1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height [was] threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
5 [That] at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down [and] worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, [that] he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in [his] rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, [Is it] true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; [well]: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who [is] that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: [therefore] he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that [were] in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, [and] to cast [them] into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their [other] garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, [and] spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come [hither]. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellers, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28 [Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
Overview of Daniel Chapter 3
Daniel Chapter 3 narrates a pivotal moment in the story of the Jewish exiles in Babylon, focusing on the themes of faith, obedience, and divine deliverance. The chapter centers around King Nebuchadnezzar’s decree, the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to worship an idol, and their miraculous deliverance from the fiery furnace.
Key Characters
- King Nebuchadnezzar: The Babylonian king who constructs a golden statue and demands worship from his subjects.
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Three Jewish exiles who refuse to bow to the idol, demonstrating their faith in God.
- Daniel: Although not directly involved in the events of this chapter, he is a key figure in the broader narrative of the Book of Daniel.
- The Chaldeans: Advisors and officials who report the disobedience of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to the king.
Summary of Events
- Construction of the Golden Statue (Verses 1-7):
- Nebuchadnezzar builds a massive golden statue in the plain of Dura.
- The king commands all officials to gather and worship the statue at the sound of musical instruments.
- Failure to comply results in being thrown into a fiery furnace.
- All the people, including the officials, bow down to the statue when the music plays.
- Accusation of the Jewish Exiles (Verses 8-12):
- Chaldeans inform the king that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to worship the idol.
- The accusation highlights the loyalty of the three men to their faith and their God.
- Confrontation with Nebuchadnezzar (Verses 13-15):
- Nebuchadnezzar summons the three men and gives them a chance to comply.
- He emphasizes the severity of the punishment and questions their defiance.
- Faithful Response of the Three Men (Verses 16-18):
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego boldly declare their refusal to worship the idol.
- They express their faith in God, stating that He is able to deliver them from the furnace.
- They affirm their commitment to God, regardless of the outcome.
- Miraculous Deliverance (Verses 19-30):
- Nebuchadnezzar, enraged, orders the furnace to be heated seven times hotter.
- The three men are bound and thrown into the furnace.
- To the king’s astonishment, he sees four figures walking unharmed in the fire.
- The fourth figure is described as resembling a divine being.
- Nebuchadnezzar calls them out, and they emerge from the furnace without any burns or smoke.
- The king praises their God and issues a decree that no one should speak against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
- He promotes the three men in the province of Babylon.
Themes and Analysis
- Faith and Integrity:
The refusal of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to worship the golden statue exemplifies their unwavering faith in God. Their integrity in the face of death highlights the importance of remaining true to one’s beliefs.
- Divine Protection:
The miraculous deliverance from the fiery furnace serves as a powerful testament to God’s ability to protect and save those who are faithful to Him. It reinforces the belief in God’s sovereignty over earthly powers.
- Idolatry vs. True Worship:
This chapter contrasts the worship of false idols with the worship of the true God. The demand for worship of the statue symbolizes the pressures to conform to societal norms that contradict one’s faith.
- Authority and Accountability:
Nebuchadnezzar’s initial authority is challenged by the steadfastness of the three men. The chapter raises questions about the limits of authority, especially when it conflicts with divine commands.
Conclusion
Daniel Chapter 3 serves as a powerful narrative of faith, courage, and divine intervention. It encourages readers to stand firm in their beliefs, regardless of the challenges they face, and reassures them of God’s presence and protection in times of trial.
