Daniel 3 23

Daniel 3:23 kjv

And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:23 nkjv

And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:23 niv

and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.

Daniel 3:23 esv

And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:23 nlt

So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.

Daniel 3 verses

Daniel 3 23 Meaning

Nebuchadnezzar commanded his mighty warriors to throw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fiery furnace. Because of their unwavering faith and obedience to God, the king's servants obeyed the order, but the flames themselves killed the men who cast them in.

Daniel 3 23 Context

This verse is part of the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refusing to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar's golden image, as described in Daniel chapter 3. They were cast into a superheated furnace due to their defiance of the king's decree, which prioritized the king's authority over God's. Historically, this event occurs during the Babylonian exile of the Israelites, a period where their faithfulness to their God was tested in foreign lands and cultures. Nebuchadnezzar, a powerful absolute monarch, was accustomed to total obedience, and this event highlights the clash between pagan imperial demands and Hebrew monotheistic devotion.

Daniel 3 23 Word analysis

• "And": Conjunction connecting the preceding statement (the act of casting them in) to the consequence.
• "these": Refers specifically to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
• "three": Emphasizes the small number of faithful individuals facing immense pressure.
• "men": Refers to the individuals by their human designation.
• "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego": The Babylonian names given to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
• "fell": Indicates the action of being thrown or cast into.
• "into": Preposition showing the direction of movement.
• "the midst": Denotes the very center or heart of the place.
• "of the": Possessive, indicating belonging.
• "burning": Describes the state of the furnace, emphasizing its intense heat.
• "fiery": Pertaining to fire; characterizes the nature of the furnace.
• "furnace": A structure used for heating to very high temperatures.
• "bound": Secured with ropes or chains, indicating they were physically restrained.
• "with": Preposition showing accompaniment.
• "their": Possessive pronoun referring to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
• "coats": Refers to their outer garments, including tunics or robes.
• "hosen": Refers to their trousers or inner garments covering their legs.
• "and": Conjunction connecting different types of garments.
• "their": Possessive pronoun.
• "other": Indicates remaining or additional.
• "garments": General term for clothing.
• "even": Used here for emphasis, to include all types of garments.
• "cast": Thrown forcibly.
• "into": Preposition indicating direction.
• "the": Definite article.
• "midst": Center.
• "of": Possessive.
• "the": Definite article.
• "burning": State of heat.
• "fiery": Related to fire.
• "furnace": Heating structure.

Word-group Analysis:

• "burning fiery furnace": This phrase conveys extreme, intense heat, highlighting the lethal nature of the threat against the faithful. The repetition emphasizes the severity of the trial.
• "bound with their coats, their hosen, and their other garments": This detailed list underscores that they were thrown in fully clothed and bound, leaving nothing exposed that might potentially save them or that was essential for their humiliation and death. It emphasizes the totality of the assault on their person and the complete helplessness they were intended to exhibit.

Daniel 3 23 Bonus section

The "burning fiery furnace" signifies a place of absolute destruction. In scripture, fire is often a metaphor for judgment, testing, or purification. Here, it is the instrument of intended annihilation by human hands. However, the divine presence within the furnace nullifies the destructive power of the fire for God's faithful servants. This event serves as a powerful prefigurement of Christ's presence with believers in times of trial and suffering. It also emphasizes that obedience to God often brings believers into conflict with earthly authorities, yet God remains sovereign and will ultimately vindicate those who trust in Him, as exemplified in their subsequent promotion. Their miraculous survival, appearing unharmed except for the loosened bonds, further testifies to God's glorious power and His protective covenant.

Daniel 3 23 Commentary

The narrative vividly depicts the extreme nature of Nebuchadnezzar's punishment and the extraordinary deliverance of the three Hebrew youths. The furnace, described as "burning fiery," was evidently superheated, a deliberate escalation of punishment to ensure their immediate demise. Their being "bound" highlights their inability to escape or influence their fate by their own strength, underscoring that any survival was supernatural. This act of divine intervention preserved them entirely, as described in the following verses, demonstrating God's power over the elements and the absolute futility of human defiance when God intervenes on behalf of the faithful.