Daniel 3:10

Verse

You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden statue,

American Standard Version (1901)

Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image;

Bible in Basic English

You, O King, have given an order that every man, when the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all sorts of instruments, comes to his ears, is to go down on his face in worship before the image of gold:

Free Bible Version

Your Majesty has decreed that everyone who hears the sound of the musical instruments shall fall down and worship the gold statue,

King James (Authorized) Version

Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:

Translation for Translators

You decreed that all the officials whom you had gathered should bow down and worship the gold statue when they heard the sounds made by the musical instruments.

Unlocked Literal Bible

You, king, have made a decree that every person who hears the sounds of the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, and pipes, and all kinds of music, must fall down and prostrate himself to the golden statue.

Noah Webster Bible

World English Bible

You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music shall fall down and worship the golden image;

Young's Literal Translation

Thou, O king, hast made a decree that every man who doth hear the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, and the symphony, and all kinds of music, doth fall down and do obeisance to the golden image;

Context

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Accused

⁹saying to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, may you live forever!¹⁰You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden statue,¹¹and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.

Summary

In this verse, we see the defiance of the three Jewish men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who refused to bow down and worship the golden image set up by King Nebuchadnezzar. Their unwavering faith in God and refusal to compromise their beliefs serve as a powerful example of standing firm in the face of adversity. Despite the threat of death in the fiery furnace, they chose to remain faithful to the one true God, demonstrating courage and trust in His deliverance. This passage highlights the importance of loyalty to God above all else, even in the midst of intense pressure and persecution.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Thou, O king, hast made a decree,.... According to his own mind and will, and which he had published as such to his subjects: that every man; let him be who he will, high or low, rich or poor, in whatsoever station or condition: that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music; such as had been just then blown or played on: shall fall down and worship the golden image; which the king had ordered to be made and set up, and now dedicated, and had been worshipped by men of all ranks.