Lexical Summary
Shadrak: Shadrach
Original Word:שַׁדְרַךְ
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Shadrak
Pronunciation:SHAD-rak
Phonetic Spelling:(shad-rak')
NASB:Shadrach
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) the same asH7714 (שַׁדרַך - Shadrach)]
1. Shadrach
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Shadrach
(Aramaic) the same asShadrak -- Shadrach.
see HEBREWShadrak
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to
ShadrakDefinitionBab. name of one of Daniel's companions
NASB TranslationShadrach (14).
Topical Lexicon
Name and Historical BackgroundShadrach was the Babylonian court name given to Hananiah, a young Judean of royal or noble lineage taken captive to Babylon during the first deportation (Daniel 1:6–7). Alongside Daniel, Mishael, and Azariah, he was educated in the language and literature of the Chaldeans and appointed to governmental service under King Nebuchadnezzar. His new name, possibly invoking a pagan deity, underscores the pressure placed on exiles to assimilate into Babylonian culture while remaining faithful to the God of Israel.
Appearances in Scripture
The name Shadrach occurs fourteen times in the canonical Old Testament, all in the Book of Daniel (Daniel 2:49; 3:12–30). He first appears when Daniel secures his promotion, together with Meshach and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon (2:49). The remaining occurrences cluster in chapter three, recounting the crisis of the golden image and the fiery furnace.
Character and Faith
Shadrach exemplifies uncompromising fidelity to the covenant. Confronted with the king’s command to worship the golden statue, he and his companions refuse, affirming, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us… But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods” (Daniel 3:17–18). Their statement joins faith in God’s power with steadfast obedience independent of the outcome.
Miracle of the Fiery Furnace
Nebuchadnezzar’s rage culminates in ordering the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual (3:19). The three are bound and cast in, yet an astonished king sees “four men, unbound and unharmed, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods” (3:25). Emerging unscathed, “not even the smell of fire had touched them” (3:27). The miracle vindicates their faith and publicly glorifies the God of Israel before the Gentile empire.
Theological Significance
1. Divine Sovereignty. The episode emphasizes God’s rule over earthly monarchs and natural elements.
2. Covenant Faithfulness. Shadrach’s deliverance confirms the promise that the Lord “rescues and saves; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth” (Daniel 6:27).
3. Worship and Idolatry. The narrative draws a sharp line between true worship and state-imposed idolatry, foreshadowing later conflicts faced by believers under oppressive regimes.
Prophetic and Christological Implications
The “fourth man” in the furnace prefigures the incarnate Christ, who is present with His people in their trials. The event anticipates the ultimate deliverance secured by the Savior, who stands with His church amid persecution and assures final victory (Matthew 28:20;Revelation 1:13-15).
Lessons for Christian Living
• Courage: Obedience may entail civil disobedience when human authority contradicts divine command (Acts 5:29).
• Faith under Pressure: Believers trust God’s ability to save yet submit to His sovereign will concerning the outcome.
• Witness: Public allegiance to God can influence secular authorities, as seen when Nebuchadnezzar blesses “the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” (Daniel 3:28).
Later Jewish and Christian Tradition
In Jewish liturgy, the deliverance of Shadrach and his friends inspires prayers of protection. The early church viewed the furnace as a type of martyrdom, encouraging steadfastness under Roman persecution. Their feast is commemorated in some liturgical calendars on December 17.
See Also
Daniel; Meshach; Abednego; Fiery Furnace; Persecution; Idolatry
Forms and Transliterations
לְשַׁדְרַ֤ךְ לְשַׁדְרַ֥ךְ לשדרך שַׁדְרַ֤ךְ שַׁדְרַ֥ךְ שַׁדְרַ֨ךְ שדרך lə·šaḏ·raḵ ləšaḏraḵ leshadRach šaḏ·raḵ šaḏraḵ shadRach
Links
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