Lexical Summary Meshak: Meshak Original Word: מֵישַׁךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Meshak Borrowed from Meyshak; Meshak, an Israelite -- Meshak. see HEBREW Meyshak NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition a Bab. name given to Mishael NASB Translation Meshach (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מֵישַׁךְ proper name, masculine (according to DlBaer, Dan. Xi for Mî-sha-aku 'who is what Aku (the moon-god) is?' compare מִישָׁאֵל); — the new (Babylonian) name given to Mishael, Daniel 1:7 (+ Aramaic Daniel 2:49 and chapter Daniel 3). מֵישַׁע, מֵישָׁע see ישׁע. [מֵיתָר] see יתר. מַכְאוֺב see כאב. מַכְבִּיר see I. כבר Hiph`il מַכְבֵּנָא, מַכְבַּנַּי see כבן. מַכְבֵּר, מִכְבָּר see II. כבר. מַכָּה see נכה. מִכְוָה see כוה. מָכוֺן, מְכוֺנָה see כון. [מְכוּרָה, מְכֹרָה] see כור. מֵישַׁךְ proper name, masculine (Biblical Hebrew id.); — Daniel 2:49; Daniel 3:12 11t. 3. Topical Lexicon Historical Context “Mēyshak” first appears in Daniel 1:7 as the Babylonian court name assigned to Mishael, one of the four Judean exiles chosen for government training. The renaming took place shortly after the deportation of 605 BC, when Nebuchadnezzar sought to assimilate noble youths from Judah into Chaldean culture. Name Change and Identity The shift from the Hebrew “Mishael” (“Who is what God is?”) to the foreign “Meshach” was intended to erase covenant identity and substitute loyalty to Babylonian gods. Daniel 1 records that all four youths accepted new civil names, yet the rest of the narrative shows that their allegiance to the LORD remained uncompromised. The episode provides a biblical paradigm for believers living under hostile cultural pressures: external labels may change, but inner fidelity must not. Faithfulness under Persecution Although the lexical form in Daniel 1:7 is the first appearance, Meshach’s steadfastness is most dramatically displayed in Daniel 3, where he stands with Shadrach and Abednego before Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image. Their joint declaration—“We have no need to present a defense… our God whom we serve is able to deliver us” (Daniel 3:16-17)—demonstrates conviction that refuses to bargain with idolatry even under threat of death. Theology of Deliverance The miraculous preservation in the furnace (Daniel 3:25-27) illustrates several biblical themes: Typological Significance Meshach and his companions foreshadow the church’s endurance under eschatological trial. Their experience parallels believers who “through faith conquered kingdoms… shut the mouths of lions” (Hebrews 11:33). The furnace episode also anticipates the resurrection hope; emerging unharmed depicts life preserved beyond the reach of death. Legacy in Jewish and Christian Tradition Second Temple literature and early church fathers cited Meshach as a model of martyr-faith, shaping liturgical prayers for deliverance. His example underlies hymns such as “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” which references protection from “burning flame.” Catechetical instruction has long paired Daniel in the lions’ den with the three Hebrews in the fire as lessons of courageous obedience. Applications for Ministry • Cultural Integration: Like Meshach, believers may work within secular structures without compromising spiritual allegiance (cf. Jeremiah 29:7). Key References Daniel 1:7; Daniel 2:49; Daniel 3:12-30; Isaiah 43:2; Hebrews 11:33-34; Revelation 15:2 Forms and Transliterations מֵישַׁ֔ךְ מישך mê·šaḵ meiShach mêšaḵLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 1:7 HEB: שַׁדְרַ֔ךְ וּלְמִֽישָׁאֵ֣ל מֵישַׁ֔ךְ וְלַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה עֲבֵ֥ד NAS: to Mishael Meshach and to Azariah KJV: and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, INT: Shadrach to Mishael Meshach Azariah Abed-nego |
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