עֲבֵד נְגוֹ (a.ved ne.go)
a.ved ne.go
Abednego
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 name Abednego is an Aramaic form of the Hebrew Azariah, meaning "servant of Nebo." It was given to a young Jewish exile by King Nebuchadnezzar as part of a program to assimilate him into Babylonian culture. The sources identify him primarily as a close companion of Daniel and two other friends who maintained their faith despite serving in the king’s court.
This renaming illustrates the tension between cultural pressure and religious identity. While Azariah means "Yahweh has helped," Abednego invokes Nebo, the Babylonian god of wisdom. The narrative highlights this contrast by showing how these men refused to compromise their dietary laws or worship the king’s golden statue in Daniel 3.
Most occurrences of the name appear in the book of Daniel, particularly in the account of the fiery furnace. Translators typically retain the Aramaic form Abednego in these passages to preserve the historical context of the exile period. The name serves as a reminder of the personal cost of faithfulness in a hostile environment.
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 given by King Nebuchadnezzar to replace his Hebrew name Azariah, which meant "Yahweh has helped." This change was part of an effort to erase their Jewish identity and assimilate them into Babylonian culture. Yet, these young men remained faithful to God despite the pressure to conform.
In Daniel 3, they stood before the king and refused to worship the golden statue, declaring that their loyalty belonged to God alone. Even when threatened with death in a fiery furnace, they trusted Him completely. Their story shows that our identity is rooted in God, not in the labels or roles others assign to us.
When life tries to redefine who you are, remember that God sees your faithfulness. Like Abednego and his friends, you can stand firm in your trust, knowing that God is with you even in the fire.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Abed-14×
- -nego14×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/עֲבֵ֣ד11×
- נְג֑וֹ7×
- נְג֔וֹ3×
- נְג֖וֹ2×
- וַ/עֲבֵ֥ד2×
- נְג֛וֹ1×
- נְג֔וֹא1×
- וַ/עֲבֵד\־1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 3:16
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
Here Abednego stands with his companions to declare their refusal to compromise, showing how the name represents steadfast faith under pressure.
-
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.
The king acknowledges that God delivered these men, highlighting how Abednego’s faithfulness led to a public testimony of God’s power.
-
Daniel 3:26
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace. He spoke and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the middle of the fire.
This verse shows Abednego emerging unharmed from the fire, illustrating God’s presence and protection for those who remain faithful.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Abednego mean?
Who was Abednego in the Bible?
Why was Abednego’s name changed?
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.