Home › Glossary › Letter A

Abednego

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

One of the three companions of Daniel—alongside Shadrach and Meshach—who defied King Nebuchadnezzar and miraculously survived being cast into a fiery furnace.

Detailed Definition
Originally named Azariah, Abednego was given a Babylonian name during exile. He, with Shadrach and Meshach, defied King Nebuchadnezzar’s idolatry and emerged unharmed from the furnace, demonstrating faith under persecution. In poetry, Abednego embodies steadfastness, divine deliverance, and resistance to tyranny.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Samson Agonistes," Abednego (with Shadrach and Meshach) is invoked as a model of faith under trial; In William Cowper’s "Olney Hymns," the fiery furnace of Daniel 3—where Abednego was protected—is cited as proof of God’s deliverance; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "A Drama of Exile," biblical martyrs like Abednego embody steadfastness; In Henry Vaughan’s "The World," the image of the unburnt youths in Babylon echoes Abednego’s miraculous preservation; In George Herbert’s "The Collar," resistance to tyranny recalls Abednego’s refusal to bow to idols; In John Donne’s sermons (often poetic in form), Abednego’s faith is held up as exemplary for believers facing persecution.
Additional Notes
Abednego: One of the three Hebrew youths (with Shadrach and Meshach) who survived the fiery furnace in Daniel 3; his Babylonian name contrasts with his Hebrew identity (Azariah), making him a rich symbol of faith under cultural assimilation. Poets may invoke Abednego to explore themes of resilience, divine protection, or resistance to tyranny. Useful in allusions to trials by fire—literal or metaphorical—and steadfastness in belief.
Also Known As
Meshach
Skip to main content