Who was Shadrach in the bible?
Shadrach—the Babylonian name given to the young Judean exile Hananiah—is one of the three companions of Daniel who were delivered from Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace after refusing to worship a golden image.
A New Name
“…to Hananiah, [he gave the name] Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.” (Daniel 1:7)
Learn More →The Fiery Furnace
“Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us… But if not… we will not serve your gods.” (Daniel 3:17–18)
Learn More →Shadrach is the Babylonian name given to Hananiah, one of three young Judean nobles taken captive to Babylon with Daniel. With Meshach and Abednego, he refused to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image and was delivered from the fiery furnace (Daniel 1–3).
Shadrach in Scripture
Shadrach was among the young men of Judah carried to Babylon, where the king’s official gave each of them a new Babylonian name.
“The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.” (Daniel 1:7, WEB)
Refusing the Golden Image
When Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image and commanded all to bow, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused.
“These men, O king, have not respected you. They don’t serve your gods, and don’t worship the golden image which you have set up.” (Daniel 3:12, WEB)
Facing the furnace, they trusted God whatever the outcome.
“Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace… But if not… we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17–18, WEB)
The Fiery Furnace
They were bound and thrown into a furnace heated seven times hotter than usual—yet the king saw them walking free, with a fourth figure beside them.
“Look, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are unharmed. The appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” (Daniel 3:25, WEB)
“…the fire had no power on their bodies. The hair of their head wasn’t singed… the smell of fire wasn’t even on them.” (Daniel 3:27, WEB)
Name and Meaning
Shadrach’s Hebrew name was Hananiah (“Yahweh has been gracious”). Shadrach (שַׁדְרַךְ) was the Babylonian name assigned to him in exile, listed in Strong’s Concordance as H7714. He is remembered for faithfulness under threat of death.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Shadrach’s Hebrew name?
His Hebrew name was Hananiah, meaning “Yahweh has been gracious.” Shadrach was the Babylonian name given to him in exile (Daniel 1:7).
Who were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?
They were three young Judean exiles—Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—taken to Babylon with Daniel and trained for the king’s service (Daniel 1:6–7).
Why were they thrown into the furnace?
They refused to worship the golden image King Nebuchadnezzar set up, serving only their God (Daniel 3:12, 18).
What happened to them in the fire?
They walked unharmed in the flames alongside a fourth figure, and came out without even the smell of smoke on them (Daniel 3:25–27).
Explore Further
If you found this page about Shadrach interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.
Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
