מֵישַׁךְ (me.shakh)
me.shakh
Meshach
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The Hebrew name Meshach, or מֵישַׁךְ, appears thirteen times in Scripture, almost exclusively within the book of Daniel. It is the Aramaic version of the Hebrew Mishael, meaning "who is like God." In the narrative, King Nebuchadnezzar assigns this new name to one of the young Jewish exiles, likely to signify his status as a guest or servant in the royal court.
Meshach is best known alongside Shadrach and Abednego as one of Daniel’s three faithful friends. Together, they refused to defile themselves with the king’s food (Daniel 1:8) and later stood firm against the demand to worship a golden statue (Daniel 3). Their refusal led to being thrown into a fiery furnace, where they were miraculously preserved by divine intervention.
The name itself carries theological weight. While "Mishael" asks who is like God, the Babylonian renaming attempts to erase that identity. Yet the story shows that their loyalty to God remained intact despite the new title. The sources highlight this tension between imposed identity and faithful obedience, making Meshach a symbol of resilience in exile.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Meshach comes from an Aramaic phrase asking, "Who is like God?" In the book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar gave this name to a young Jewish exile. It was likely meant to mark him as a servant in the royal court, stripping away his original Hebrew identity. Yet, the story shows that external labels cannot change who we are before God.
When faced with the demand to worship a golden statue, Meshach and his friends stood firm. They did not hide their faith or compromise their convictions. Their courage reminds us that our true identity is found in loyalty to God, not in the roles society assigns to us. Even when circumstances feel overwhelming, we can trust that God sees us.
This narrative offers hope for anyone feeling pressured to conform against their beliefs. Meshach’s life demonstrates that faithfulness often requires quiet strength rather than loud protest. We are invited to rest in the knowledge that our worth is secure in God alone, regardless of what others say or do.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Meshach14×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מֵישַׁ֖ךְ7×
- מֵישַׁךְ֙4×
- מֵישַׁ֛ךְ2×
- מֵישַׁ֧ךְ1×
Key Verses
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Daniel 3:16
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
This verse captures the core of Meshach's faith by showing his refusal to offer a defensive argument, trusting completely in God's sovereignty.
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Daniel 3:28
Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own God.
Here Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges that Meshach and his friends trusted in God enough to face death rather than compromise their worship.
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Daniel 3:12
There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 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.”
The accusers highlight Meshach's official position to emphasize the gravity of his refusal to serve the king's gods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Meshach mean?
Why did King Nebuchadnezzar change Meshach's name?
What is the significance of Meshach in Daniel 3?
Every Occurrence (13 verses across 1 books)
Daniel 13 verses
Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of…
Daniel 3:12There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and…
Daniel 3:13Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. Then these men were…
Daniel 3:14Nebuchadnezzar answered them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don’t serve my gods and you don’t…
Daniel 3:16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
Daniel 3:19Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the form of his appearance was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and…
Daniel 3:20He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the…
Daniel 3:22Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those…
Daniel 3:23These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the middle of the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace. He spoke and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and…
Daniel 3:28Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and…
Daniel 3:29Therefore I make a decree that every people, nation, and language which speak anything evil against the God of…
Daniel 3:30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.