Daniel 3

Nebuchadnezzar's Golden Image

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was 1 sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 And 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. 3 So 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. 4 Then a herald cried 2 aloud: "To you it is commanded, a O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 "that 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; 6 "and whoever does not fall down and worship shall b be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace." 7 So 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.

The Fiery Furnace

8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans c came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, d "O king, live forever! 10 "You, 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; 11 "and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 e "There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego'; these men, O king, have f not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up."

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in g rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego'. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego', that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 "Now 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, h good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. i And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?"

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego' answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, j we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 "If that is the case, our k God whom we serve is able to l deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 "But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we m worship the gold image which you have set up."

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego'. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego', and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then 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. 22 Therefore, because the king's command was 3 urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who 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 King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his 4 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, n walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like o the 5 Son of God." 5

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the 7 mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego', servants of the p Most High God, come out, and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego' came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men q on 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. 28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego', who sent His r Angel 8 8 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 s "Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the t God of Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego' shall be u cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; v because there is no other God who can deliver like this." 30 Then the king 10 promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego' in the province of Babylon.

  1. Cross References
    Daniel 4:1
    Nebuchadnezzar the king, To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
    Daniel 6:25
    Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
  2. Cross References
    Jeremiah 29:22
    And because of them a curse shall be taken up b...
    Ezekiel 22:18 - 22
    Son of man, the house of Israel has become dros...
    Matthew 13:42
    And will cast them into the furnace of fire. Th...
    Matthew 13:50
    "and cast them into the furnace of fire. There ...
    Revelation 9:2
    And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke aro...
    Revelation 13:15
    He was granted power to give breath to the imag...
    Revelation 14:11
    "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever...
  3. Cross References
    Ezra 4:12 - 16
    Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the rebellious and evil city, and are finishing its walls and repairing the foundations.
    Esther 3:8
    Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain.
    Esther 3:9
    "If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king's treasuries."
    Daniel 6:12
    And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king's decree: "Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.
    Daniel 6:13
    So they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.
  4. Cross References
    Daniel 2:4
    Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.
    Daniel 5:10
    The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, "O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change.
    Daniel 6:6
    So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King Darius, live forever!
    Daniel 6:21
    Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever!
  5. Cross References
    Daniel 2:49
    Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego' over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
  6. Cross References
    Daniel 1:8
    But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
    Daniel 6:12
    And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king's decree: "Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.
    Daniel 6:13
    So they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.
  7. Cross References
    Daniel 2:12
    For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
    Daniel 3:19
    Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego'. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
  8. Cross References
    Exodus 32:32
    "Yet now, if You will forgive their sin - but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written."
    Luke 13:9
    'And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.'"
  9. Cross References
    Exodus 5:2
    And Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.
    2 Kings 18:35
    'Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their countries from my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?'"
    Isaiah 36:18 - 20
    Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, "The LORD will deliver us." Has any one of the gods of the nations delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria?
    Daniel 2:47
    The king answered Daniel, and said, "Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.
  10. Cross References
    Matthew 10:19
    But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak.
  11. Cross References
    Job 5:19
    He shall deliver you in six troubles, Yes, in s...
    Psalms 27:1
    The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom sha...
    Psalms 27:2
    When the wicked came against me To eat up my fl...
    Isaiah 26:3
    You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind ...
    Isaiah 26:4
    Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD...
    Jeremiah 1:8
    Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with ...
    Jeremiah 15:20
    And I will make you to this people a fortified ...
    Jeremiah 15:21
    "I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked...
    Daniel 6:19 - 22
    Then the king arose very early in the morning a...
  12. Cross References
    1 Samuel 17:37
    Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered m...
    Jeremiah 1:8
    Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with ...
    Jeremiah 15:20
    And I will make you to this people a fortified ...
    Jeremiah 15:21
    "I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked...
    Jeremiah 42:11
    Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, of who...
    Daniel 6:16
    So the king gave the command, and they brought ...
    Daniel 6:19 - 22
    Then the king arose very early in the morning a...
    Micah 7:7
    Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait ...
    2 Corinthians 1:10
    Who delivered us from so great a death, and doe...
  13. Cross References
    Job 13:15
    Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 91:3 - 9
    Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence.
    Isaiah 43:2
    When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
  15. Cross References
    Job 1:6
    Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
    Job 38:7
    When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
    Psalms 34:7
    The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
    Daniel 3:28
    Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego', who sent His Angel 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!
  16. Cross References
    Daniel 4:2
    I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.
    Daniel 4:3
    How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation.
    Daniel 4:17
    'This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.'
    Daniel 4:34
    And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
    Daniel 4:35
    All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, "What have You done?
  17. Cross References
    Isaiah 43:2
    When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
    Hebrews 11:34
    Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
  18. Cross References
    Psalms 34:7
    The angel of the LORD encamps all around those ...
    Psalms 34:8
    Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blesse...
    Isaiah 37:36
    Then the angel of the LORD went out, and killed...
    Jeremiah 17:7
    Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And ...
    Daniel 6:22
    "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mout...
    Daniel 6:23
    Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and ...
    Acts 5:19
    But at night an angel of the Lord opened the pr...
    Acts 12:7
    Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, ...
  19. Cross References
    Daniel 6:26
    I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end.
  20. Cross References
    Daniel 2:46
    Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him.
    Daniel 2:47
    The king answered Daniel, and said, "Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.
    Daniel 4:34 - 37
    And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
  21. Cross References
    Ezra 6:11
    Also I issue a decree that whoever alters this edict, let a timber be pulled from his house and erected, and let him be hanged on it; and let his house be made a refuse heap because of this.
    Daniel 2:5
    The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, "My decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap.
  22. Cross References
    Daniel 6:27
    He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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