Daniel 3:20 kjv
And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:20 nkjv
And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:20 niv
and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
Daniel 3:20 esv
And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:20 nlt
Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
Daniel 3 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 3:22 | And because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot... | Direct context of the furnace’s heat |
| Genesis 19:24 | Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. | God's power over fire |
| Exodus 13:21 | By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or by night. | God's presence symbolized by fire |
| Deuteronomy 4:24 | For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. | God's consuming nature |
| Psalm 104:4 | He makes his messengers winds, his servants flames of fire. | Angels associated with fire |
| Isaiah 43:2 | When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. | God's promise to protect through fire |
| Isaiah 66:15 | For behold, the LORD will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebukes with flames of fire. | God's judgment through fire |
| Malachi 4:1 | “For behold, the day is coming, burned like an oven, when the ruthless and all who practice wickedness will be stubble. The day is coming,” says the LORD of hosts, “when it will set them ablaze, leaving them neither root nor bough.” | Day of judgment likened to a burning oven |
| Matthew 3:11 | I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. | Baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire |
| Acts 2:3 | And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. | Holy Spirit manifesting as fire |
| Hebrews 1:7 | Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” | Angels described as ministering flames of fire |
| Revelation 4:5 | From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder. And before the throne were seven burning torches that are the seven spirits of God. | Burning torches as a representation of God’s Spirit |
| Revelation 9:17 | And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire, of sapphire, and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. | Fiery imagery in prophetic visions |
| Revelation 20:10 | Then the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. | Lake of fire and sulfur |
| Romans 1:18 | For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. | God's wrath |
| 2 Thessalonians 1:8 | Benjamin was scattered because of me. and to grant rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. | God's judgment/retribution |
| Psalm 7:12-13 | If a man does not turn back, God sharpens his sword; he bends and tightens his bow; he prepares his instruments of death, making his arrows fiery shafts. | God's arrows of judgment |
| Jeremiah 17:1 | "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with a point of diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts, and on the horns of their altars, | Sin being indelible |
| Job 1:16 | while he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” | "Fire of God" falling and consuming |
| 1 Corinthians 3:13 | each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and fire will test what sort of work each one has done. | Day of testing with fire |
Daniel 3 verses
Daniel 3 20 Meaning
This verse describes the extreme heat of the furnace to which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown. The intense heat was so great that it killed the valiant soldiers who carried the three young men into the furnace, highlighting the extreme danger they faced and God's miraculous intervention.
Daniel 3 20 Context
In Daniel chapter 3, King Nebuchadnezzar erects a golden image and commands all his subjects to worship it. Refusal means being thrown into a blazing furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Jewish exiles serving in Babylon, refuse to obey, citing their faith in God. In this verse, they are being forcibly brought by soldiers to the furnace. The intense heat is a pivotal element of the narrative, emphasizing the immediate and deadly peril they faced for their faithfulness. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, a period of forced relocation and cultural pressure for the Jews. The polemic here is against any worship other than that of the true God and against Nebuchadnezzar's attempt to impose his idolatrous decrees.
Daniel 3 20 Word Analysis
- וּבְגֹ֤דֶף (u-və-ḡōḏɛp̄): "And in his great heat" or "in its heat". The root
גדף(gadaph) can mean to insult or blaspheme, but in this context, referring to the furnace, it signifies intensity or a powerful, overwhelming force. The intensive force of the furnace is what caused the death of the soldiers. - יָתֵק֙ (yāṯēq): "heated", "made hot". The verb implies reaching a peak of extreme temperature, so much so that it produces a visible effect.
- כֹּ֚חַ (kōˈaḥ): "strength", "force", "power". Here, it emphasizes the sheer, overwhelming might and power of the heat.
- חֹמֶ֫י בֵהּ (ḥomē bēh): "its heat".
חֹמֶ֫י(chome) comes fromחֹם(chom), meaning heat. This emphasizes the very nature and essence of the furnace’s extreme temperature. - שָׁצָהּ (šāṣâ): "scorched" or "burned". This verb denotes a destructive action by fire.
- גִּבָּרַיָּא (gibbārāyyā): "mighty men", "valiant soldiers". This refers to the soldiers who were strong and capable warriors.
- חַשְׁדָּרְפָן (ḥašdərʾep̄ān): "chamberlains" or "officers". These were men of authority and strength, likely selected for their robust physical capacity. The plural form suggests multiple soldiers.
- אֲסִרִין (ʾăsîrîn): "bound" or "captured". They were responsible for the prisoners, ensuring they were bound before being taken to the furnace.
- הִנְעִל (hinʿil): "to cause to descend", "to cast down", "to hurl". This word conveys the violent action of throwing them into the furnace.
- הֲלָֽךְ (hălaḵ): "going". This participle indicates the ongoing action of being brought forward.
Words Group Analysis
The phrase "And because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot" highlights the king's severe and immediate decree coupled with the furnace's lethal temperature. The heat was not merely warm but powerfully destructive, indicated by the adjective describing its intensity and the consequence for the soldiers. The "valiant men who carried" them were also overcome, underscoring the extraordinary level of heat, far beyond normal human tolerance or the capacity of even strong individuals to withstand without suffering extreme harm or death.
Daniel 3 20 Bonus Section
The descriptive language used for the furnace’s heat in this verse ("exceeding hot" translated from the Hebrew emphasizing its potent and destructive quality) mirrors other instances in Scripture where fire is used to signify God's presence, judgment, or purification. The fact that the strong soldiers, not directly defiant, were killed emphasizes the danger was indiscriminate based on the raw intensity of the furnace, but God’s protection was selective, based on righteousness and faith. This contrasts with the king’s perceived power which is ultimately subordinate to God’s ultimate power over all elements.
Daniel 3 20 Commentary
The furnace’s heat is portrayed as overwhelmingly destructive, to the point where the soldiers, despite their strength, were consumed by it. This extreme measure taken by Nebuchadnezzar demonstrates the king's wrath and the severe consequences of defying his decree. However, this vivid depiction of lethal heat serves a greater theological purpose. It sets the stage for God's miraculous deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Their survival within such an inferno points to a power far greater than human engineering or Babylonian might, highlighting God’s sovereignty and His protection of those who remain faithful to Him. The heat is a manifestation of judgment and a testament to God's power to protect His people from such devastating forces.