6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 7 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 Abed-nego.

Their Hebrew names, each of which exalted Jehovah, were changed to Babylonian names whose meanings are not clear but may have been intended to honor a Babylonian god. Thus Hananiah (“The Lord is gracious”) was changed to Shadrach (“Command of Aku”—the Sumerian moon god). Mishael (“Who is what God is”) was changed to Meshach (“Who is what Aku is”), and Azariah (“The Lord has helped”) was changed to Abednego (“Servant of Nabu”—the Babylonian god of wisdom). Also Daniel (“My judge is God”) was changed to Belteshazzar (“Bel protects”—the chief Babylonian god). These young men underwent a three-year course of instruction in the languages and literature of the Chaldeans, the learned men of Babylon. This instruction would have included the Aramaic, Akkadian, and Sumerian languages; cuneiform writing; and perhaps also astronomy, mathematics, history, and agriculture.

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there;

And backward, but I cannot perceive him:

9  On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him:

He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

10  But he knoweth the way that I take:

When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11  My foot hath held his steps,

His way have I kept, and not declined.

12  Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips;

I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him?

And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

14  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me:

And many such things are with him.

Daniel’s name means “God is my judge

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: 17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable

3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.