Daniel 3

The Image of Gold

1Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, #Dan. 4:1; 6:25O peoples, nations, and languages, 5that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 6and whoever does not fall down and worship shall #Jer. 29:22; Ezek. 22:18–22; Matt. 13:42, 50; Rev. 9:2; 13:15; 14:11be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”

7So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Daniel’s Friends Disobey the King

8Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans #Ezra 4:12–16; Esth. 3:8, 9; Dan. 6:12, 13came forward and accused the Jews. 9They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, #Dan. 2:4; 5:10; 6:6, 21“O king, live forever! 10You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12#Dan. 2:49There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have #Dan. 1:8; 6:12, 13not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”

13Then Nebuchadnezzar, in #Dan. 2:12; 3:19rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 14Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, #Ex. 32:32; Luke 13:9good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. #Ex. 5:2; 2 Kin. 18:35; Is. 36:18–20; Dan. 2:47And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, #(Matt. 10:19)we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17If that is the case, our #Job 5:19; (Ps. 27:1, 2; Is. 26:3, 4); Jer. 1:8; 15:20, 21; Dan. 6:19–22God whom we serve is able to #1 Sam. 17:37; Jer. 1:8; 15:20, 21; 42:11; Dan. 6:16, 19–22; Mic. 7:7; 2 Cor. 1:10deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we #Job 13:15worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Saved in Fiery Trial

19Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”

They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

25“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, #(Ps. 91:3–9); Is. 43:2walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like #Job 1:6; 38:7; (Ps. 34:7); Dan. 3:28the Son of God.”

Nebuchadnezzar Praises God

26Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the #(Dan. 4:2, 3, 17, 34, 35)Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men #(Is. 43:2); Heb. 11:34on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

28Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His #(Ps. 34:7, 8); Is. 37:36; (Jer. 17:7); Dan. 6:22, 23; Acts 5:19; 12:7Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29#Dan. 6:26Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the #Dan. 2:46, 47; 4:34–37God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be #Ezra 6:11; Dan. 2:5cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; #Dan. 6:27because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”

30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

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Daniel 3: NKJV

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