What do we make of Daniel 1:7?

[Big_Dummy]

Daniel 1:7 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.

Daniel 1:7 tells us of four of these youths, and their new Babylonian names:

The name Daniel (meaning God is my judge) was changed to Belteshazzar (meaning Bel’s prince).

The name Hannaniah (meaning Beloved by the Lord) was changed to Shadrach (meaning Illumined by Sun-god).

The name Mishael (meaning Who is as God) was changed to Meshach (meaning Who is like Venus).

The name Azariah (meaning The Lord is my help) was changed to Abed-Nego (meaning Servant of Nego).

From time to time I will encounter someone who says we must avoid all forms of paganism. And, yet we have four godly men taking on pagan names.

How much in the realm of apologetics should we make use of this? And, what would be the best approach in your opinion employing these facts?

 

[NotWorthy]

Daniel 1:7 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.

Daniel 1:7 tells us of four of these youths, and their new Babylonian names:

The name Daniel (meaning God is my judge) was changed to Belteshazzar (meaning Bel’s prince).

The name Hannaniah (meaning Beloved by the Lord) was changed to Shadrach (meaning Illumined by Sun-god).

The name Mishael (meaning Who is as God) was changed to Meshach (meaning Who is like Venus).

The name Azariah (meaning The Lord is my help) was changed to Abed-Nego (meaning Servant of Nego).

From time to time I will encounter someone who says we must avoid all forms of paganism. And, yet we have four godly men taking on pagan names.

How much in the realm of apologetics should we make use of this? And, what would be the best approach in your opinion employing these facts?

Do we have four godly men taking on pagan names? Or do we have pagans forcing pagan names on 4 godly men? Who is the conqueror and who is the conquered?

 

[NotWorthy]

BTW,

What does Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego mean? That’s the names they are called in Daniel 3, right?

Appended: In reading chapter 3 again, I notice that the 3 are called “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” until they are thrown into the fire and begin praying, when they are called “Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael”. And then, after they leave the furnace, they are called “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” again.

 

[VetA]

Do we have four godly men taking on pagan names? Or do we have pagans forcing pagan names on 4 godly men? Who is the conqueror and who is the conquered?

now you see you took the words right out of my mouth

 

[NotWorthy]

now you see you took the words right out of my mouth

Regarding “our” comment, “who is the conqueror and who is the conquered”, I think that question is answered in Chapter 3 when the Inspired Author calls them by then names, “Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael”. Again they are called this while the angel (“and the fourth looks like a son of God”) is protecting them.

 

[Big_Dummy]

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

And, yet Daniel did not view his given name as defiling himself, but did see eating the meat as such?

Also, if you read the start of Daniel 1, it was God who gave them over to the pagan king. So, was it God’s will for them to take on those names? Romans 13

 

[Big_Dummy]

Bottom line, even the conquered had a choice. Daniel choose not to eat the king’s food. The three youths choose not to bow to idols. And, all four did choose to take pagan names. The ethical point in Daniel was where to draw the line.

 

[Verbum]

Hi Big,

If you’re going to get worked up about pagan names, then start finding new names for the days of the week : Sunday (day of the Sun god) Monday (day of the moon goddess), Tuesday (day of Tiw, the god of war), Wednesday (day of the god Woden [Odin]), Thursday (day of Thor, the god of thunder), Friday (day of Frigga, the goddess of love, tsk, tsk), and Saturday (the day of Saturn)

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

Verbum

 

[NotWorthy]

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

And, yet Daniel did not view his given name as defiling himself, but did see eating the meat as such?

Also, if you read the start of Daniel 1, it was God who gave them over to the pagan king. So, was it God’s will for them to take on those names? Romans 13

But where do you see that Daniel “did not view his given name as defiling himself”? I don’t see how you come to that conclusion.

 

[NotWorthy]

My brother called me “stupid”. By answering to me when he called me that, was I “accepting my name” or is it just knowing that this is what my brother called me?

 

[Big_Dummy]

I often do not follow the anti-paganism argument myself. People reject the church because they say it has been paganized or something like that. Often after hearing one of their arguments I answer “so, what?”

I do know that my Jewish friends do believe that taking on a pagan name of a pagan deity which is part of all the names that Daniel and the others did is considered to be defiling.

 

[Joshua27]

So are pagan names good (of God) or evil (of devil)?

Should we use the God-given names of people or are we free to use pagan-given names of people (as in “as long as we’re referring to the person, what’s it matter, right”)?

 

[Big_Dummy]

Since many people have pagan names, I see them as neutral. But, those who claim we should be pure of paganism *(not sure what world they live in) would likely see pagan names as evil.