Shadrach
maleExileMeaning: “Command of Aku (Babylonian)”
One of Daniel’s three Hebrew companions (Hananiah) who refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image and was delivered unharmed from the fiery furnace.
Biography
Shadrach — his Hebrew name was Hananiah — was one of the three young companions of Daniel taken captive to Babylon and given a Babylonian name and training (Daniel 1:6–7). With Daniel, he refused the king's rich food and was found ten times wiser than the king's magicians.
The fiery furnace
When Nebuchadnezzar set up a great golden image and commanded all to bow, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused. Brought before the furious king, they gave one of Scripture's boldest confessions of faith: "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us... But if not... we will not serve thy gods" (Daniel 3:17–18).
Delivered
Thrown into a furnace heated seven times hotter, they walked unharmed in the fire — and the king saw a fourth figure with them "like the Son of God" (Daniel 3:25). They came out without even the smell of smoke, and Nebuchadnezzar blessed their God.
Life Timeline
Refuses to bow to the golden image
Delivered unharmed from the fiery furnace
On the Bible timeline
Shadrach belongs to the The Divided Monarchy era (c. 930 – 586 BC).
- c. 930 BCThe Kingdom Divides
- 722 BCThe Fall of Samaria
- 586 BCThe Fall of Jerusalem
Themes & lessons from Shadrach
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Shadrach appears.
People they appear with
Places in their story
Things in their story
Scripture Appearances
14 verses in 1 bookDaniel14 verses
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 Abed–nego.
Daniel 2:49
Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
Daniel 3:12
There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Daniel 3:13
Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego. Then they brought these men before the king.
Daniel 3:14
Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
Daniel 3:16
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Daniel 3:19
Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
Daniel 3:20
And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:22
Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego.
Daniel 3:23
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:26
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
Daniel 3:28
Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
Daniel 3:29
Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
Daniel 3:30
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, in the province of Babylon.
Frequently asked about Shadrach
Who was Shadrach in the Bible?
One of Daniel’s three Hebrew companions (Hananiah) who refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image and was delivered unharmed from the fiery furnace.
What does the name Shadrach mean?
The name Shadrach means “Command of Aku (Babylonian)”.
Where does Shadrach appear in the Bible?
Shadrach is mentioned 14 times across 1 book: Daniel.
What can we learn from Shadrach?
The story of Shadrach touches on themes of abed-nego, meshach, coercion, religious, persecution — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Shadrach's life.
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