What name did the Chaldeans give to Daniel?

What name did the Chaldeans give to Daniel?

• A. Daniel
• B. Belteshazzar
• C. Shadrach
• D. Mephibosheth

Answer: (B)

In exile, conquerors often renamed captives to reflect their gods and culture, signaling a shift in identity. Daniel was given the Babylonian name Belteshazzar, a name that links him to the god Bel and carries the sense of protection or blessing from that deity. This is the name the Chaldeans used for him in the royal setting. Daniel’s Hebrew name means "God is my judge," but the Babylonian rename was part of a broader practice that included renaming Daniel’s friends as well. The other names mentioned—Shadrach and Mephibosheth—refer to different figures: Shadrach is the name given to Hananiah, one of Daniel’s companions, and Mephibosheth is a separate person from David’s lineage. So Belteshazzar is the name assigned to Daniel by the Chaldeans.

In exile, conquerors often renamed captives to reflect their gods and culture, signaling a shift in identity. Daniel was given the Babylonian name Belteshazzar, a name that links him to the god Bel and carries the sense of protection or blessing from that deity. This is the name the Chaldeans used for him in the royal setting.

Daniel’s Hebrew name means "God is my judge," but the Babylonian rename was part of a broader practice that included renaming Daniel’s friends as well. The other names mentioned—Shadrach and Mephibosheth—refer to different figures: Shadrach is the name given to Hananiah, one of Daniel’s companions, and Mephibosheth is a separate person from David’s lineage. So Belteshazzar is the name assigned to Daniel by the Chaldeans.