Faith Tested in the Fiery Furnace
Daniel 3:1-30
Dan.3.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- נבוכדנצר: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עבד: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- צלם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דהב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- רומה: VERB,qal,imp,2,ms
- אמין: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- שתין: NUM,card
- פתיה: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- אמין: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- שת: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אקימה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בבקעת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,const
- דורא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- במדינת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cons
- בבל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 32:1-6 (thematic): Golden image fashioned and worship introduced as a communal act—parallels the creation of a gold statue and the demand for its veneration in Babylon.
- 1 Kings 12:28-30 (thematic): A king deliberately erects golden images (the calves) to secure political loyalty and worship—comparable motif of royal initiative in creating and promoting idolatry.
- Daniel 3:4-6 (structural): Immediate literary parallel within the same episode: the summons and imperial decree commanding all peoples to fall down and worship the image Nebuchadnezzar set up.
- Isaiah 46:1-2 (allusion): Mentions Babylonian gods (Bel, Nebo) being borne and bowing—connects to Mesopotamian cultic practice and the presence of royal images/idols in Babylonian religion.
- Jeremiah 10:1-5 (thematic): Polemic against making and worshiping carved or molten images—provides prophetic critique that contrasts with the royal act of erecting a golden statue in Daniel 3:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold; its height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
- Nebuchadnezzar the king made a golden image: its height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits; he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Dan.3.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ונבוכדנצר: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שלח: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- למכנש: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לאחשדרפניא: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,def
- סגניא: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ופחותא: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- אדרגזריא: NOUN,m,pl,def
- גדבריא: NOUN,m,pl,def
- דתבריא: NOUN,m,pl,def
- תפתיא: NOUN,m,pl,def
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- שלטני: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מדינתא: NOUN,f,sg,def
- למתא: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לחנכת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- צלמא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הקים: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- נבוכדנצר: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Daniel 3:1 (structural): Immediate context: introduces the golden image that is being dedicated; 3:2 describes summoning the officials to that dedication as the next narrative step.
- Daniel 3:7 (structural): Continuation of the same scene: lists the music and public act of prostration at the dedication called for in 3:2, showing the assembled officials' participation.
- Exodus 32:1-6 (thematic): Narrative of a communal gathering around a man‑made image (the golden calf), with festival/worship instituted for the people— parallels the theme of an image and collective, organized devotion.
- 1 Kings 12:28-30 (thematic): King Jeroboam sets up images (golden calves) and organizes worship to secure loyalty — comparable motif of a ruler erecting an image and instituting public worship to consolidate authority.
- Revelation 13:14-15 (allusion): Apocalyptic depiction of an image of the beast that is caused to receive worship (and enforces obedience) echoes the motif of coerced/official worship before an imposed image found in Daniel 3.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces, that they might come for the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
- Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces, to the dedication of the image that he had set up.
Dan.3.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- באדין: ADV
- מתכנשין: VERB,hithp,ptcp,pres,3,m,pl
- אחשדרפניא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- סגניא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ופחותא: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אדרגזריא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- גדבריא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- דתבריא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- תפתיא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- שלטני: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מדינתא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לחנכת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- צלמא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הקים: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- נבוכדנצר: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וקימין: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לקבל: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- צלמא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הקים: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- נבוכדנצר: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Dan.3.1 (verbal): Same scene: introduction that Nebuchadnezzar set up a great image — the wording about the image's erection parallels v.3's reference to 'the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.'
- Dan.3.2 (structural): Immediate context: verse 2 issues the summons/decree and lists officials and peoples called to the dedication, paralleling v.3's catalog of state officers assembled for the dedication.
- Exod.32:4-6 (thematic): Golden image and popular worship: Aaron fashions an image and the people assemble and worship it, paralleling the motif of a ruler-instigated idol and a gathered population bowing before it.
- Rev.13:15 (thematic): Image that demands worship by compulsion: Revelation depicts an image given power to force worship, echoing Daniel's scene in which civic authority compels a public act of homage to an imposed image.
Alternative generated candidates
- So the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces were assembled for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
- So the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, and the magistrates were assembled for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Dan.3.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וכרוזא: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קרא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בחיל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לכון: PREP+PRON,2,pl
- אמרין: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- עממיא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אמיא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ולשניא: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Daniel 3:5-6 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same narrative: the proclamation commands all peoples, nations and languages to fall down and worship at the sound of musical instruments, repeating the summons found in v.4.
- Daniel 3:7 (structural): Closely related verse describing the public display of the image and the gathered officials who are to obey the proclamation—part of the same ritualized call to worship.
- Isaiah 45:23 (thematic): Universal summons to bow before a figure—Isaiah’s declaration that every knee shall bow contrasts true worship of Yahweh with the coerced, idolatrous homage in Daniel 3.
