Bible Figure
Shadrach
male human biblical figure in Daniel 1:6 & 3:12-30, survives burning in an oven on the orders of Nebuchadnezzar II
Shadrach was the Babylonian name given to Hananiah, one of Daniel's Judean companions who remained faithful to God and survived Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace.
Biography
Daniel 1 says Hananiah was selected with Daniel, Mishael, and Azariah for Babylonian training and was renamed Shadrach. The four refused to defile themselves with the royal food and were granted wisdom by God. In Daniel 3 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused Nebuchadnezzar's command to worship the golden image. They declared that God was able to deliver them but that they would not worship the image even if He did not. Thrown into an intensely heated furnace, they were joined by a mysterious fourth figure and emerged completely unharmed.
Biblical Significance
Shadrach and his companions exemplify uncompromising faith under coercive state-sponsored idolatry. Their obedience did not depend upon a guarantee of rescue, making their confession one of Scripture's strongest statements of faithful trust.