One Single Letter

Depending on your background, you may have multiple names. In some parts of the world, parents give their children one name but then call them by another. This second name may be related to the first, as a diminutive (Jonathan to Jonny or Elizabeth to Lizzie) or as a rhyme (William to Bill). Some cultures use patronyms or matronyms, referring to children by their parent’s name in some way. In turn, teknonymic cultures refer to individuals by their children. Some cultures have multiple names to denote lineage, honor family members, and other such reasons.

Names are used in context. When in communities that know my family, I may be referred to as Scott’s son. When around my children’s friends, they call me Noah’s dad. In English circles I am Justin, while in familiar Korean circles, Jungwon. As a child, any time I heard my surname first followed by my Korean name (Kim Jungwon), I knew I was in trouble, because that is how angry Korean mothers call their children.

In the ancient world, names evoked the power and context of the gods. In the Hebrew culture the roots of the monotheistic name of Yahweh and Elohim are embedded in the yah and el roots, as in Jeremiah and Nathaniel, respectively. In the book of Daniel we encounter four young men whose names are Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. By changing their names to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—all containing the name of a Babylonian god—the Babylonian authorities hoped to reeducate their values, worldviews, and religion.

One small cross differentiated a life of integrity, prophetic providence, righteousness, and salvation.

This name change comes into particular focus in Daniel 5, where the new antagonist’s name is Belshazzar. How similar it is to Daniel’s Babylonian name, Belteshazzar! This similarity has caused much confusion over the years in readers young and old alike. In fact, the names are the same except for one Hebrew letter, which makes the “te” sound. In Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony he uses the Hebrew name “Daniel” twice (Dan. 4:8, 19), preferring the name “Belteshazzar,” which is used six times (verses 8, 9, 18, 19). Inversely, “Belteshazzar” is used only once in chapter 5, by the queen mother (Dan. 5:12), whereas “Daniel” appears seven times (verses 12, 13, 17, 29). In other words, the author of Daniel seems to have a natural aversion for the Babylonian name and uses it only when absolutely necessary.[*]

The intentional similarity of the names warrants a comparison of the two characters. Both young men were rebellious: the young Daniel against the gods and system of Babylon, while the young Belshazzar against the God of Israel. Daniel refused to follow the laws of men that conflicted with the laws of heaven, but Belshazzar profaned the holy vessels of God.

Both were of royal blood. Belshazzar was the grandson of King Nebuchadnezzar. And Belteshazzar was also of royal descent (cf. Dan. 1:3).

Scripture records both their interactions with wine. Daniel refused to drink wine and that which would intoxicate and impair his faculties, while Belshazzar embraced debauchery and drunkenness. The former dared not to mix the holy with the unholy, while the latter brought the temple vessels, drank wine from them, and praised his gods.

Last, both knew of the testimony of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel was involved in the former king’s conversion and reminded the grandson of his grandfather’s rise, fall, and redemption. Belshazzar “knew all this” (Dan. 5:22) yet still lifted himself up against the God of heaven. One learned from the lessons of the past, while the other eschewed them.

Though similar, the one difference is the “t” sound. Some scholars have intimated this might have been Daniel’s way of rebelling against his imposed label. Interestingly the letter tav in the paleo-Hebrew script was written as a cross. One small cross differentiated a life of integrity, prophetic providence, righteousness, and salvation. The absence of a small cross marked a life of arrogance, fear, rebellion, and perdition. Are your name, life, and identity differentiated by a single cross?

[*] Shea, William H. “Bel(te)shazzar Meets Belshazzar,” Andrews University Seminary Studies, Spring 1988, vol. 26, no. 1, p. 73.