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Shadrach

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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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 Daniel’s friends who survived Babylon’s fiery furnace

Detailed Definition
Originally Hananiah, Shadrach defied idolatry with Meshach and Abednego. In poetry, Shadrach represents unyielding faith, the solidarity of the persecuted, and the miraculous presence of God “in the fire” with the faithful.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Daniel 3, Shadrach’s faith inspires African American spirituals and liberation poetry; William Blake alludes to Shadrach in symbolic verse about fiery trials; Contemporary poems use Shadrach to explore solidarity in persecution; In poems about divine presence, the fourth figure joins Shadrach in the flames; Some liturgical laments echo Shadrach’s song of praise amid suffering; Educational poems cite Shadrach to teach about courage and trust.
Additional Notes
Shadrach, with Meshach and Abednego, survives Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace (Daniel 3); his Babylonian name (Hananiah in Hebrew) reflects the tension of identity under empire; poets use him to explore faith under pressure, cultural resistance, and miraculous deliverance.
Also Known As
Shadrach companion of Meshach Hananiah
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