עֲבֵד נְגוֹ (a.ved ne.go)
a.ved ne.go
Abednego
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Abednego is a Babylonian adaptation of the Hebrew Azariah, meaning "servant of Nebo." This renaming by King Nebuchadnezzar reflects the imperial practice of replacing indigenous identities with those honoring local deities, specifically the god Nebo. In Daniel 1:7, the text explicitly links this new name to his original one, marking a pivotal moment where his identity is publicly shifted from belonging to Yahweh to serving a foreign power.
Although the sources note that Abednego appears frequently in Daniel chapters 2 and 3, these entries primarily record his actions alongside Shadrach and Meshach. He is defined by his steadfast refusal to compromise his faith, whether through dietary restrictions or worshiping the golden image. The narrative highlights his courage in the fiery furnace, where he stands firm with his friends despite the king's threats.
Translators retain the Babylonian form Abednego when recounting these events, preserving the historical tension between the name given by the empire and the God whom the young men served. This linguistic choice underscores the theme of faithful witness in a hostile environment, showing how identity can be contested yet remain unbroken.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Abednego means 'servant of Nebo,' a title imposed by Babylonian officials to shift loyalty away from God. In Daniel 1:7, Azariah receives this new identity as part of the empire's effort to reshape his life. Yet the story shows that external labels cannot erase who you truly belong to.
When pressure mounts to conform, your true identity remains secure in Christ. Like Azariah, you can hold fast to your faith even when the world tries to rename you. This word reminds us that no title given by culture or power has the final say over your soul.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Abed-1×
- -nego1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֲבֵ֥ד1×
- נְגֽוֹ\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 1:7
The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
This verse records the exact moment Azariah is renamed Abednego, marking the start of his test in a foreign land.