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Abednego

One of the three friends who said "But if not," and came out of the furnace without even the smell of fire.

Old Testament · c. 600–570 BC · Daniel, Hebrews · Also known as Azariah

About Abednego

Abednego was one of the young men of Judah taken to Babylon with Daniel. His Hebrew name, Azariah, was replaced with a Babylonian one. When Nebuchadnezzar demanded his dream be told, Daniel asked his three friends to "desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret," and God revealed it. The king then "set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon." Later, refusing to bow to the golden image, the three were thrown into the furnace and came out unharmed: "nor the smell of fire had passed on them." The king blessed "the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego."

Abednego’s story is shared with Shadrach and Meshach; Scripture never separates them. "Azariah" means "the LORD has helped." "Abednego" is often explained as "servant of Nego," a Babylonian god, perhaps Nabu. The name meant to honour a foreign god belongs to a man who refused to worship one.

The story

Azariah

"Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names... and to Azariah, of Abednego."

Daniel 1:6-7

Desire mercies of the God of heaven

When the king threatened to kill all his wise men, Daniel "made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret." God revealed the dream to Daniel, and the king "set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon."

Daniel 2:17-19, 49

We will not serve thy gods

Commanded to bow to the golden image, the three answered: "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."

Daniel 3:16-18

Nor the smell of fire

Bound and thrown into the furnace, they walked in the fire with a fourth figure. They came out, "upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them." Nebuchadnezzar said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him."

Daniel 3:19-30

Key moments

Questions about Abednego

In meetBible these answers are given in Abednego’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.

What does "but if not" mean?

We told the king, "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us... and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods." We believed God could rescue us. But our faithfulness wasn’t a bargain: even if He chose not to, we would still not bow. Trust in God, not in a particular outcome.

Why was your name changed?

Babylon renamed all of us: "to Azariah, of Abednego." Azariah means "the LORD has helped." Abednego is often explained as "servant of Nego," likely a Babylonian god. They could change what I was called; they couldn’t change whom I served. And in the fire, the LORD did help.

What happened after the furnace?

The king blessed "the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him," and decreed that no one should speak against our God, "because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort." "Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon."

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Read it yourself

Start with Daniel 2:17-18, 49; 3.

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