THE MEANING OF THE HEBREW BOYS’ NEW NAMES

Hananiah (חֲנַנְיָה - Ḥănanyāh) means "Yahweh is gracious" or "Grace of Yahweh" (Yah = Yahweh).

When taken into exile, his name was changed to Shadrach (שַׁדְרַךְ - Šaḏraḵ), a name likely linked to the phrase "Command of Aku"—with Aku (or Sin) being the Babylonian moon god.

This name change was not just linguistic—it was ideological. It symbolized a shift from trusting in the grace of the true God to submission under the command of a false deity. It’s as if Babylon was saying:

“Forget Yahweh’s grace; the command of Aku will be gracious to you.”

But what a deception that was!