Daniel 3:1-7

Nebuchadnezzar's Golden Image

1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits^[a] and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on ¹the plain of Dura, in ²the province of Babylon.

2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather ³the satraps, the prefects, and ⁴the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

3 Then ⁵the 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.

4 And the herald ⁶proclaimed aloud, "You are commanded, O ⁷peoples, nations, and languages,

5 that when you hear the ⁸sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you ⁹are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately ¹⁰be cast into a burning fiery furnace."

7 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all ¹¹the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Daniel 3:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL 3

In this chapter an account is given of a golden image made by Nebuchadnezzar; its size; and where placed, Da 3:1, a summons to all his princes, governors, and officers, to attend the dedication of it, Da 3:2,3, a proclamation commanding men of all nations to fall down and worship it, at hearing the sound of music, Da 3:4-7, an accusation of the Jews to the king, particularly Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, for not worshipping it, Da 3:8-12, the king's sending for them in rage, and threatening to cast them into a fiery furnace if they continued to disobey his will, Da 3:13-15, their answer, which showed an inflexible resolution at all events not to comply with it, Da 3:16-18 the king's order to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual, and cast them into it, which was executed; the consequence of which was, they that cast them in were destroyed through the vehement heat of the furnace, but the three Jews were unhurt, Da 3:19-23. Nebuchadnezzar's amazement at the sight of four persons, instead of three; and these loose, walking in the midst of the fire without hurt; and one of them like the Son of God, which he observed to his counsellors, Da 3:24,25, upon which he called to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, to come out of the furnace, which they did in the presence of his princes, governors, and officers, having received not the least harm in their persons or clothes, Da 3:26,27 and then the king, praising the God of the Jews, published an edict that none should speak against him on pain of death; and restored the three men to their former dignity, Da 3:28-30.

Cross References

• 1. [Genesis 11:2]
• 2. ver. 12, 30; Daniel 2:48, 49
• 3. ver. 27; Daniel 6:1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7; [Ezra 8:36]
• 4. Daniel 2:48
• 5. [See ver. 2 above]
• 6. Daniel 4:14; Daniel 5:7; [Revelation 18:2]
• 7. ver. 29; Daniel 4:1; Daniel 5:19; Daniel 6:25; Daniel 7:14; [Revelation 5:9]
• 8. ver. 7, 10, 15
• 9. [Daniel 2:46]
• 10. [Jeremiah 29:22; Ezekiel 23:25]
• 11. [See ver. 4 above]

Footnotes

• [a]. A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters