Daniel 3
BSA1 King [ruler, monarch] Nebuchadnezzar made [constructed, fashioned] a golden [valuable, precious] statue [image, idol] sixty [threescore] cubits [ancient units of measurement] high and six [the number of imperfection] cubits wide, and he set [established, erected] it up on the plain [flat valley] of Dura [dwelling place] in the province [region, district] of Babylon [confusion, mixing]. word study 2 Then King [ruler, monarch] Nebuchadnezzar [a king of Babylon] sent word to assemble [to gather, to convene] the satraps [high-ranking governors, officials], prefects [rulers], governors [leaders, authorities], advisers [counselors, wise men], treasurers [financial managers, keepers of public money], judges [rulers], magistrates [judges, officials], and all [every, the entirety] the other officials [rulers, leaders] of the provinces [regions, districts] to attend [to come, to participate in] the dedication [the act of dedicating, consecrating] of the statue [image, idol] he had set up [established, erected]. word study 3 So the satraps [high-ranking governors, princes], prefects [regional rulers], governors [administrators], advisers [counsellors], treasurers [financial managers], judges [lawyers], magistrates [judges, officials], and all [every single one] the rulers [authorities, leaders] of the provinces [regions, districts] assembled [gathered, came together] for the dedication [consecration, inauguration] of the statue [image, idol] that King Nebuchadnezzar [the Babylonian monarch] had set up [established, erected], and they stood [took their position, were stationed] before [in the presence of, facing] it [the statue, image]. word study 4 Then the herald [proclaimer, messenger] loudly proclaimed, “O people [nations, communities] of every nation [tribe, ethnic group] and language [tongue, dialect], this is what you are commanded [instructed, ordered to do]: word study 5 As soon as you hear the sound [voice, noise] of the horn [cornet, trumpet], flute [pipe, whistling instrument], zither [stringed instrument], lyre [musical instrument], harp [stringed instrument], pipes [wind instruments], and all kinds [sorts, varieties] of music [instrumental music, melody], you must fall down [bow, prostrate] and worship [do homage, show reverence] the golden [made of gold, valuable] statue [image, idol] that King [ruler, monarch] Nebuchadnezzar [king of Babylon] has set up [established, erected]. word study 6 And whoever [any person, whoever it may be] does not fall down [bow, prostrate oneself] and worship [show homage, do obeisance] will immediately [in that same hour, at once] be thrown [cast, tossed] into the blazing [burning] fiery furnace [a furnace of burning fire, a fiery oven].” word study 7 Therefore, as soon as all [every single one, the entirety of] the people heard the sound of the horn [cornet, trumpet], flute [pipe], zither, lyre, harp [stringed instrument], and all kinds [various sorts] of music, the people of every nation [tribe, ethnic group] and language [tongue, dialect] would fall down [prostrate themselves, bow] and worship [pay homage, reverence] the golden [made of gold, valuable] statue [image, idol] that King Nebuchadnezzar [the king of Babylon] had set up [established, erected]. word study 8 At this time [therefore, at that same time] some astrologers [men who studied the stars, Chaldeans] came forward [drew near, approached] and maliciously [grievously, with ill intent] accused [brought accusation, made charges against] the Jews [people from the tribe of Judah, Israelites], word study 9 saying [to address, speak to] to King [ruler, monarch] Nebuchadnezzar [king of Babylon], “O king [sovereign], may you live [have life, exist] forever [for perpetuity, eternity, to the ages]! word study 10 You, O king [ruler, monarch], have issued a decree [command, law] that everyone who hears the sound [voice, music] of the horn [cornet, trumpet], flute [pipe, harp], zither [stringed instrument], lyre [musical instrument], harp [stringed instrument, psaltery], pipes [sackbut, wind instrument], and all kinds [sorts, varieties] of music [instrumental music, melody] must fall down [bow, prostrate] and worship [do homage, pay reverence] the golden [made of gold, precious] statue [image, idol], word study 11 and that whoever [does not bow down, refuses to worship] does not fall down [to the ground, in reverence] and worship [pay homage, show reverence] will be thrown [cast, tossed] into the blazing [burning] fiery furnace [a furnace of burning fire, a fiery oven]. word study 12 