Daniel 3:14 kjv
Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
Daniel 3:14 nkjv
Nebuchadnezzar 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?
Daniel 3:14 niv
and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?
Daniel 3:14 esv
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?
Daniel 3:14 nlt
Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up?
Daniel 3 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 3:14 | Nebuchadnezzar: "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? | Addressed refusal to worship |
| Exodus 20:3 | "You shall have no other gods before me. | Command against idolatry |
| Isaiah 44:24 | Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself..." | Exclusive claim of Yahweh |
| Acts 5:29 | But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men." | Principle of obedience |
| Psalm 115:4 | Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. | Idols are man-made |
| Psalm 81:9 | "There shall be no other god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god. | Prohibition of other gods |
| Deuteronomy 6:5 | You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. | Total devotion to God |
| Isaiah 43:10 | "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me." | God's uniqueness |
| John 17:3 | And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. | Knowing the only true God |
| 1 Corinthians 10:14 | Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. | Warning against idolatry |
| Romans 1:25 | They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. | Worshiping creature over Creator |
| Leviticus 26:1 | "You shall not make for yourselves idols, nor shall you raise up a graven image or a pillar, nor shall you set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the LORD your God. | Prohibition against images |
| Daniel 6:10 | When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber opening toward Jerusalem. He knelt down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. | Daniel’s persistent prayer |
| Joshua 24:15 | And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. | Choice to serve the Lord |
| 1 Samuel 15:23 | For rebellion is the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you as king. | Rebellion and idolatry |
| Revelation 21:8 | But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. | Consequences for idolaters |
| Jeremiah 10:11 | Thus you shall say to them: "The gods who have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens." | Contrast with true God |
| 1 John 5:21 | Little children, keep yourselves from idols. | Exhortation against idols |
| Psalm 96:5 | For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. | Contrast with Creator |
| Isaiah 42:8 | I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I will not give to another, nor my praise to carved idols. | God's glory not given away |
Daniel 3 verses
Daniel 3 14 Meaning
Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, questioned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego because they had not bowed down to his golden image. In verse 14, he addresses them directly, attributing their disobedience not to accidental oversight, but to their deliberate refusal. He highlights their commitment to their God.
Daniel 3 14 Context
This verse occurs in the Babylonian exile period, when Judah was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar. The king, seeking to consolidate his empire and enforce Babylonian religious practices, erected a large golden image and demanded that all his officials worship it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, being Jews faithful to their covenant God, refused. This particular verse highlights Nebuchadnezzar’s personal confrontation with them, emphasizing his astonishment at their defiance. The historical context underscores the tension between the polytheistic practices of Babylon and the monotheistic faith of Israel.
Daniel 3 14 Word Analysis
- Han(nâ) (וְהַן): A conjunction (and) with an interrogative particle (Is it indeed?). It introduces Nebuchadnezzar’s incredulous question.
- ʾănetôn (אַנְתּוֹן): Plural second person pronoun (you). Directly addresses the three men.
- demeʾ(ô) (דִּמְלָא): Verb meaning "to serve" or "to worship."
- lâ (לָא): Negative particle (not).
- lahey(n) (לָהֵין): Their (plural). Refers to Nebuchadnezzar's gods.
- lĕmeʿaʿdib(a)de (לְמִסְגְּדָן): Infinitive of "to bow down" with a suffix. The act of prostration is central to worship and submission.
- ḇəḵəlat (וּבִכְלָת): Awn of. Can also mean "when" or "after." It signifies "at the time when" or "upon hearing."
- naqošta(m) (נַקֹּפֶת): A corruption from an Aramaic word referring to the sounds of music. "The sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, the harp, the psaltery, the bagpipe, and all kinds of music." The presence of musical instruments was meant to accompany and enhance the royal decree.
- ḇoʿad(tan) (בְעַדְתֶּן): According to you, or by your command. Refers to the royal edict.
- ʾōraḥḇaʾ (אֹרְחָא): Way, path, manner.
- dayraṯʾōm (דַּרְגֹּם): The king, sovereign. An impressive title for Nebuchadnezzar, underscoring his authority.
- leḵom (לָכֹם): To you (plural).
Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis
- "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego": The king's direct address conveys a mixture of disbelief and accusatory authority. He expects affirmation of his authority and prompt obedience.
- "that you do not serve my gods": This phrase points to Nebuchadnezzar’s pagan worldview where acknowledging and serving the gods of a conquered land was standard practice and a sign of submission to his rule.
- "or worship the golden image that I have set up?": This reiterates the core of the offense – refusal to participate in Babylonian religious ritual and honor the king's imposed symbol of power and religious unity.
Daniel 3 14 Bonus Section
The Babylonian king's decree to worship the image represents a policy of forced religious assimilation, common in ancient empires. This forced conformity aimed to bind subjects to the empire's gods, thereby solidifying loyalty to the king. The three Hebrews' refusal highlights a foundational tenet of their faith: their allegiance was solely to the God of Israel. Their defiance was not an act of political rebellion as much as a profound act of theological fidelity, demonstrating their conviction that God alone is sovereign and deserving of worship. This commitment to exclusive worship is echoed in later New Testament teachings, emphasizing that believers should not compromise their faith even under severe persecution.
Daniel 3 14 Commentary
Nebuchadnezzar, a powerful king, is personally confronting these three young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He has heard that they have defied his command. His question is not simply seeking information, but is a challenge to their loyalty and a stark reminder of his absolute authority. He highlights the deliberate nature of their refusal, calling their fidelity to their God over his decree "true." The context of music is critical here; it signaled the time to obey the king's command. Their steadfastness in the face of music and decree shows the depth of their conviction. This is not a minor transgression in Nebuchadnezzar's eyes, but a direct affront to his power and the gods he represents.