Daniel 3

Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Statue

1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue ¹sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, ² and he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. ‡ Hab 2:19Jer 16:20Isa 46:6Hos 8:4Act 17:29Act 19:26Isa 40:19-31Psa 135:15 +172 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other officials of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue he had set up. ‡ Dan 3:271Ki 12:32Dan 6:1-4Dan 6:6-7Exo 32:4-6Jdg 16:23Num 25:2Pro 29:12 +1

3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. ‡ Rev 17:17Rev 17:13Rev 13:13-161Co 1:24-26Act 19:34-35Psa 82:1-8Rom 1:21-28Rom 3:11

4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded: ‡ Dan 4:1Dan 6:25Mic 6:16Dan 4:14Est 8:9Hos 5:11Isa 40:9Isa 58:1 +15 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, ³ you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. ‡ Dan 3:15Dan 3:10Dan 3:7 6 And whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.” ‡ Mat 13:42Mat 13:50Jer 29:22Dan 3:11Dan 3:15Ezk 22:18-22Rev 14:11Rev 9:2 +10

7 Therefore, as soon as all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music, the people of every nation and language would fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. ‡ 1Jn 5:19Jer 51:7Rev 12:9Rev 13:14Rev 13:3Rev 13:8Rev 17:8Rev 19:20 +1

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Accused

8 At this time some astrologers ⁴came forward and maliciously accused the Jews, ‡ Ezr 4:12-16Dan 6:12-13Est 3:8-91Pe 4:3-4Act 16:20-22Act 17:6-8Act 28:22Dan 2:10 +19 saying to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, may you live forever! ‡ Dan 5:10Dan 6:6Dan 2:4Dan 6:21Dan 3:4-5Rom 13:7 10 You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden statue, ‡ Dan 3:4-7Dan 6:12Est 3:12-141Ch 15:161Ch 15:281Ch 16:5-61Ch 25:1-62Ch 29:25 +1511 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace. 12 But there are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who have ignored you, O king, and have refused to serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.” ‡ Dan 6:13Dan 2:49Act 17:7Pro 27:41Sa 18:7-11Act 5:28Ecc 4:4Est 3:8

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, furious with rage, summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, ‡ Dan 3:19Dan 2:12Est 3:5-61Sa 20:30-33Act 24:24Act 5:25-27Gen 4:5Luk 21:12 +614 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up? ‡ Jer 50:2Dan 3:1Isa 46:1Dan 4:8Exo 21:13-14 15 Now, if you are ready, as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the statue I have made. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?” ‡ Act 5:292Ch 32:15-17Dan 3:172Ki 18:35Exo 5:2Act 4:8-12Isa 36:18-20Act 4:19 +15

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ‡ Dan 1:7Dan 3:12 17 If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able ⁵to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. ‡ Rom 8:31Luk 1:37Heb 7:25Psa 27:1-2Isa 26:3-4Jer 1:8Act 21:13Dan 6:20-22 +1718 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.” ‡ Act 5:29-32Mat 10:39Rev 2:10-11Luk 12:3-9Mat 10:32-33Act 4:10-13Rev 12:11Dan 3:28 +9

The Fiery Furnace

19 At this, Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual, ‡ Dan 3:13Lev 26:24Lev 26:28Pro 21:241Ki 18:33-352Ki 19:27-28Act 5:33Dan 5:6 +1520 and he commanded some mighty men of valor in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing fiery furnace. ‡ Act 16:23Act 16:25Dan 3:15Act 12:4-5

21 So they were tied up, wearing robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, and they were thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.

22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the fiery flames killed the men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. ‡ Pro 11:8Pro 21:18Act 12:19Dan 2:15Dan 6:24Exo 12:33Mat 27:5Zec 12:2-3 +123 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, firmly bound, fell into the blazing fiery furnace. ‡ Dan 6:16-17Jer 38:6Psa 124:1-5Psa 34:19Psa 66:11-121Pe 4:12-132Co 1:8-102Co 4:17 +1

24 Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and asked his advisers, “Did we not throw three men, firmly bound, into the fire?” ‡ Dan 6:22Dan 6:71Sa 17:55Act 12:13Act 26:13Act 26:27Act 5:23-25Act 9:6 +7

“Certainly, O king,” they replied.

25 “Look!” he exclaimed. “I see four men, unbound and unharmed, walking around in the fire—and the fourth looks like a son of the gods! ⁶” ‡ Isa 43:2Act 28:5Mrk 16:18Psa 91:3-9Job 1:6Psa 34:71Pe 3:13Dan 3:28 +6

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the blazing fiery furnace and called out, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out!” ‡ Dan 3:17Dan 4:2Isa 52:12Rev 19:5Act 16:17Dan 2:47Gal 1:10Gen 14:18 +8

So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and when the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisers had gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men. Not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them. ‡ Isa 43:2Heb 11:34Isa 26:11Act 27:34Luk 21:17-18Mat 10:30Psa 83:181Sa 17:46-47 +6

28 Nebuchadnezzar declared, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel ⁷and delivered His servants who trusted in Him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. ‡ Rom 14:7-8Psa 34:7-8Psa 84:11-12Exo 20:5Rev 12:11Psa 22:4-5Psa 147:11Rom 12:1 +3329 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be cut into pieces and their houses reduced to rubble. For there is no other god who can deliver in this way.” ‡ Dan 2:5Dan 6:26-27Deu 32:31Psa 76:10Dan 3:15Dan 3:17Dan 3:28Ezr 6:11 +1

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. ‡ 1Sa 2:30Dan 2:49Dan 3:12Jhn 12:26Psa 1:3Psa 91:14Rom 8:31