Ashpenaz

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Chief of the eunuchs of king Nebuchadnezzar, who had the charge of Daniel and his young companions, and was led to show them favor at his own peril, Daniel 1:3-18 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Daniel 1:3

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Daniel 1:3.

Holman Bible Dictionary

Daniel 1:3 Daniel 1:7

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

ASHPENAZ . The chief of Nebuchadrezzar’s eunuchs ( Daniel 1:3 ).

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Prince of the eunuchs under Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 1:3 .

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ash'penaz. (horse-nose). The master of the eunuchs of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 1:3.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ash´pē̇ -naz ( אשׁפנז , 'ashpenaz ): The master of the eunuchs of Nebuchadnezzar was an officer into whose hands the king entrusted those of the children of Israel, and of the princes, and of the seed of the king of Judah, whom he had carried captive to Babylon, that they might be taught the learning and tongue of the Chaldeans in order to serve in the king's palace. He is mentioned by name in Daniel 1:3 only. It used to be supposed that the name was Persian; but it now seems more probable that it is Babylonian. We would suggest Ashipu-Anu-Izzu, "the Aship-priest of Ann is mighty," as a possible form of the original.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ash´penaz, chief of the eunuchs of king Nebuchadnezzar, to whose care Daniel and his companions were consigned, and who changed their names ( Daniel 1:3; Daniel 1:7).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Ashpenaz', אִשְׁפְּנִז, perh. from Persic and Sanscrit afnas, horse, and nasa, nose, i. q. "horse-nose;" Sept. Ἀσφανέζ ), the master of the eunuchs, or, rather, one of the principal chamberlains of Nebuchadnezzar (B.C. 604), who was commanded to select certain Jewish captives to be instructed in the literature and science of the Chaldaeans ( Daniel 1:3). In this number he included Daniel and his three companions, whose Hebrew names he changed to Chaldee ( Daniel 1:7). Their refusal to partake of the provisions in from the monarch's table filled Ashpenaz with apprehension, for at that time, as in our days, the Asiatic despots frequently punished with death the least infraction of their will. He had, however, the generosity not to use constraint toward them. In acceding to the request of Daniel, Ashpenaz had every thing to apprehend; and the grateful prophet specially records that God had disposed Ashpenaz to treat him with kindness ( Daniel 1:8-16). (See Daniel).