast of the Babylon he built. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 24:12 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 25:1Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)

  • Last king of Babylon, and his son who ruled in his placeNabonidus and Belshazzar556-539 BC

    Nabonidus spent about ten years at the oasis of Tema in Arabia and left his son Belshazzar to rule in Babylon. That is why Belshazzar could only offer Daniel the place of "third ruler in the kingdom": he was himself second. Daniel 5:1Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:29Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Verse Account of Nabonidus

  • Received the kingdom after Babylon fellDarius the MedianFrom 539 BC

    Daniel says he "took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old" and set 120 princes over it. Records outside the Bible do not name him; he has been identified with Gubaru, the governor Cyrus set over Babylon, or with Cyrus himself. Daniel 5:31Daniel 6:1Daniel 9:1Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)

  • King of PersiaCyrus559-530 BC

    He united the Medes and Persians, took Babylon in 539 BC, and let the exiles go home to rebuild the temple, as Isaiah had named him beforehand. Daniel 1:21Daniel 6:28Daniel 10:1Ezra 1:1-4Isaiah 44:28-45:1Cyrus Cylinder

  • King of JudahJehoiakim609-598 BC

    Judah's king when Daniel was taken. Jeremiah warned him and his people that the land would serve Babylon seventy years. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 23:36-24:6Jeremiah 25:1-11

What was happening, 612 BC to 167 BC
  1. 612 BC
    WarNineveh falls

    Babylon and the Medes destroyed Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as Nahum and Zephaniah had foretold. Babylon became the great power of the region. Nahum 3:7Zephaniah 2:13Fall of Nineveh Chronicle (ABC 3)

  2. 605 BC
    WarBattle of Carchemish

    Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Carchemish on the Euphrates, in Jehoiakim's fourth year. The same year he came against Jerusalem and took the first captives, Daniel among them. Jeremiah 46:2Daniel 1:1-4Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)

  3. 597 BC
    WarJerusalem surrenders

    Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiachin, his nobles and craftsmen to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel went into exile with them. 2 Kings 24:10-17Ezekiel 1:2Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)

  4. 586 BC
    WarJerusalem and the temple destroyed

    Babylon's army burned the temple and the city and broke down its walls. Daniel later prays over "the desolations of Jerusalem" and asks God to shine on his "sanctuary that is desolate." 2 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 52:12-14Daniel 9:2Daniel 9:17

  5. c. 575 BC
    BuildingBabylon rebuilt in splendor

    Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon with great walls, palaces and the blue-glazed Ishtar Gate, and his inscriptions praise his own work. Compare his boast: "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?" Daniel 4:30Nebuchadnezzar's East India House InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 1.178-183

  6. 562 BC
    RulersNebuchadnezzar dies

    His son Evil-merodach became king and released Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 2 Kings 25:27-30Jeremiah 52:31-34

  7. c. 553-543 BC
    RulersNabonidus leaves Babylon to Belshazzar

    King Nabonidus stayed at Tema in Arabia for about ten years, and the yearly New Year festival in Babylon was not held. Belshazzar governed in Babylon. Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Daniel 5:1Daniel 7:1

  8. 550 BC
    WarCyrus unites the Medes and Persians

    Cyrus of Persia defeated Astyages king of the Medes, joining the two peoples in one kingdom. Daniel's vision names the ram's two horns as "the kings of Media and Persia," the higher coming up last. Daniel 8:3Daniel 8:20Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.127-130

  9. October 539 BC
    WarBabylon falls to Cyrus

    Cyrus's army entered Babylon without a long siege. Herodotus says the people were feasting when the city was taken. Daniel records that "in that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain." Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.191Cyrus Cylinder

  10. 538 BC
    God's peopleCyrus lets the exiles return

    In his first year over Babylon, Cyrus proclaimed that the Jews could go back and build the LORD's house in Jerusalem. Daniel "continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus." Ezra 1:1-42 Chronicles 36:22-23Daniel 1:21Cyrus Cylinder

  11. c. 536 BC
    God's peopleThe temple's foundation is laid

    The returned exiles rebuilt the altar and laid the foundation of the temple. In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel was still in the east, mourning and praying. Ezra 3:1-11Daniel 10:1-3

  12. 334-331 BC
    WarAlexander the Great conquers Persia

    Alexander of Macedon crossed into Asia and overthrew the Persian empire within four years. Daniel 8:21 names the rough goat as "the king of Grecia" and its great horn as "the first king." Daniel 8:5-8Daniel 8:21Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 1-3

  13. 323-301 BC
    WarAlexander's empire is divided

    Alexander died young, and after twenty years of war his generals divided his empire, chiefly into four kingdoms. Daniel 8:22 says "four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." Daniel 8:8Daniel 8:22Daniel 11:4Diodorus Siculus, Library 18-20Plutarch, Demetrius 28-30

  14. 167 BC
    WarAntiochus IV defiles the temple

    The Greek king Antiochus IV banned Jewish worship and set up a pagan altar on the altar of burnt offering. 1 Maccabees calls it "the abomination of desolation." Two centuries later Jesus spoke of "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" as still to come. 1 Maccabees 1:54-59Josephus, Antiquities 12.5.4Matthew 24:15

