Daniel 1:7-9

Expanded Bible

⁷ Ashpenaz, the chief ·officer [or of the eunuchs], gave them names [^CBabylonian, that is Akkadian, names]. Daniel’s new name was Belteshazzar, Hananiah’s was Shadrach, Mishael’s was Meshach, and Azariah’s was Abednego [^Cthe new names praised Babylonian gods].

⁸ Daniel ·decided [^Lset his heart] not to eat the king’s food or drink his wine because that would ·defile [contaminate] him [^Cperhaps would make him ritually unclean, but more likely because he depended on God to sustain him]. So he ·asked [sought] ·Ashpenaz [^Lthe chief officer/or of the eunuchs] for permission not to ·defile [contaminate] himself in this way.

⁹ God made Ashpenaz, the chief ·officer [or of the eunuchs], want to be ·kind [loving] and ·merciful [gracious] to Daniel,