שַׁדְרַךְ
𐤔𐤃𐤓𐤊
Shaderakhe
H7714 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name designating a Babylonian official, specifically a companion of Daniel during the Babylonian exile, known for his role in the narrative of the fiery furnace. The name itself does not carry a meaning in Biblical Hebrew and is treated as a loanword. Its semantic range is restricted to its use as a personal name within the context of exile-era narratives.
Semantic Range
personal name of a Babylonian official; Hananiah's Babylonian name; companion of Daniel; borrowed name in exile period
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain; the name שַׁדְרַךְ (Shadrak) is widely regarded as a word of Akkadian or other West Semitic origin, not native to Hebrew. Various etymological suggestions relate it to Akkadian or Old Persian elements, but no consensus exists. Some scholars connect it to the Akkadian 'Šudur Aku' ('command of Aku'), Aku being a Mesopotamian lunar deity, but this is not universally accepted.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name שַׁדְרַךְ appears exclusively in the book of Daniel to designate the Babylonian name given to Hananiah, one of the three Israelite companions of Daniel during the Babylonian exile. The renaming reflects a Babylonian court practice of assigning new names, often with possible connotations linked to Babylonian deities or administrative functions. English translations traditionally use 'Shadrach,' following the Septuagint and Vulgate. The etymology and meaning of the name remain debated, but the contextual use is clear and limited to Babylonian-period exile narratives. The term should not be conflated with ethnonyms or religious identities, as it functions strictly as a personal name of foreign derivation in the text. Later Jewish tradition and Christian interpretation sometimes read additional meaning into the name, but such layers are post-biblical.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably of foreign origin; Shadrak, the Babylonian name of one of Daniel's companions; Shadrach.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁדרך (uncertain) (š-d-r-k (uncertain)) — uncertain; foreign proper name
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7714-01 |
שַׁדְרַ֔ךְ | shaderakhe | HNp |
Shadrach | Shadrak | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7714-01 |
Daniel 1:7 | שַׁדְרַ֔ךְ | shaderakhe | HNp |
Shadrach | Shadrak |