Daniel 1:7 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The chief official renames the four youths with Babylonian names, replacing names that honored the Lord.
What Does Daniel 1:7 Mean?
Ashpenaz gives each young man a new, Babylonian name. The renaming is an act of ownership and reformation: their old names honored the God of Israel, while the new ones echo the gods of Babylon. To rename someone in that world was to lay claim to who they would become.
Babylon could change what these men were called, but it could not change whose they were. They answer to new names on the outside while keeping their hearts fixed on the Lord within. The story gently reminds us that a person's deepest identity is not assigned by the powers around them but held by the God who knows them. Names may be taken; faithfulness is given freely, from the inside out.
Frequently Asked Questions About Daniel 1:7
What does Daniel 1:7 mean?
The chief official renames the four youths with Babylonian names, replacing names that honored the Lord.