But there are some Jews [from the tribe of Judah] you have appointed [set in charge, given authority] to manage [oversee, govern] the province [region, district] of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who have ignored [disregarded, paid no attention to] you, O king, and have refused [declined, rejected] to serve [worship, pay homage to] your gods [idols, false deities] or worship [bow down to, reverence] the golden [made of gold, valuable] statue [image, idol] you have set up [established, erected].” word study 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar [in his rage and fury], furious with [intense, violent] rage [and wrath], summoned [commanded to bring] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego [servants of the Most High God]. So these men [the three Hebrews] were brought [led, presented] before the king [the ruler, monarch], word study 14 and Nebuchadnezzar [the king of Babylon] said to them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true [a laid plan, a deliberate intention] that you do not [refuse to, will not] serve [worship, pay reverence to] my gods [heathen deities, idols] or worship [do homage to, bow down before] the golden [made of valuable metal] statue [image, idol] I have set up [established, erected]? word study 15 Now [at this very moment], if you are ready [prepared, set to act], as soon as you hear the sound [voice, noise] of the horn [cornet, trumpet], flute [pipe, whistle], zither, lyre [stringed instrument], harp [psaltery, musical instrument], pipes [bagpipe, wind instrument], and all kinds [sorts, varieties] of music [instrumental sounds, melodies], you must fall down [prostrate yourselves, bow] and worship [do homage, pay reverence] the statue [image, idol] I have made [created, fashioned]. But if you refuse [decline, reject] to worship [give homage, show reverence], you will be thrown [cast, hurled] at once [immediately, instantly] into the blazing [burning] fiery furnace [oven, fiery pit]. Then what god [deity, divine being] will be able [have the power, be capable] to deliver [rescue, save] you from my hands [power, control]?” word study 16 Shadrach [a friend of Daniel, renamed by King Nebuchadnezzar], Meshach [a friend of Daniel, given his name by the king], and Abednego [Abed-Nego, servant of Nebo, renamed by Nebuchadnezzar] replied to the king [a ruler or monarch], “O Nebuchadnezzar [king of Babylon], we [a group of people, including the speaker] have no need [no necessity or requirement, nothing is lacking] to answer [to respond or reply, to testify] you in this matter [concerning this specific issue, this edict or decree]. word study 17 If [it be so, our God exists] the God [Eloah, the supreme Being] whom we serve [worship, pay reverence to] exists, then He is able [has the power, is capable] to deliver [rescue, set free] us from the blazing [burning] fiery furnace [place of intense heat] and from your hand [power, authority], O king [ruler, monarch]. word study 18 But even if He does not [rescue or deliver us], let it be known [clearly understood or recognized] to you, O king [monarch or ruler], that we will not serve [worship or pay reverence to] your gods [idols or false deities] or worship [pay homage or bow down to] the golden [valuable or precious] statue [image or idol] you have set up [established or confirmed].” word study 19 At this, Nebuchadnezzar [full of fury, extremely angry] was filled with rage [intense anger, wrath], and the expression on his face [countenance, visage] changed [altered, transformed] toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders [commanded, spoke] to heat the furnace [fireplace, fiery oven] seven [one week] times hotter [more intensely, extremely] than usual [customary, accustomed], word study 20 and he commanded [certain, specific] some mighty men [strong warriors, valiant ones] of valor [strength, power] in his army [force, military] to tie up [bind, fetter] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego [faithful servants of God] and throw them into the blazing [burning] fiery furnace [place of intense heat, fiery oven]. word study 21 So they were tied up [bound with cords], wearing robes [mantles, cloaks], trousers [leggings, hosen], turbans [helmets, head coverings], and other clothes [garments, clothing], and they were thrown [cast, dropped] into the blazing [burning] fiery furnace [place of intense fire, burning flames]. word study 22 The king’s [urgent, hastily given] command was so [forceful, strict] urgent and the furnace [extremely