The Meaning of Daniel 1:7 Explained

Daniel 1:7

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 Abednego.

YLT: and 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.

Darby: And 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.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Daniel 1:7 Mean?

Study Notes

Belteshazzar
i.e. the king's leader, or attendant. Daniel 2:26 ; Daniel 4:8 ; Daniel 4:9 ; Daniel 4:18 ; Daniel 4:19 ; Daniel 5:12 . Identical in meaning with Belshazzar.

Context Summary

Daniel 1:1-21 - Moral Courage Rewarded
These young men of noble Jewish families were brought to Babylon to receive education for the civil service. Their names were altered to break, so far as possible, their connection with the past. The food provided probably contravened Leviticus 3:17. According to the usual custom it had been presented before an idol, 1 Corinthians 8:10. Note those words: Daniel purposed in his heart. It is all important to resolve in one's heart that certain things are not possible for us. Too many of us have a secret reserve. We barricade the front door but leave the back door on the latch. We ought to realize the extent to which Paul referred when he said, "dead to sin." God always cooperates with His servants when they are true to Him. He brought Daniel into favor; He gave him skill; He caused his face and that of his three friends, to bear the hue of health. Let us trust Him to do His part! This is the secret of continuance, Daniel 1:21. [source]

Chapter Summary: Daniel 1

1  Jehoiakim's captivity
3  Ashpenaz takes Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah
8  They refusing the king's portion do prosper with pulse and water
17  Their proficiency in wisdom

What do the individual words in Daniel 1:7 mean?

And gave to them the chief of the eunuchs names and he gave Daniel [the name] Belteshazzar and to Hananiah Shadrach and to Mishael Meshach and to Azariah - Abed-nego
וַיָּ֧שֶׂם לָהֶ֛ם שַׂ֥ר הַסָּרִיסִ֖ים שֵׁמ֑וֹת וַיָּ֨שֶׂם לְדָֽנִיֵּ֜אל בֵּ֣לְטְשַׁאצַּ֗ר וְלַֽחֲנַנְיָה֙ שַׁדְרַ֔ךְ וּלְמִֽישָׁאֵ֣ל מֵישַׁ֔ךְ וְלַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה עֲבֵ֥ד נְגֽוֹ

וַיָּ֧שֶׂם  And  gave 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
לָהֶ֛ם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition-l, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
שַׂ֥ר  the  chief 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
הַסָּרִיסִ֖ים  of  the  eunuchs 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: סָרִיס  
Sense: official, eunuch.
שֵׁמ֑וֹת  names 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
וַיָּ֨שֶׂם  and  he  gave 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
לְדָֽנִיֵּ֜אל  Daniel 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּנִאֵל 
Sense: the 2nd son of David, by Abigail the Carmelitess.
בֵּ֣לְטְשַׁאצַּ֗ר  [the  name]  Belteshazzar 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר  
Sense: the 4th of the greater prophets, taken as hostage in the first deportation to Babylon; because of the gift of God of the interpretation of dreams, he became the 2nd in command of the Babylon empire and lasted through the end of the Babylonian empire and into the Persian empire. His prophecies are the key to the understanding of end time events. Noted for his purity and holiness by contemporary prophet, Ezekiel.
וְלַֽחֲנַנְיָה֙  and  to  Hananiah 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֲנַנְיָה 
Sense: the godly friend of Daniel whom Nebuchadnezzar renamed Shadrach; 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.
שַׁדְרַ֔ךְ  Shadrach 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁדְרַךְ  
Sense: the godly friend of Daniel whom Nebuchadnezzar renamed Shadrach; 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.
וּלְמִֽישָׁאֵ֣ל  and  to  Mishael 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִישָׁאֵל  
Sense: 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.
מֵישַׁ֔ךְ  Meshach 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֵישַׁךְ  
Sense: 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.
וְלַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה  and  to  Azariah 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֲזַרְיָה 
Sense: son of king Amaziah of Judah and king of Judah himself for 52 years; also ‘Uzziah’.
עֲבֵ֥ד  - 
Parse:
נְגֽוֹ  Abed-nego 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נְגֹו 
Sense: the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Abednego; 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.