4332. Mishael
Lexical Summary
Mishael: Mishael

Original Word: מִישָׁאֵל
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Miysha'el
Pronunciation: mee-shah-EL
Phonetic Spelling: (mee-shaw-ale')
KJV: Mishael
NASB: Mishael
Word Origin: [from H4310 (מִי - who) and H410 (אֵל - God) with the abbrev. insep. relatively (see H834 (אֲשֶׁר - which)) interposed]

1. who (is) what God (is)?
2. Mishael, the name of three Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Mishael

From miy and 'el with the abbrev. Insep. Relatively (see 'aher) interposed; who (is) what God (is)?; Mishael, the name of three Israelites -- Mishael.

see HEBREW miy

see HEBREW 'el

see HEBREW 'aher

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from mi and el
Definition
"Who is what God is?" three Isr.
NASB Translation
Mishael (7).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מִישָׁאֵל proper name, masculine (Who is what God is ? Ass. form., compare ׃מְתוּשָׁאֵל note also in Thothmes' list of towns Bai-ti-š-°-ra, i.e probably בֵּיתְשָׁאֵל, Hebrew בֵּיתְאֵל WMMAs.Eur.193): —

1 a cousin of Moses Exodus 6:22; Leviticus 10:4 (P).

2 one of Daniel's companions Daniel 1:5,7,11,19 + Daniel 2:17 (Aramaic), elsewhere in with 2-3 called מֵישַׁךְ (Daniel 1:7).

3 Nehemiah 8:4.

מִישָׁאֵל proper name, masculine (= Biblical Hebrew id.,

2, below מִי); — Daniel 2..:17.

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Overview

The name מִישָׁאֵל (Mishael) expresses the confession “Who is like God?”—a rhetorical declaration of the Lord’s unique majesty. Scripture attaches the name to three distinct men whose lives highlight holiness, covenant fidelity, and steadfast witness under pressure.

1. Mishael Son of Uzziel (Exodus 6:22; Leviticus 10:4)

A cousin of Moses and Aaron, he belonged to the Levitical clan of Kohath. His most memorable appearance occurs amid divine judgment on Nadab and Abihu. Moses commands him and his brother Elzaphan, “Come here, carry your brothers outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary” (Leviticus 10:4). Their quiet obedience contrasts sharply with the presumption that had provoked the judgment, underscoring the non-negotiable holiness of the sanctuary and the necessity of reverent service by those nearest it. That Mishael was entrusted with this somber duty attests both to his ceremonial purity and to the solemn responsibility borne by all Levites to guard the sacred space.

2. Mishael the Reformer’s Companion (Nehemiah 8:4)

Generations later a man of the same name stands on Ezra’s platform as the Law is publicly read in Jerusalem. His presence among the thirteen assistants signifies communal renewal after exile; he helps ensure the word is heard “clearly” (Nehemiah 8:8). Though little else is recorded of him, the placement of a Mishael beside Ezra situates him in the great revival that re-centered Judah on Scripture, prayer, and covenant obedience. The appearance of the name again in a context of reverence for God’s word reinforces its confessional thrust: no earthly ruler rivals the Lord.

3. Mishael (Meshach) in Babylon (Daniel 1:6-19; cf. Daniel 2–3)

Taken captive from Judah’s nobility, Mishael is trained for service in Nebuchadnezzar’s court. The chief official renames him Meshach, attempting to subsume his identity under Babylonian gods, yet the narrative continues to acknowledge his Hebrew name when stressing covenant faithfulness (Daniel 1:6, 11, 19).
• Separation unto God: Alongside Daniel, Hananiah, and Azariah, he refuses the royal diet, choosing vegetables and water so as not to “defile” himself (Daniel 1:8). The Lord honors this resolve with superior health and wisdom.
• Witness before kings: When the four are examined, “no one was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah” (Daniel 1:19). Their excellence validates the principle that fidelity to God is not a barrier but a conduit to genuine competence.
• Courageous faith: Though Daniel 3 uses his Babylonian name, the same man faces the furnace rather than bow to the image. The deliverance that follows answers the question inscribed in his Hebrew name: no one is like the God who rescues.

