Book of Daniel - Chapter 1 - Verse 7

During the time of the Babylonian empire, the practice of changing the names of captives was a common way to impose the culture and beliefs of the conquering nation onto the captives. In this verse from the book of Daniel in the Bible, we see how the prince of the eunuchs gave new names to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. These new names symbolized the dominance and power of the Babylonian gods and rulers over the lives of these young Israelites. Daniel was given the name Belteshazzar, Hananiah was named Shadrach, Mishael became Meshach, and Azariah was called Abednego. The renaming of these young men served as a way for the Babylonians to try to erase their Jewish identity and heritage, and to assimilate them into the Babylonian society. Despite this attempt at cultural erasure, these young men remained steadfast in their faith and loyalty to God throughout their lives, as is evident in the following chapters of the book of Daniel.

In the book of Daniel, the passage where the prince of the eunuchs changes the names of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego holds significant theological interpretation. Names in ancient cultures carried deep symbolic meanings that often reflected one's identity, character, or destiny. By giving them new names, the prince of the eunuchs was not only attempting to assimilate these Hebrew youths into Babylonian culture but also to erase their connection to their God-given identities. However, despite the name changes, Daniel and his friends remained steadfast in their faith and refused to compromise their beliefs. This passage highlights the theme of cultural assimilation and loyalty to God even in the face of adversity. Furthermore, word studies on the original Hebrew names reveal their meanings, shedding light on the symbolic significance of each name, adding depth to the narrative and emphasizing the importance of one's identity in the eyes of God.