The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records of these years (the Babylonian Chronicles, the Cyrus Cylinder, Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Diodorus, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
and he assignedוַיָּ֧שֶׂםvai-YA-semH7760MNo entry
[the] chief ofשַׂ֥רsarH8269
ruler

שַׂר (sar) 1) prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain 1a) chieftain, leader 1b) vassal, noble, official (under king) 1c) captain, general, commander (military) 1d) chief, head, overseer (of other official classes) 1e) heads, princes (of religious office) 1f) elders (of representative leaders of people) 1g) merchant-princes (of rank and dignity) 1h) patron-angel 1i) Ruler of rulers (of God) 1j) warden

the officialsהַסָּרִיסִ֖יםha-sa-ri-SIMH5631
eunuch

סָרִיס (sa.ris) official, eunuch

namesשֵׁמ֑וֹתshe-MOTH8034
name

שֵׁם (shem) 1) name 1a) name 1b) reputation, fame, glory 1c) the Name (as designation of God) 1d) memorial, monument Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)

and he assignedוַיָּ֨שֶׂםvai-YA-semH7760MNo entry
to Danielלְדָֽנִיֵּ֜אלle-da-ni-YELH1840G
Belteshazzar

בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר (be.le.te.shats.tsar) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezk.14.14; also called Belteshazzar at Dan.1.7; 2.26; 4.8,9,18,19; 5.12; 10.1; Another name of da.niy.yel (דָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל "Daniel" H1840G) § Belteshazzar = "lord of the straitened's treasure" …

Belteshazzarבֵּ֣לְטְשַׁאצַּ֗רbe-le-te-sha-TZARH1095
Belteshazzar

בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר (be.le.te.shats.tsar) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezk.14.14; also called Belteshazzar at Dan.1.7; 2.26; 4.8,9,18,19; 5.12; 10.1; Another name of da.niy.yel (דָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל "Daniel" H1840G) § Belteshazzar = "lord of the straitened's treasure" …

and to Hananiahוְלַֽחֲנַנְיָה֙ve-la-cha-nan-YAHH2608T
Hananiah

חֲנַנְיָה (cha.nan.yah) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.1.6; also called Shadrach at Dan.1.7; 2.49; 3.12,13,14,16,19,20,22,23,26,28,29,30; Aramaic of cha.nan.yah (חֲנַנְיָ֫הוּ "Hananiah" H2608T) § Hananiah = "God has favoured" …

Shadrachשַׁדְרַ֔ךְshad-RAKHH7714
Shadrach

שַׁדְרַךְ (shad.rakh) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.1.6; also called Shadrach at Dan.1.7; 2.49; 3.12,13,14,16,19,20,22,23,26,28,29,30; Another name of cha.nan.yah (חֲנַנְיָ֫הוּ "Hananiah" H2608T) § Shadrach = "royal" or "the great scribe" …

and to Mishaelוּלְמִֽישָׁאֵ֣לu-le-mi-sha-'ELH4332I
Mishael

מִישָׁאֵל (mi.sha.el) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.1.6; also called Meshach at Dan.1.7; 2.49; 3.12,13,14,16,19,20,22,23,26,28,29,30; § Mishael = "who is what God is" 1) the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Meshach; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord …

Meshachמֵישַׁ֔ךְmei-SHAKHH4335
Meshach

מֵישַׁךְ (me.shakh) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.1.6; also called Meshach at Dan.1.7; 2.49; 3.12,13,14,16,19,20,22,23,26,28,29,30; Another name of mi.sha.el (מִישָׁאֵל "Mishael" H4332I) § Meshach = "guest of a king" …

and to Azariahוְלַעֲזַרְיָ֖הve-la-'a-zar-YAHH5838Z
Abednego

עֲבֵד נְגוֹ (a.ved ne.go) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.1.6; also called Abednego at Dan.2.49; 3.12,13,14,16,19,20,22,23,26,28,29,30; Another name of a.zar.yah (עֲזַרְיָה "Azariah" H5838Z) § Abed-nego = "servant of Nebo" …

Abed-עֲבֵ֥ד'a-VEDH5664
Abednego

עֲבֵד נְגוֹ (a.ved ne.go) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.1.6; also called Abednego at Dan.2.49; 3.12,13,14,16,19,20,22,23,26,28,29,30; Another name of a.zar.yah (עֲזַרְיָה "Azariah" H5838Z) § Abed-nego = "servant of Nebo" …

-negoנְגֽוֹ׃ne-GOH5664
Abednego

עֲבֵד נְגוֹ (a.ved ne.go) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.1.6; also called Abednego at Dan.2.49; 3.12,13,14,16,19,20,22,23,26,28,29,30; Another name of a.zar.yah (עֲזַרְיָה "Azariah" H5838Z) § Abed-nego = "servant of Nebo" …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.