Daniel 3 3

Daniel 3:3 kjv

Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Daniel 3:3 nkjv

So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Daniel 3:3 niv

So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

Daniel 3:3 esv

Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Daniel 3:3 nlt

So all these officials came and stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Daniel 3 verses

Daniel 3 3 Meaning

This verse establishes the immense size and grand scale of the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar set up in the plain of Dura. It is presented as an object of absolute royal decree and intended to command universal obedience from all peoples and nations.

Daniel 3 3 Context

Following Nebuchadnezzar's realization of the true God's power through Daniel's interpretations (Chapters 1-2), this chapter marks a significant relapse into pride and idolatry. Despite the revelation he received, Nebuchadnezzar reasserts his absolute authority and nationalistic agenda by commissioning a massive golden image, intended for public worship. The placement in the plain of Dura, a significant location outside Babylon, suggests a deliberate act to display his power and consolidate religious and political control over his diverse empire. This event is set against the backdrop of the Babylonian empire's height, where enforced religious conformity was a tool of imperial governance.

Daniel 3 3 Word analysis

• "The king": Refers to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, emphasizing his sovereign power and authority.
• "Nebuchadnezzar": The specific Babylonian king, a historical figure central to the book of Daniel.
• "the king": Repetition reinforces his ultimate authority in the narrative's setting.
• "made": (Hebrew: בָּנָה - banah) To build, create, form, establish. Implies deliberate construction.
• "an image": (Hebrew: צֶלֶם - tsalem) An image, likeness, statue, representation. Refers to a sculpted or formed likeness.
• "of gold": (Hebrew: דִּהַב - dīhaḇ) Gold. Specifies the material, highlighting the immense value and likely the preciousness attributed to this idol.
• "whose": Connects the image to its attributes.
• "height": (Hebrew: קוֹמָה - qōmāh) Height, stature.
• "was": (Hebrew: הֲוָה - hăwāh) Was, existed.
• "sixty cubits": Approximately 90 feet (27 meters). A monumental and imposing size, designed to impress and awe. A cubit is typically around 18 inches.
• "and": Conjunction connecting the height to the breadth.
• "the breadth": (Hebrew: רֹחַב - rōḥaḇ) Breadth, width.
• "four cubits": Approximately 6 feet (1.8 meters). While substantial, this relative narrowness compared to the height suggests an elongated, perhaps pillar-like or obelisk-like structure, rather than a broad statue.
• "an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth four cubits": This phrase encapsulates the immense scale and material of the object. The "sixty cubits" by "four cubits" creates a stark contrast, possibly implying a towering, slender statue or monument. The immense height alone underscores the effort and resources dedicated to its creation, aiming to inspire awe and demand reverence. This disproportionate measurement (60:4 ratio) emphasizes its striking visual prominence, designed to be seen from afar and dominate the landscape.

Daniel 3 3 Bonus section

The phrase "sixty cubits high and four cubits broad" (90 feet by 6 feet) emphasizes the unnatural, monolithic grandeur. Scholars debate the exact form, with some suggesting an obelisk or a slender standing figure. The choice of gold likely represents divine association or imperial wealth and power, a common practice where rulers claimed divine connections or adopted symbols of divinity. This image serves as a powerful symbol of Nebuchadnezzar's unrepentant pride and his continued reliance on earthly power and imposing, man-made symbols over genuine worship of the Almighty Creator. It directly foreshadows the opposition believers would face from secular powers who demand ultimate allegiance, even unto death.

Daniel 3 3 Commentary

Nebuchadnezzar's commissioning of this colossal golden image signifies a complete reversal from his previous acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. The sheer scale – sixty cubits high – is deliberately chosen to be imposing and grandiose, a stark display of imperial power and the king’s own puffed-up pride. It represents not just a personal deity, but an embodiment of the Babylonian empire itself, intended to receive worship and allegiance from all his subjects. This act directly violates the first and second commandments of God's law given through Moses, highlighting the spiritual peril of syncretism and enforced idolatry, a common practice among ancient empires seeking to integrate conquered peoples. The statue's proportions, being tall and narrow, suggest an imposing monolith rather than a conventional human-like statue. This entire endeavor is an affront to the one true God and a setup for the courageous faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.