Meshach is one of the three Hebrew youths, along with Shadrach and Abednego, who are prominently featured in the Book of Daniel. His account is a testament to faithfulness and divine deliverance in the face of persecution. Meshach's Hebrew name was Mishael, which means "Who is what God is?" (Daniel 1:6-7). He was among the young men of Judah taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon during the Babylonian exile.

Babylonian Captivity and Reeducation

Upon their arrival in Babylon, Meshach, along with his companions, was selected to be trained in the language and literature of the Chaldeans. This was part of Nebuchadnezzar's strategy to assimilate the best and brightest of the conquered peoples into his administration. As part of this process, Mishael was given the Babylonian name Meshach, which is believed to be derived from the name of a Babylonian deity, reflecting the king's attempt to integrate them into Babylonian culture and religion.

Faithfulness in the Face of Idolatry

Meshach's most notable biblical account occurs in Daniel 3. King Nebuchadnezzar erected a massive golden statue and commanded all his subjects to bow down and worship it. Meshach, along with Shadrach and Abednego, refused to comply with this decree, remaining steadfast in their worship of the God of Israel. Their refusal was reported to the king, who, in a furious rage, summoned them and gave them one last chance to bow before the statue. The young men boldly declared their faith, saying:

"If the God we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18)

Divine Deliverance

In response to their defiance, Nebuchadnezzar ordered that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded his strongest soldiers to bind Meshach and his companions and throw them into the flames. The fire was so intense that it killed the soldiers who carried out the king's orders. However, Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego were unharmed by the fire. Nebuchadnezzar, astonished, observed four men walking in the furnace, unbound and unharmed, with the fourth appearing "like a son of the gods" (Daniel 3:25).

Recognizing the miraculous deliverance, Nebuchadnezzar called them out of the furnace and praised the God of Israel, issuing a decree that no one should speak against Him. Meshach and his companions were promoted to higher positions in the province of Babylon as a result of their faithfulness and God's intervention.

Legacy

Meshach's account is a powerful example of unwavering faith and the sovereignty of God over earthly powers. His courage in the face of persecution and his trust in God's deliverance continue to inspire believers to stand firm in their convictions, regardless of the consequences. Meshach's life serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God and the assurance that He is able to deliver His people from any trial.Meshach

that draws with force

Meshach

(guest of a king), the name given to Mishael, one of the companions of Daniel, who with three others was taught, (Daniel 1:4) and qualified to "stand before" King Nebuchadnezzar, (Daniel 1:5) as his personal attendants and advisers. (Daniel 1:20) But notwithstanding their Chaldeans education, these three young Hebrews were strongly attached to the religion of their fathers; and their refusal to join in the worship of the image on the plain of Dura gave a handle of accusation to the Chaldeans. The rage of the king, the swift sentence of condemnation passed upon the three offenders, their miraculous preservation from the fiery furnace heated seven times hotter than usual, the king's acknowledgement of the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, with their restoration to office, are written in the third chapter of Daniel, and there the history leaves them.

Meshach

See ABED-NEGO.

The title given to Mishael, one of the three Hebrew youths who were under training at the Babylonian court for the rank of Magi (Dan. 1:7; 2:49; 3:12-30). This was probably the name of some Chaldean god. MESHACH

me'-shak (meshakh): Possibly the Sumerian form of the Babylonian Cil-Asharidu, "the shadow of the prince," just as Shadrach probably means "the servant of Sin," and Abednego the "servant of Ishtar." Meshach was one of the three Hebrew companions of Daniel, whose history is given in the first chapters of the Book of Daniel.

See , further, under SHADRACH.

4887. meshach -- oil
... 4886, 4887. meshach. 4888 . oil. Transliteration: meshach Phonetic Spelling:
(mesh-akh') Short Definition: oil. ... 4886, 4887. meshach. 4888 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/4887.htm - 6k

4336. Meshak -- a Bab. name
... Meshak. 4337 . a Bab. name. Transliteration: Meshak Phonetic Spelling: (may-shak')
Short Definition: Meshach. ... name NASB Word Usage Meshach (14). Meshak. ...
/hebrew/4336.htm - 6k

4335. Meshak -- a Bab. name given to Mishael
... name given to Mishael. Transliteration: Meshak Phonetic Spelling: (may-shak') Short
Definition: Meshach. ... name given to Mishael NASB Word Usage Meshach (1). ...
/hebrew/4335.htm - 6k

The Test by Fire
... furnace. There are certain Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, whom you
have placed in charge of the province of Babylon. These ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the test by fire.htm

Harmless Fires
... THE BOOK OF DANIEL HARMLESS FIRES. 'Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and
fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/harmless fires.htm

The Story of the Fiery Furnace
... One of them, named Daniel, was to be called Belteshazzer; the other three
young men were called Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of the fiery.htm

The Fiery Furnace
... "O king, live forever," they exclaimed. "There are certain Jews whom thou hast set
over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 41 the fiery furnace.htm

The Four Captive Children.
... Among the rulers were the three friends of Daniel, whose names had been
changed by the king to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxxi the four captive.htm

Three Names High on the Muster-Roll
... "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O
Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/three names high on the.htm

On Daniel. Iii. Scholia on Daniel.
... 16. "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered," etc. ... 93 (ie, 26). "And he said, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego." The three youths he thus called by name. ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on daniel iii scholia on.htm

Daniel, the Praying Captive
... He classed Daniel and his three companions, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, with
these men, though there really was nothing in them in common with the two ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/x daniel the praying captive.htm

Christian Names.
... Daniel, Belteshazzar, ie "the treasurer of the god Bel;" Hannaniah he called Shadrach,
ie "the messenger of the king;" Mishael he called Meshach, ie "the ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xii christian names.htm

For whom and with what Object Written.
... Undoubtedly for Jewish readers, who were already interested in the story of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-nego; designed for those who had Daniel's book in their ...
/.../daubney/the three additions to daniel a study/for whom and with what.htm

Meshach (15 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MESHACH. me ... Daniel. See , further, under SHADRACH.
Multi-Version Concordance Meshach (15 Occurrences). ...
/m/meshach.htm - 12k

Abed'nego (14 Occurrences)
... 1:7 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 ...
/a/abed'nego.htm - 10k

Abednego (14 Occurrences)
... 2:49). With Shadrach and Meshach, he was delivered from the burning fiery furnace
(3:12-30). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ABED-NEGO. ...
/a/abednego.htm - 13k

Abed-nego (14 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/a/abed-nego.htm - 13k

Shadrach (14 Occurrences)
... After God had heard their prayer and the dream was made known to the king by Daniel,
Nebuchadnezzar, at Daniel's request, set Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego ...
/s/shadrach.htm - 14k

Blazing (27 Occurrences)
... Daniel 3:20 He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. ...
/b/blazing.htm - 14k

Nebuchadnez'zar (55 Occurrences)
... live! (See RSV). Daniel 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in anger and fury, hath
said to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Then ...
/n/nebuchadnez'zar.htm - 24k

Responded (35 Occurrences)
... Daniel 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar answered them, Is it on purpose, Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, that you don't serve my god, nor worship the golden image which I ...
/r/responded.htm - 16k

Flaming (40 Occurrences)
... Daniel 3:20 And he gave orders to certain strong men in his army to put cords on
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego and put them into the burning and flaming fire ...
/f/flaming.htm - 19k

Furnace (35 Occurrences)
... Daniel 3:19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was
changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spoke, and ...
/f/furnace.htm - 22k

What should we learn from the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Nebuchadnezzar? | GotQuestions.org

Where was Daniel when his three friends were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to worship Nebuchadnezzar's statue? | GotQuestions.org

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