Daniel 3:15 kjv
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?
Daniel 3:15 nkjv
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, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?"
Daniel 3:15 niv
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 will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
Daniel 3:15 esv
Now if you are ready when 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. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?"
Daniel 3:15 nlt
I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?"
Daniel 3 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 3:16-18 | "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered Nebuchadnezzar, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not in need of any defense... If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us... But even if he is not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold that you have set up.'" | Direct context of their refusal. |
| Exodus 20:3-5 | "'You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image... You shall not bow down to them or serve them.'" | The Ten Commandments forbidding idolatry. |
| Deuteronomy 6:4 | "'Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.'" | The Shema, foundational statement of Jewish monotheism. |
| 1 Samuel 7:3 | "'If you are now turning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods... and dedicate yourselves to the LORD and serve him alone.'" | The call for exclusive devotion to God. |
| Psalm 115:3-8 | "Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands... Those who make them become like them, so do you, O Israel, trust in the LORD!" | Denunciation of idols and their makers. |
| Isaiah 44:9-20 | Detailed description of the folly of idol worship. | Strong condemnation of idolatry. |
| Jeremiah 10:3-5 | "For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree from the forest, and the craftsman makes it with his hands using a tool... They are like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, and they do not speak..." | Depiction of the powerlessness of idols. |
| Acts 4:19-20 | "Peter and John replied, 'Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.'" | Echoes the principle of obeying God over man. |
| Acts 5:29 | "Peter replied: 'We must obey God rather than human beings!'" | Direct New Testament affirmation of the same principle. |
| Romans 1:23 | "...and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal men and birds and animals and reptiles." | The fallen state of humanity through idolatry. |
| 1 Corinthians 10:14 | "Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry." | Apostolic command against idolatry. |
| 1 John 5:21 | "Dear children, keep yourselves from idols." | Final exhortation to avoid idolatry. |
| Revelation 13:15 | "...and he was given power to give breath to the idol of the beast, that the idol of the beast might even speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed." | Parallel imagery of enforced worship of an image. |
| Revelation 21:8 | "But the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, those practicing magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their share will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.'" | Warning against idolaters. |
| Proverbs 14:26 | "In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge." | The source of true confidence. |
| Psalm 138:2 | "I bow toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word." | God's name and word are exalted. |
| Daniel 11:32 | "He shall corrupt with flattery those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the holy covenant he shall not sustain..." | Opposition to those who compromise their faith. |
| Exodus 3:14 | "God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And he said, 'Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’'" | The self-existent, eternal nature of God. |
| Joshua 24:15 | "...choose this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." | A declaration of exclusive service. |
Daniel 3 verses
Daniel 3 15 Meaning
This verse is a direct declaration from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to King Nebuchadnezzar, asserting their unwavering refusal to worship the golden image he has set up. It is a profound statement of faith, loyalty, and courageous defiance rooted in their monotheistic belief. They explicitly state their inability to serve Nebuchadnezzar's gods or worship his golden image, signaling their absolute commitment to the God of Israel.
Daniel 3 15 Context
The chapter takes place during the Babylonian exile, in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The king, after a dream interpreted by Daniel, had an enormous golden image constructed and demanded that all his officials and subjects worship it. Daniel 3 sets the scene with the presentation of this golden image and the universal decree for its worship. This verse (verse 15) occurs in the immediate aftermath of Nebuchadnezzar's confrontation with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego after they refused to bow down. They were brought before the king specifically to be given a second chance, but their response is resolute, leading to their fiery ordeal.
Daniel 3 15 Word Analysis
- "Then Nebuchadnezzar..." - A clear transition from the previous statements of the king and the presentation of the decree.
- "in his anger and fury..." - Describes Nebuchadnezzar's emotional state, highlighting his imperial pride and outrage at being defied. His wrath is a consequence of his absolute authority being challenged.
- "answered..." - Refers to his direct address to the three young men.
- "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego..." - Their Babylonian names, which they retained even while maintaining their Hebrew identity and faith.
- "Are you resolved..." - Nebuchadnezzar is directly asking if their defiance is a final decision. He is still operating from a position of perceived power, expecting obedience.
- "to throw you into the furnace the furnace of blazing fire?" - A vivid and terrifying description of the imminent punishment. "Furnace" (Ar. גוּרִיא, guriyya) suggests a place of intense heat, intended for metallurgy but here weaponized for execution. "Blazing fire" (Ar. לַהֲטַת אֶשׁ, lahat et-esh) emphasizes the extreme intensity and ferocity of the heat.
- "Then these men answered the king..." - The continuation of their defiance. "Answered" (Ar. עֲנָא, ana') signifies a direct verbal response.
- "O Nebuchadnezzar..." - A direct address, retaining respect for his office while not yielding to his demands.
- "we have no need to answer you in this matter." - A powerful statement indicating they believe their previous refusal and their faith make further explanation unnecessary. The decision is already made and firm.
- "If..." - Introduces a conditional statement, acknowledging the king's power to act but not the justice of his action.
- "...we are thrown..." - Passive voice, indicating the action will be done to them by others, not by their own choice.
- "...into the blazing furnace..." - Reiterates the severe punishment.
- "...the God whom we serve..." - This is the core of their statement. It is not about their ability or strength but about the nature and power of the God they worship. "Serve" (Ar. אֲנַחֲנָא, anahha – note: this appears to be a typo or misinterpretation; the relevant Hebrew/Aramaic for "serve" here would be closer to shavaq or similar in context) – the context implies serving in loyalty and devotion.
- "...is able to save us..." - They express confidence in God's power to deliver them, demonstrating their faith in His capability.
- "...from your furnace." - Specifically identifying the source of their potential deliverance.
- "And he will deliver us out of your hand..." - An even stronger assertion of faith, predicting God's intervention.
- "O king." - Another respectful address.
Daniel 3 15 Bonus Section
The phrasing "We are not in need of any defense" (often translated as "we have no need to answer you") highlights a deliberate choice not to engage in argumentation. Their position is based on a non-negotiable theological truth derived from the Law of Moses, which forbade idolatry absolutely. The emphasis on "the God whom we serve" points to a relational faith, not just a ritualistic observance. Their confidence in God's ability is a testament to their understanding of His attributes—His power, His faithfulness, and His active involvement in the lives of His people. This also showcases the effectiveness of early religious education passed down to them by their Hebrew upbringing, even while living in a polytheistic Babylonian society.
Daniel 3 15 Commentary
This verse captures the unwavering courage of faith in the face of extreme pressure. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego do not debate the king's decree or try to negotiate. Instead, they reiterate their faith in God's sovereign power and willingness to deliver them. Their statement is not a guarantee of physical rescue but a declaration of their absolute trust. The significance lies in their understanding that true allegiance belongs to God alone, even when it costs them their lives. They demonstrate that their identity as worshippers of Yahweh is paramount, transcending any earthly authority or consequence. This passage exemplifies courageous discipleship, prioritizing divine obedience over personal safety and worldly approval, echoing the New Testament principle, "We must obey God rather than human beings!"