Hananiah

one of the three young men

Who was Hananiah?

A young man of Judah, Daniel’s companion in Babylon. There he was given the name Shadrach. Daniel 1:6-7
With Daniel, he ate only vegetables and drank water during a ten-day test. God gave them wisdom. Daniel 1:12-17
He refused to worship the king’s golden statue. He was thrown into the furnace with his companions, and God saved them. Daniel 3:18-23; Daniel 3:49-50

Also called: Shadrach, the name he was given in Babylon Daniel 1:7
From: From Judah Daniel 1:6
Occupation: Administrator of the province of Babylon, at Daniel’s request Daniel 2:49
Feast day: December 16: Saints Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael

What the Bible says

Daniel 1:6-7

⁶Now there were among them of the children of Juda, Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias. ⁷And the master of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel, Baltassar: to Ananias, Sidrach: to Misael, Misach: and to Azarias, Abdenago.

Daniel 1:12-17

¹²Try, I beseech thee, thy servants for ten days, and let pulse be given us to eat, and water to drink: ¹³And look upon our faces, and the faces of the children that eat of the king’s meat: and as thou shalt see, deal with thy servants. ¹⁴And when he had heard these words, he tried them for ten days. ¹⁵And after ten days their faces appeared fairer and fatter than all the children that ate of the king’s meat. ¹⁶So Malasar took their portions, and the wine that they should drink: and he gave them pulse. ¹⁷And to these children God gave knowledge, and understanding in every book, and wisdom: but to Daniel the understanding also of all visions and dreams.

Daniel 3:18-23; Daniel 3:49-50

¹⁸But if he will not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not worship thy gods, nor adore the golden statue which thou hast set up. ¹⁹Then was Nabuchodonosor filled with fury: and the countenance of his face was changed against Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, and he commanded that the furnace should be heated seven times more than it had been accustomed to be heated. ²⁰And he commanded the strongest men that were in his army, to bind the feet of Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, and to cast them into the furnace of burning fire. ²¹And immediately these men were bound and were cast into the furnace of burning fire, with their coats, and their caps, and their shoes, and their garments. ²²For the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace was heated exceedingly. And the flame of the fire slew those men that had cast in Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago. ²³But these three men, that is, Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, fell down bound in the midst of the furnace of burning fire.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Hananiah

Before Jesus. He was one of the young men of Judah chosen to serve in the palace of the king of Babylon. Daniel 1:3-6
Before Jesus. With Daniel, he ate only vegetables and drank water for ten days. At the end they looked healthier than the others. Daniel 1:12-15
Before Jesus. God gave the four young men knowledge and wisdom. The king found them ten times better than his wise men. Daniel 1:17, 20
Before Jesus. When the king wanted to kill the wise men, Daniel told Hananiah and the other two everything. That way they could ask the God of heaven for mercy. Daniel 2:17-18
Before Jesus. After the king’s dream, Daniel asked that Hananiah and his two companions be put in charge of the affairs of the province of Babylon. Daniel 2:49
With Jesus. King Nebuchadnezzar ordered everyone to worship a golden statue. Hananiah and his two companions did not worship it. Daniel 3:1, 5, 12
With Jesus. Nebuchadnezzar, furious, sent for them. He gave them another chance to worship the statue when the music played; if not, they would go into the furnace. Daniel 3:13-15
With Jesus. They told the king that God could save them. And that even if he did not save them, they would not worship the statue. Daniel 3:16-18
Afterward. They were thrown, bound, into the furnace. The angel of the Lord came down with them, and the fire did not touch them. Daniel 3:20-23, 49-50
Afterward. The king saw them walking in the fire and called them to come out. Then he blessed their God and gave them positions. Daniel 3:91-97

Words of Hananiah

“We have no occasion to answer thee concerning this matter. For behold our God, whom we worship, is able to save us from the furnace of burning fire, and to deliver us out of thy hands, O king.” Daniel 3:16-17

All three together, to King Nebuchadnezzar.

“But if he will not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not worship thy gods, nor adore the golden statue which thou hast set up.” Daniel 3:18

All three together, to the king, when he threatened them with the furnace.

“Blessed art thou, O Lord the God of our fathers: and worthy to be praised, and glorified, and exalted above all for ever…” Daniel 3:52

All three with one voice, in the middle of the furnace.

What they were like

Firm: he did not worship the golden statue, even when they threatened him with the furnace. Daniel 3:15-18
Trusting: with his companions, he said that their God could save them. Daniel 3:17
Wise: God gave him knowledge and understanding. Daniel 1:17

The greatest thing they did

He came out of the furnace without a single burn, and the king blessed the God of the three young men. Daniel 3:93-95

Not to be confused with

He was a disciple of Jesus in Damascus who laid his hands on Saul. He lived centuries after Daniel’s companion. Acts 9:10, 17
He is another Ananias, from the Acts of the Apostles, a member of the first community in Jerusalem. Acts 5:1

In the Church today

Feast day: December 16, Saints Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael (commemoration (not on the General Roman Calendar or the U.S. calendar)). Roman Martyrology (2004)

In art, recognized by: The three young men in the furnace, sometimes with an angel From Dn 3, 49-50; this is how Christian art shows them

What people ask

Who were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego?

They were Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, Daniel’s companions. The chief of the king’s servants changed their names in Babylon. Daniel 1:6-7

Who was the fourth man in the furnace?

The king saw four men in the fire; the fourth looked like a son of God. Afterward, the king himself said that God had sent his angel. Daniel 3:92, 95

Were they burned?

No. The fire had no power over them: not a hair was singed, and they did not even smell of smoke. Daniel 3:94

What is the Song of the Three Young Men?

It is the prayer they sang in the furnace, inviting all creation to bless the Lord. Daniel 3:51-90

What did the king order when they would not worship the statue?

He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. Daniel 3:19

How does the Song of the Three Young Men end?

It gives thanks to the Lord, because he is good and his mercy endures forever. Daniel 3:89-90

Little known Mattathias, the father of the Maccabees, recalled that Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael were saved from the fire by their faith. 1 Maccabees 2:59 The song in the furnace…

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Who Hananiah is connected to

Daniel · companions in Babylon
Azariah · together in the furnace
Mishael · the song
Nebuchadnezzar · before the king

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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