Daniel 3:15

15 Now if you are ready so that {when} you hear the sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, [the] trigon, [the] harp and [the] drum and all kinds of music, you fall down and you worship the statue that I have made, [that will be good]. But if you do not worship it, {immediately} you will be thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire, and {who is the god} who will rescue you from my hands?"

Daniel 3:15 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 3:15

Now if ye be ready that at what time ye shall hear
The meaning is, that if they were disposed in mind, which the king was very desirous they should, both for his own honour, and for their safety, for whom he had a regard; and were willing to comply with his orders, and readily yield obedience to his will, and worship his idol; the following would be a signal to them, and all would be well with them: or it may be rendered, "when now ye shall be, that at what time ye shall hear" ^F17; for the word signifies future, as well as "ready", and is by some so translated; and the sense is, when it shall be, or for the future, that they should hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer,
and all kinds of music;
which was played not once only, but perhaps at certain times every day, and designed to be continued: ye fall down and worship the image which I have made;
it is well; so doing the king's wrath would be appeased, their lives would be preserved, and they continued in his favour, and in their honourable posts: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of
a burning fiery furnace;
immediately, without any delay; no reprieve will be granted, and much less a pardon: and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
he knew their confidence in the God of Israel, which he attempts to break and remove; he foresaw the objection they would make, which he endeavours to anticipate by this proud and vain boast, forgetting what he himself had said, ( Daniel 2:47 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (Nydyte Nwkytya Nh) "si futuri estis", Gejerus.

Daniel 3:15 In-Context

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar said in rage and anger to bring in Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; then they brought in these men before the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, "[Is it] true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, [that] you are not serving my god, and [you are] not worshiping the statue of gold that I have set up?

15 Now if you are ready so that {when} you hear the sound of the horn, the flute, the lyre, [the] trigon, [the] harp and [the] drum and all kinds of music, you fall down and you worship the statue that I have made, [that will be good]. But if you do not worship it, {immediately} you will be thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire, and {who is the god} who will rescue you from my hands?"

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the king, Nebuchadnezzar, "We have no need on this matter {to present a defense to you}.

17 {If it is so}, our God, whom we serve, is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire. And from your hand, O king, let him rescue us.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "at that time"
• [b]. Literally "at that [very] time"
• [c]. Literally "who he god"
• [d]. Or "that"