Daniel 3

King James Version

Full text for Daniel Chapter 3

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.

2Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

3Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, 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.

4Then 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:

6And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

7Therefore 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.

9They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

10Thou, 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:

11And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, [that] he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

12There 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.

13Then Nebuchadnezzar in [his] rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

14Nebuchadnezzar 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?

15Now 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?

16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17If 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.

18But 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.

20And 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.

21Then 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.

22Therefore 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.

23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, [and] spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

25He 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.

26Then 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.

27And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, 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.

29Therefore 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.

30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King Nebuchadnezzar erected a colossal golden image and commanded all subjects to worship it upon penalty of being cast into a fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, three Jewish officials, refused to comply, declaring their unwavering allegiance to their God. Enraged, the king cast them into the superheated furnace, but they were miraculously preserved, joined by a fourth figure “like the Son of God.” Witnessing this divine intervention, Nebuchadnezzar blessed their God, issued a decree protecting His worship, and promoted the three men.

Medium Summary

King Nebuchadnezzar constructed a colossal golden image in the plain of Dura and decreed that all officials and subjects must prostrate themselves and worship it upon hearing specific musical instruments, or face immediate execution in a burning fiery furnace. Despite this command, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, three Jewish men appointed to positions of authority, steadfastly refused to comply, maintaining their exclusive devotion to their own God. Accused by Chaldeans, they were brought before the furious king, who offered them a final opportunity to worship. They boldly declared their God's ability to deliver them, but affirmed their unwavering refusal regardless of the outcome. Consequently, Nebuchadnezzar ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter, and the three men were cast in, bound. To the king's astonishment, they were seen walking unharmed in the fire with a fourth figure, described as “like the Son of God.” Nebuchadnezzar then called them forth, and they emerged completely untouched by the flames. This led the king to bless their God and issue a decree protecting His worship, subsequently promoting them in the province of Babylon.

Long Summary

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon commissioned the construction of an immense golden image, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, which he set up in the plain of Dura. He then summoned all the high-ranking officials, governors, captains, and rulers from across his provinces to attend the dedication of this image. A royal herald proclaimed that at the sound of various musical instruments, every person, regardless of nation or language, was to fall down and worship the golden image. The decree further stipulated that any who failed to worship would immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. Consequently, when the music played, the vast assembly prostrated themselves before the idol. However, certain Chaldeans approached the king to accuse Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, three Jewish men whom Nebuchadnezzar had appointed over the affairs of Babylon, of refusing to serve the king's gods or worship his golden image. In a fit of rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned the three men and questioned their defiance, offering them a second chance to comply with his command. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego respectfully informed the king that they had no need to defend themselves in this matter. They declared their God was capable of delivering them from the fiery furnace and from the king's hand, but even if He chose not to, they would still refuse to serve his gods or worship the golden image. This resolute refusal intensified Nebuchadnezzar's fury, causing his countenance to change. He commanded the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual and ordered his mightiest soldiers to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the intensely hot furnace. The heat was so extreme that the flames killed the soldiers who threw them in. The three men fell into the fire, fully clothed and bound. Suddenly, King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished, rising in haste to ask his counsellors if they had cast only three men into the fire. Upon confirmation, he exclaimed that he saw four men, loose and unharmed, walking in the midst of the fire, and the appearance of the fourth was “like the Son of God.” Approaching the furnace, Nebuchadnezzar called out to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, identifying them as servants of the most high God, and commanded them to come forth. They emerged, and all the assembled officials observed that the fire had no power over their bodies, not a hair of their heads was singed, their garments were unchanged, and there was no smell of fire upon them. Nebuchadnezzar then blessed the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, acknowledging that He had sent His angel to deliver His servants who trusted in Him. The king then issued a new decree, stating that any people, nation, or language that spoke against the God of these three men would be utterly destroyed, for there was no other God capable of such deliverance. Finally, the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Core Concepts

  • Idolatry and Royal DecreeKing Nebuchadnezzar's command for universal worship of his golden image represents an assertion of absolute royal authority over religious practice, challenging monotheistic faith. The penalty of the fiery furnace underscores the severity of this decree, demanding total submission.
  • Faithful ResistanceShadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's unwavering refusal to worship the golden image, despite the imminent threat of death, exemplifies steadfast faith and obedience to God's law above human command. Their declaration highlights their conviction that they would not compromise their beliefs.
  • Divine DeliveranceThe miraculous preservation of the three men in the intensely hot furnace, where even the king's strong men perished, demonstrates God's power to protect His faithful servants. This event serves as a powerful testament to His sovereignty and ability to intervene in impossible situations.
  • The Fourth FigureThe appearance of a fourth figure in the furnace, described by Nebuchadnezzar as “like the Son of God,” is a pivotal moment, indicating divine intervention and companionship in suffering. This figure's presence ensures the men's safety and signifies God's direct involvement.
  • King's AcknowledgmentNebuchadnezzar's transformation from furious rage to blessing the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego signifies a profound recognition of the true God's supremacy. His subsequent decree protecting the God of Israel marks a significant shift in his policy and an acknowledgment of divine power.
  • Consequences of FaithfulnessThe chapter concludes with the promotion of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, illustrating that faithfulness to God, even in the face of extreme persecution, can lead to vindication and honor. Their steadfastness ultimately glorified God and resulted in their advancement within the kingdom.