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Meshach

One of the three friends who would not bow to the golden image, and walked unharmed in the furnace.

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

About Meshach

Meshach was one of the young men of Judah taken to Babylon with Daniel. His Hebrew name was Mishael; the king’s officer renamed him Meshach. With Daniel he refused the king’s rich food and thrived on vegetables and water, and the king found them "ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers." When Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image, Meshach and his friends Shadrach and Abednego would not bow: "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us... But if not... we will not serve thy gods." Thrown into the furnace, they were seen walking in the fire with a fourth, "like the Son of God," and came out without even "the smell of fire."

Meshach’s story is shared with Shadrach and Abednego; Scripture never separates them. "Mishael" is usually taken to mean "Who is what God is?" The meaning of "Meshach" is uncertain. Hebrews remembers those who "quenched the violence of fire."

The story

Mishael

Among the young men taken from Judah "were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 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 1:3-7

Ten times better

Daniel asked that he and his friends be given "pulse to eat, and water to drink" for ten days. "At the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat." In every matter of wisdom the king "found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm."

Daniel 1:11-20

But if not

Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image and ordered all to bow. Meshach and his friends answered, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, 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 3:13-18

Four men loose

The furnace was heated seven times hotter. But the king cried, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." 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."

Daniel 3:19-27

Key moments

Questions about Meshach

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

Why wouldn’t you bow to the golden image?

Because God commanded, "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them." We told the king, "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace... 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." Our obedience didn’t depend on being rescued.

Who was the fourth man in the fire?

The king said, "the form of the fourth is like the Son of God," and afterwards spoke of God who "hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants." Many Christians have seen in him a glimpse of the Son of God before He came to earth; others understand him as an angel. Either way, God was with us in the fire, not just after it.

What was your name before Meshach?

Mishael. "The prince of the eunuchs gave names... to Mishael, of Meshach." Mishael is usually taken to mean "Who is what God is?" Babylon gave us new names, new language and new food, but couldn’t give us a new God.

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Start with Daniel 1:3-20; 3.

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