Daniel 3:18 kjv
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Daniel 3:18 nkjv
But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."
Daniel 3:18 niv
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."
Daniel 3:18 esv
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."
Daniel 3:18 nlt
But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up."
Daniel 3 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 3:17 | If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. | Daniel 3:17 |
| Exodus 3:11 | And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, that I may bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? | Exodus 3:11 |
| 1 Samuel 17:36 | Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. | 1 Samuel 17:36 |
| 2 Samuel 22:33 | God is my strength and power, and maketh my way perfect. | 2 Samuel 22:33 |
| Psalm 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. | Psalm 46:1 |
| Psalm 71:20 | Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. | Psalm 71:20 |
| Psalm 91:14 | Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. | Psalm 91:14 |
| Psalm 119:50 | This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. | Psalm 119:50 |
| Isaiah 43:2 | When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. | Isaiah 43:2 |
| Jeremiah 1:8 | Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. | Jeremiah 1:8 |
| Jeremiah 17:14 | Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise. | Jeremiah 17:14 |
| Romans 8:28 | And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. | Romans 8:28 |
| 1 Corinthians 10:13 | There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. | 1 Corinthians 10:13 |
| Hebrews 11:6 | But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. | Hebrews 11:6 |
| Hebrews 11:19 | Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. | Hebrews 11:19 |
| 1 Peter 4:19 | Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls unto him in well doing, as unto a faithful creator. | 1 Peter 4:19 |
| Revelation 1:5 | And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, | Revelation 1:5 |
| John 10:29 | My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. | John 10:29 |
| Philippians 1:6 | Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: | Philippians 1:6 |
| Colossians 1:11 | Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; | Colossians 1:11 |
Daniel 3 verses
Daniel 3 18 Meaning
The faithful declaration by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that their God is able to deliver them from the fiery furnace, even if He chose not to, showcases their unwavering trust and conviction in the Lord’s power and sovereignty. It is a profound statement of faith that prioritizes obedience to God over self-preservation, even in the face of imminent death.
Daniel 3 18 Context
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Jewish captives in Babylon, were commanded by King Nebuchadnezzar to worship a golden image he had erected. Refusing to bow down to this idol, they were consequently thrown into a blazing furnace. Daniel 3:18 captures their response to the king, acknowledging God's power to save them, but affirming their commitment to Him regardless of the outcome. This occurs within the broader narrative of Nebuchadnezzar's pride and his attempts to force Babylonian religious practices upon his subjects, showcasing the steadfast faithfulness of these young men in a hostile environment.
Daniel 3 18 Word Analysis
Even (Hebrew: ’im-men) - "If it be so." This indicates a conditional statement, accepting the king’s premise that they will be thrown into the furnace.
If (Hebrew: ’im) - Introduces the hypothetical situation of their facing the fiery trial.
It (Hebrew: men-hu) - Refers to the act of being cast into the furnace.
Be so (Hebrew: men-hu) - Signifies the realization of the king’s threat.
Our God (Hebrew: ’Elohain) - Emphasizes their personal and communal relationship with the Lord.
Whom (Hebrew: deh) - A relative pronoun referring back to God.
We serve (Hebrew: neh-shem) - Denotes their active worship and devotion.
Is able (Hebrew: neh-bah) - Affirms God’s omnipotence and power.
To deliver (Hebrew: leh-man-qot) - To rescue or save.
Us (Hebrew: leh-man-qot-neh) - Pertains to the three individuals.
From the burning fiery furnace (Hebrew: leh-miq-deh lahh-deh lehbeh) - Specifies the source of their impending peril.
And he will deliver (Hebrew: weh-leh-nehbeh) - A statement of confident expectation, yet acknowledging God’s sovereign will.
Us (Hebrew: leh-man-qot-neh) - Again referring to the three.
Out of thine hand (Hebrew: min-yad-wahk) - Deliverance from the king’s authority and power.
, O king (, Leh-mal-kah) - A respectful, yet defiant, address to the king.
Words-group analysis: "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us" expresses a strong theological assertion of God's capacity. "from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king" links this divine ability directly to their immediate and overwhelming threat. The core of their statement is faith in God’s ability coupled with a potential action of deliverance, while maintaining a submission to His ultimate will.
Daniel 3 18 Bonus Section
The Aramiac phrasing, particularly the repeated use of the root "neh-" (like in "our God whom we serve," "he is able to deliver," "he will deliver"), subtly emphasizes their certainty and personal involvement in their declaration. This is not an abstract theological statement, but a deeply personal one made in the face of extreme duress. Their confession mirrors Old Testament accounts of deliverance (like David facing Goliath) and prefigures New Testament teachings on faith and suffering, particularly the endurance of the early Christian martyrs who faced similar severe persecutions. The faithfulness displayed here is often contrasted with the fickle and destructive idolatry prevalent in surrounding nations.
Daniel 3 18 Commentary
This verse encapsulates radical faith. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego demonstrate a profound understanding that God's power to save is not dependent on His decision to do so. They are confident in His sovereign ability to intervene, yet their ultimate commitment is to Him, not to the outcome. This highlights the difference between assurance of God's power and assurance of a specific miraculous intervention. Their faithfulness extends to accepting whatever God’s will might be, even if it means facing death without immediate deliverance. This unyielding trust is a powerful testament to their relationship with God and their unwillingness to compromise their worship.