Bible Figure
Meshach
one of the three youths thrown into the furnace in the Book of Daniel (Book of Daniel)
Meshach was the Babylonian name given to Mishael, one of Daniel's three Judean companions who refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar's golden image and survived the fiery furnace.
Biography
Daniel 1 says Mishael was among the young Judeans selected for Babylonian training and renamed Meshach. With Daniel, Hananiah, and Azariah he refused to defile himself with the royal food and was blessed with wisdom. Daniel 3 recounts Nebuchadnezzar commanding officials to worship a golden image. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused, declaring that God could deliver them but that even if He did not, they would not worship the image. They were thrown into an overheated furnace, yet a fourth figure appeared with them and they emerged unharmed, without even the smell of fire.
Biblical Significance
Meshach and his companions are enduring examples of faithful obedience under state-sponsored idolatry. Their declaration before the furnace expresses trust in God's power without making faithfulness conditional on receiving deliverance.