CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Daniel 3
Chapter 3 of 12
Chapter Overview
What happens in Daniel 3
King Nebuchadnezzar builds a huge golden statue and commands everyone to bow down and worship it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refuse to worship the idol. The king throws them into a blazing furnace, but God protects them through a miraculous fourth person in the fire.
Scripture
Daniel 3
The Golden Statue and the King's Command
Study note
The golden statue was about 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide. The plain of Dura was a flat area near Babylon. The king commanded people from every nation to bow down when they heard the music. This was a test of loyalty to the king and his gods.
1 King Nebuchadnezzar had a golden statue built that stood ninety feet tall and nine feet wide. He placed it on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 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 The king sent word to every leader in the land. He called all rulers, captains, judges, and officers. He told them to come see his new statue. Then 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.
3 So all of these leaders traveled to Babylon and gathered together. They stood in front of the huge golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then 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.
4 A herald called out at the top of his voice, "Attention, people of every nation and language! Here is the king's order!" Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
5 "The moment you hear all the instruments start playing -- the horns, flutes, harps, lyres, and everything else -- you must immediately drop to the ground. You must worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar built." 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 "Anyone who refuses to bow down and worship will be thrown straight into a blazing furnace." And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
7 So the moment the music started, every person from every nation and language fell to the ground. They worshipped the golden statue. 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.
The Three Friends Are Accused
Study note
Some Babylonian officials were jealous of the positions given to the three Jewish men. They reported that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused to worship the golden statue. This was both a religious and political accusation.
8 Right after this, some men from Babylon came forward. They told on certain Jews. Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
9 They approached King Nebuchadnezzar and said, "Long live the king!" They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
10 "Your majesty, you made a law. When the music plays, all must bow down and worship the golden statue." 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 anyone who refuses is to be thrown into a blazing furnace." And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12 "Well, those Jews you appointed to run the province of Babylon — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego — are ignoring your command. They refuse to worship your gods or bow to the golden statue you put up." There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
The Three Friends Stand Firm
Study note
Nebuchadnezzar gave them one more chance, but they refused again. Their response in verses 17-18 is one of the greatest statements of faith in the Bible. They trusted God to save them, but even if he did not, they would not worship false gods.
13 Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage. He demanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego be dragged before him immediately. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 "Is it true," Nebuchadnezzar asked them, "that you will not serve my gods or bow before the golden statue I set up?" Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 "I will give you one more chance. When the music plays, if you bow down and worship the statue, everything will be fine. But if you refuse, you will be thrown into the blazing furnace right now. And tell me — what god could possibly save you from my power?" 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 Abed-nego replied, "King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to argue about this." Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, 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 your hand, O king." 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 to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up." 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.
Thrown into the Fiery Furnace
Study note
The king was so angry that he ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than normal. The fire was so intense that it killed the soldiers who threw the three men in. The men fell into the furnace still tied up.
19 Nebuchadnezzar's face turned red with fury against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. He screamed at his men to heat the furnace seven times hotter than normal. Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
20 He called for the biggest, strongest soldiers in his army. He told them to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they threw them into the fire. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 The three men were bound up, still wearing all their clothes, and thrown into the roaring furnace. 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 The king's order was so urgent. The furnace was so very hot. The flames killed the soldiers who carried them to the fire. 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 Abed-nego.
23 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego fell down into the heart of the blazing furnace, still tied up. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
God Rescues from the Fire
Study note
The king was amazed to see four men walking freely in the fire. The fourth figure appeared like a divine being. When the three men came out, not even their hair was burned and they did not smell like smoke. The king praised the God of Israel and promoted the three men.
24 Suddenly, King Nebuchadnezzar jumped to his feet in shock. "Wait — did we not throw three men into the fire, all tied up?" he asked his advisors. "Yes, that is right, your majesty," they confirmed. Then 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.
25 "Then look!" the king exclaimed. "I can see four men walking around freely inside the flames, completely unharmed! And the fourth one looks like he came from the gods!" 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 Nebuchadnezzar rushed to the door of the furnace and yelled, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego — servants of the Most High God — come out of there!" And out they walked. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27 All the officials crowded around to see them. The fire had not touched them at all. Their hair was not singed, their clothes were perfectly fine, and they did not even smell like smoke. And 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 Nebuchadnezzar declared, "Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego! He sent his angel to rescue the servants who trusted in him. They stood up to the king's command and chose to die rather than worship any god besides their own." Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, 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 "So here is my new law: Anyone from any nation or language who says one word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego will be cut to pieces. Their house will be torn down. No other god anywhere can save people like this." Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, 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 After that, the king gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego even better jobs in Babylon. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.
Key Themes
Themes in Daniel 3
Courage under pressureGod delivers the faithfulIdolatry and worshipFaith even without rescueThe presence of God in suffering
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
Daniel 25 Matthew 28:20
The presence of a fourth figure in the furnace — described as looking like a son of the gods — foreshadows Christ's promise to be with his people always, even in the most fiery trials.
Apply This Today
Living Daniel 3
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not know if God would rescue them, but they chose to be faithful anyway. Their words — 'even if he does not' — are among the most powerful statements of faith in the Bible. True faith does not depend on guaranteed outcomes. It trusts God's character regardless of what happens.
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