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.
Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names - designed to mark their new relation, so that they might forget their former religion and country, as Pharaoh called Joseph Zaphath- paaneah widen he promoted him to be lord over Egypt (Genesis 41:45). But as in Joseph's case, whom Pharaoh called Zaphnath-paaneah, so in Daniel's, the name indicative, of his relation to a pagan court ("Belteshazzar," i:e., 'Bel's prince'), however flattering to him, is not the one retained by Scripture, but the name marking his relation to God ("Daniel," God my Judge, the theme of his prophecies being God's judgment on the pagan world-powers).
To Hananiah - i:e., Whom Yahweh hath favoured.
Of Shadrach - from Rak, in Babylonian, 'the king' - i:e., 'the sun;' the same root as in Abrech (margin, Genesis 41:43), 'inspired or illumined by the Sun-god' [from shªdaa', to inspire, and rak] (Junius). Gesenius takes it to mean 'rejoicing in the way' (Barnes).
To Mishael - i:e., 'Who is what God is?' Who is comparable to God? To Mishael - i:e., 'Who is what God is?' Who is comparable to God?
Of Meshach. The Babylonians retained the first syllable of Mishael, the Hebrew name; but for El - i:e., GOD-substituted Shak, the goddess of Babylon, which city is thence called Sheshach (Jeremiah 25:26; Jeremiah 51:41), answering to the Earth, or else Venus, the goddess of love and mirth: it was during her feast that Cyrus took Babylon.
To Azariah - i:e., 'Whom Yahweh helps.'
Of Abed-nego - i:e., Servant of, the shining fire (Junius); or 'Servant of Lucifer,' as the term in Isaiah 14:12 is rendered by a word akin to Nego in the Chaldee version [nowghaa'] (Grotius). Thus, instead of Yahweh, these His servants were dedicated by the pagan to their four leading gods (Herodotus, 'Clio'). Bel, the chief god, the Sun-god, Earth-god, and Fire-god. To the last the three youths were consigned when refusing to worship the golden image, (Daniel 3:1-30.) Thus, the names at the outset are significant of the seeming triumph but sure downfall of the pagan powers before Yahweh and his people.