Theological and Ministry Themes

1. Holiness Safeguarded. The earliest Mishael models reverence in handling sacred matters, reminding every generation that proximity to holy things heightens, not lessens, accountability.
2. The Centrality of God’s Word. The post-exilic Mishael’s support for Ezra illustrates how personal presence and practical help advance corporate devotion to Scripture. Modern ministries likewise need men and women whose very names—and lives—echo “Who is like God?”
3. Faith in Exile. Mishael/Meshach shows that cultural pressure, forced assimilation, and even life-threatening persecution cannot silence allegiance to the covenant Lord. His account encourages believers to maintain identity in Christ amidst hostile settings.
4. God’s Sovereign Vindication. Whether carrying out the bodies of presumptuous priests or standing unscathed in a foreign king’s court, each Mishael bears witness that the Most High honors those who honor Him.

Key References

Exodus 6:22; Leviticus 10:4; Nehemiah 8:4; Daniel 1:6-7, 11, 19 (see also Daniel 2:17; Daniel 3:12-30 under his Babylonian name, Meshach).

Forms and Transliterations
וּלְמִֽישָׁאֵ֣ל וּמִֽישָׁאֵ֧ל ולמישאל ומישאל מִֽישָׁאֵ֖ל מִֽישָׁאֵ֥ל מִֽישָׁאֵל֙ מישאל mî·šā·’êl mîšā’êl mishaEl ū·lə·mî·šā·’êl ū·mî·šā·’êl ūləmîšā’êl ulemishaEl ūmîšā’êl umishaEl
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Englishman's Concordance
Exodus 6:22
HEB: וּבְנֵ֖י עֻזִּיאֵ֑ל מִֽישָׁאֵ֥ל וְאֶלְצָפָ֖ן וְסִתְרִֽי׃
NAS: of Uzziel: Mishael and Elzaphan
KJV: of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan,
INT: the sons of Uzziel Mishael and Elzaphan and Sithri

Leviticus 10:4
HEB: מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֶל־ מִֽישָׁאֵל֙ וְאֶ֣ל אֶלְצָפָ֔ן
NAS: called also to Mishael and Elzaphan,
KJV: called Mishael and Elzaphan,
INT: Moses to Mishael and Elzaphan

Nehemiah 8:4
HEB: וּמִשְּׂמֹאל֗וֹ פְּ֠דָיָה וּמִֽישָׁאֵ֧ל וּמַלְכִּיָּ֛ה וְחָשֻׁ֥ם
NAS: and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah,
KJV: Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah,
INT: his left and Pedaiah Mishael Malchijah Hashum

Daniel 1:6
HEB: דָּנִיֵּ֣אל חֲנַנְיָ֔ה מִֽישָׁאֵ֖ל וַעֲזַרְיָֽה׃
NAS: Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
KJV: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
INT: were Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah

Daniel 1:7
HEB: וְלַֽחֲנַנְיָה֙ שַׁדְרַ֔ךְ וּלְמִֽישָׁאֵ֣ל מֵישַׁ֔ךְ וְלַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה
NAS: Shadrach, to Mishael Meshach
KJV: of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach;
INT: to Hananiah Shadrach to Mishael Meshach Azariah

Daniel 1:11
HEB: דָּנִיֵּ֣אל חֲנַנְיָ֔ה מִֽישָׁאֵ֖ל וַעֲזַרְיָֽה׃
NAS: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,
KJV: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
INT: Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah

Daniel 1:19
HEB: כְּדָנִיֵּ֣אל חֲנַנְיָ֔ה מִֽישָׁאֵ֖ל וַעֲזַרְיָ֑ה וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ
NAS: Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah;
KJV: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
INT: Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah entered

7 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4332
7 Occurrences


mî·šā·’êl — 5 Occ.
ū·lə·mî·šā·’êl — 1 Occ.
ū·mî·šā·’êl — 1 Occ.

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