GOD CAN AND WILL DELIVER US
Key verse: 17,18
NIV
The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace
3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image(A) of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,[a] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps,(B) prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials(C) to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language,(D) this is what you are commanded to do: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp,(E) pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image(F) of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.(G) 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”(H)
7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.(I)
8 At this time some astrologers[b](J) came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever!(K) 10 Your Majesty has issued a decree(L) that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold,(M) 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego(N)—who pay no attention(O) to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”(P)
13 Furious(Q) with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods(R) or worship the image(S) of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god(T) will be able to rescue(U) you from my hand?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego(V) replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver(W) us from it, and he will deliver(X) us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.(Y)”
Footnotes
- Daniel 3:1 That is, about 90 feet high and 9 feet wide or about 27 meters high and 2.7 meters wide
- Daniel 3:8 Or Chaldeans
- Daniel 3:17 Or If the God we serve is able to deliver us, then he will deliver us from the blazing furnace and
Cross references
- Daniel 3:1 : ver 14; S Isa 46:6; Jer 16:20; Hab 2:19
- Daniel 3:2 : S Est 1:1
- Daniel 3:2 : ver 27; Da 6:7
- Daniel 3:4 : Da 4:1; 6:25; Rev 10:11
- Daniel 3:5 : S Ge 4:21
- Daniel 3:5 : Rev 13:12
- Daniel 3:5 : ver 10, 15
- Daniel 3:6 : ver 11, 15, 21; Jer 29:22; Da 5:19; 6:7; Mt 13:42, 50; Rev 13:15
- Daniel 3:7 : S ver 5
- Daniel 3:8 : S Isa 19:3; S Da 2:10
- Daniel 3:9 : S Ne 2:3; Da 5:10; 6:6
- Daniel 3:10 : Da 6:12
- Daniel 3:10 : ver 4-6
- Daniel 3:12 : S Da 2:49
- Daniel 3:12 : Da 6:13
- Daniel 3:12 : S Est 3:3
- Daniel 3:13 : S Da 2:12
- Daniel 3:14 : Isa 46:1; Jer 50:2
- Daniel 3:14 : S ver 1
- Daniel 3:15 : S Isa 36:18-20
- Daniel 3:15 : S 2Ch 32:15
- Daniel 3:16 : S Da 1:7
- Daniel 3:17 : S Ge 48:16; S Ps 18:48; 27:1-2
- Daniel 3:17 : S Job 5:19; Jer 1:8; Da 6:20
- Daniel 3:18 : ver 28; S Ex 1:17; S Jos 24:15
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Nebuchadnezzar's Golden Image
3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits[a] and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on (A)the plain of Dura, in (B)the province of Babylon. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather (C)the satraps, the prefects, and (D)the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 Then (E)the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 And the herald (F)proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O (G)peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that when you hear the (H)sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you (I)are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately (J)be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” 7 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all (K)the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
The Fiery Furnace
8 Therefore at that time certain (L)Chaldeans (M)came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. 9 They declared[b] to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, (N)have made a decree, that every man who (O)hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, (P)shall fall down and worship the golden image. 11 And whoever does not fall down and worship (Q)shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have (R)appointed over the affairs of (S)the province of Babylon: (T)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, (U)pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar (V)in furious rage commanded that (W)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when (X)you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good.[c] But if you do not worship, (Y)you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And (Z)who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
16 (AA)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, (AB)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.[d] 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Daniel 3:1 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
- Daniel 3:9 Aramaic answered and said; also verses 24, 26
- Daniel 3:15 Aramaic lacks well and good
- Daniel 3:17 Or If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us, he will deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and out of your hand, O king
Cross references
- Daniel 3:1 : [Gen. 11:2]
- Daniel 3:1 : ver. 12, 30; ch. 2:48, 49
- Daniel 3:2 : ver. 27; ch. 6:1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7; [Ezra 8:36]
- Daniel 3:2 : ch. 2:48
- Daniel 3:3 : [See ver. 2 above]; ver. 27; ch. 6:1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7; [Ezra 8:36]
- Daniel 3:4 : ch. 4:14; 5:7; [Rev. 18:2]
- Daniel 3:4 : ver. 29; ch. 4:1; 5:19; 6:25; 7:14; [Rev. 5:9]
- Daniel 3:5 : ver. 7, 10, 15
- Daniel 3:5 : [ch. 2:46]
- Daniel 3:6 : [Jer. 29:22; Ezek. 23:25]
- Daniel 3:7 : [See ver. 4 above]; ver. 29; ch. 4:1; 5:19; 6:25; 7:14; [Rev. 5:9]
- Daniel 3:8 : See ch. 1:4
- Daniel 3:8 : ch. 6:12
- Daniel 3:10 : ver. 29; ch. 4:6; 6:26
- Daniel 3:10 : ver. 5, 7, 15
- Daniel 3:10 : ver. 5, 7, 15
- Daniel 3:11 : [See ver. 6 above]; [Jer. 29:22; Ezek. 23:25]
- Daniel 3:12 : ch. 2:49
- Daniel 3:12 : [See ver. 1 above]; ver. 12, 30; ch. 2:48, 49
- Daniel 3:12 : [ch. 1:7]
- Daniel 3:12 : ch. 6:13
- Daniel 3:13 : ch. 2:12
- Daniel 3:13 : [See ver. 12 above]; [ch. 1:7]
- Daniel 3:15 : ver. 5, 7, 10
- Daniel 3:15 : [See ver. 6 above]; [Jer. 29:22; Ezek. 23:25]
- Daniel 3:15 : [ch. 6:20; Ex. 5:2; 2 Kgs. 18:35]
- Daniel 3:16 : [See ver. 12 above]; [ch. 1:7]
- Daniel 3:17 : [ver. 15]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
Prayer: Lord God, you are able and loving. Give us such faith and love for you that goes beyond seeking worldly benefits, by your Spirit.
One Word: God is able and he will deliver us