abednego Summary and Overview

servant of Nego=Nebo, the Chaldee name given to Azariah, one of Daniel's three companions (Dan. 2:49). With Shadrach and Meshach, he was delivered from the burning fiery furnace (3:12-30).

(i.e. servant of Nego, perhaps the same as Nebo), the Chaldean name given to Azariah, one of the three friends of Daniel, miraculously save from the fiery furnace. Dan. 3. (B.C. about 600.)

ABED'-NEGO (servant of Nego, perhaps the same as Nebo, the Chaldean name of the planet Mercury, who was worshipped as the scribe and interpreter of the gods), the Chaldee name given by an officer of the king of Babylon to Azariah, one of the four youths mentioned in the book of Daniel who were taken captive at Jerusalem, b. c. 604, and carried to Babylon, where they were trained for the royal service. Dan 1:7. The names of the others were likewise changed. Daniel was called Belteshazzar; Hananiah, Shadrach; and Mishael, Meshach. Daniel, promoted in consequence of his interpretation of the king's dream, secured positions for his three companions. These three are immortal because on the occasion of the dedication of a golden image by Nebuchadnezzar they refused to bow down and worship it. Accordingly, they were cast into a burning fiery furnace, from which they were miraculously delivered unscathed. Dan 3. See Daniel.

The Chaldee name ("servant of Nego." i.e. Nebo or Mercury, the interpreter of the gods) for Azariah, one of Daniel's three companions, miraculously delivered from the furnace into which they were cast for not worshipping Nebuchadnezzar's golden image (Daniel 3). A tyrant may change the name, but he cannot change the nature, of him whose God is Jehovah. "The Son of God" with the three rendered the fire powerless to hurt even a hair of their heads (Isaiah 43:2; Matthew 10:30). The salvation He worked is herein typified: the Son of God walking in the furnace of God's wrath kindled by our sins; connected with the church, yet bringing us faith without so much as "the smell of fire" passing on us.