hot, heated exceedingly] so hot that the fiery [tongues of fire] flames killed the men [soldiers, guardians] who carried up [lifted, took up] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. word study 23 And these [certain] three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego [servant of Nebo], firmly [tightly, securely] bound [with cords, tied up], fell [down into, dropped] into the blazing [burning] fiery furnace [of burning fire, a place of intense heat]. word study 24 Suddenly [in a state of astonishment, with great amazement] King Nebuchadnezzar [the ruler of Babylon] jumped up [rose hastily, with urgency] in amazement [utterly astounded, with a sense of wonder] and asked [spoke to, inquired of] his advisers [counselors, wise men], “Did we not [certainly, truly] throw [cast, hurl] three men [individuals, persons], firmly bound [tied up, restrained], into the fire [flames, intense heat] [a place of severe testing, refinement]?” “Certainly [truly, indeed], O king [ruler, monarch],” they replied [answered, responded]. word study 25 “Look [behold, pay attention]!” he exclaimed [said, declared]. “I see [perceive, gaze upon] four [exactly four, a quartet] men [human beings, individuals], unbound [loose, freed] and unharmed [without injury, untouched], walking [moving, proceeding] around in the fire [flames, blaze]—and the fourth [the last, the final one] looks like [resembles, is similar to] a son [offspring, child] of the gods [divine beings, heavenly ones]! ” word study 26 Then [at that specific moment, in response to the miracle] Nebuchadnezzar approached [drew near, came close to] the door [entrance, gate] of the blazing fiery [burning] furnace [place of intense heat, fiery oven] and called out [shouted, spoke loudly], “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants [attendants, worshipers] of the Most High God [Elohim, the supreme authority], come out [emerge, go forth]!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out [walked forth, emerged] of the fire [flames, burning blaze], word study 27 and when the satraps [high-ranking governors, princes], prefects [provincial rulers], governors [regional overseers], and royal advisers [king’s counselors, ministers] had gathered around, they saw [gazed upon, observed] that the fire [flames, burning] had no effect [power, control] on the bodies [physical forms, persons] of these men [individuals, persons]. Not a hair [single strand] of their heads [physical heads, minds] was singed [scorched, burned], their robes [clothing, garments] were unaffected [unchanged, unharmed], and there was no smell [odor, scent] of fire [burning, flames] on them. word study 28 Nebuchadnezzar [the king of Babylon] declared, “Blessed be [praise and worship] the God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent [dispatched, commissioned] His angel [heavenly messenger] and delivered [rescued, saved] His servants [faithful followers] who trusted [had faith, relied] in Him. They violated [disobeyed, defied] the king’s command [royal decree] and risked [endangered, jeopardized] their lives rather than serve [worship, pay homage] or worship [bow down, reverence] any god [false deity, idol] except [but, only] their own God [the one true God]. word study 29 Therefore I decree [make a formal declaration, issue a command] that the people [nations, communities] of any nation [country, ethnic group] or language [tongue, dialect] who say [speak, utter] anything [a word, a phrase] offensive [amiss, erroneous, a wrong or error] against the God [Eloah, the supreme deity] of Shadrach [a friend of Daniel, renamed by King Nebuchadnezzar], Meshach [a friend of Daniel, given his name by King Nebuchadnezzar], and Abednego [a friend of Daniel, also known as Azariah, meaning’servant of Nebo’] will be cut [divided, torn] into pieces [limbs, fragments, a part of something] and their houses [homes, dwellings, a physical building] reduced [made, torn down] to rubble [a pile of waste, a dunghill, a place for human waste]. For there is no other [different, another, distinct] god [deity, referring to the God of Israel or a heathen deity] who can deliver [rescue, save, to extricate or deliver from a difficult situation] in this way [thus, like this].” word study 30 Then [at that time, in that moment] the king [ruler, monarch] promoted [gave greater authority, caused to prosper] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego [servant of Nebo, friend of Daniel] in the province [region, district] of Babylon [city of confusion, Babel]. word study