The Hebrew word meltsar refers to a steward, guardian, or official who oversees provisions and welfare. It appears in Daniel 1:11, 16 as the title of the official whom Nebuchadnezzar's chief eunuch appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The word may derive from an Akkadian term for a court official responsible for food and drink.
The meltsar in Daniel's story becomes an unwitting participant in one of Scripture's great faith tests. When Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food, he appealed to the meltsar for a ten-day trial of vegetables and water. God gave Daniel favor with this guardian, and after the trial, Daniel and his friends looked healthier than all the others. The story demonstrates that faithfulness to God's commands brings blessing even in exile, and that God can work through pagan officials to accomplish His purposes for those who trust Him.