- Philippians 2:10-11 (thematic): New Testament echo of universal prostration—Paul’s statement that every knee will bow and every tongue confess resonates thematically with the scene’s emphasis on compelled public homage.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the herald proclaimed aloud: "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages:
- Then the herald cried aloud: "To you, peoples, nations, and languages!"
Dan.3.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בעדנא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תשמעון: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- קל: ADV
- קרנא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- משרוקיתא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- קתרוס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- סבכא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- פסנתרין: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- סומפניה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- זני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- זמרא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תפלון: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,pl
- ותסגדון: VERB,qal,imperfect,2,m,pl
- לצלם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דהבא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הקים: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- נבוכדנצר: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Dan.3.15 (verbal): Same scene/command in the chapter: Nebuchadnezzar orders that at the sound of various musical instruments all must fall down and worship the golden image — a direct internal parallel and restatement of the command.
- Exod.32:4-6 (thematic): Golden image/idolatrous worship: Aaron fashions a golden calf and the people offer sacrifices, eat, drink and engage in revelry — thematically parallel in creating an image and compelling or enacting communal worship of it.
- Ps.150:3-5 (verbal): Lists of musical instruments used in ritual praise (trumpet, psaltery, harp, timbrel, strings, pipe, cymbals) closely mirror Daniel’s catalogue of horns, pipes and stringed instruments, highlighting the common ancient inventory of cultic music.
- 2 Chron.29:25 (verbal): Describes organized liturgical music with Levites using cymbals, harps and lyres and priests blowing trumpets — a parallel in the use and function of instruments for public, authoritative ritual performance.
- Rev.13:15 (structural): The vision of an image of the beast that can give life and be worshiped (and forces worship under penalty) echoes the motif of an imposed, image-centered cultic demand — a later apocalyptic reworking of compelled image-worship themes.
Alternative generated candidates
- when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, psaltery, and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up."
- That at the signal—when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and all kinds of music—you shall fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.
Dan.3.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ומן: CONJ+PREP
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- יפל: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ויסגד: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- שעתא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יתרמא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לגוא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אתון: PRON,dem,f,sg
- נורא: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- יקדתא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Daniel 3:15 (quotation): The king's command about worshipping the golden image and immediate punishment is repeated almost verbatim earlier in the chapter; 3:6 is a parallel formulation of the same threat.
- Daniel 3:18 (thematic): Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego's refusal to bow and worship directly responds to the threat in 3:6—both verses form the confrontation between forced idolatry and faithful refusal.
- Revelation 13:15 (thematic): The beast's image is given power to require worship and to punish those who refuse—parallel theme of coerced worship of an image with fatal sanctions for noncompliance.
- Exodus 32:25-29 (thematic): After the golden calf incident Moses enforces punishment on those who participated in idolatry; both passages depict communal pressure toward idolatrous worship and violent enforcement by authority.
- Deuteronomy 13:6-11 (thematic): Commands for severe communal punishment against those who lead or persist in false worship reflect a related legal-theological framework: state/communal sanctions tied to issues of worship and loyalty.
Alternative generated candidates
- And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
- And whoever does not fall down and worship shall at once be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Dan.3.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כל: DET
- קבל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- דנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- זמנא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כדי: CONJ
- שמעין: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- כל: DET
- עממיא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- קל: ADV
- קרנא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- משרוקיתא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- קתרוס: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- שבכא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- פסנטרין: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- זני: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- זמרא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נפלין: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- כל: DET
- עממיא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אמיא: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ולשניא: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- סגדין: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- לצלם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דהבא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הקים: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- נבוכדנצר: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 20:3-5 (thematic): The command in Daniel to bow and worship a man-made image directly contrasts with the Decalogue prohibition against worshipping other gods or idols.
- Deuteronomy 4:15-19 (thematic): Warns Israel not to fashion or bow to images or the heavenly host — a close thematic counterpart to the forced cultic homage to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue.
- Isaiah 44:9-20 (allusion): Satirizes idol-makers and the futility of worshiping crafted images, paralleling the implicit critique of idolatry evoked by the episode of bowing to a golden figure.
- Psalm 115:4-8 (thematic): Describes idols as silver and gold made by hands that cannot speak, and those who make them becoming like them — thematically resonant with the golden image and its worshippers in Daniel 3.
- Romans 1:22-25 (thematic): Paul’s diagnosis that people exchanged the truth for lies and worshiped created things rather than the Creator parallels the New Testament interpretation of the kind of idolatrous worship depicted in Daniel 3.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
- Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Dan.3.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כל: DET
- קבל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- דנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- זמנא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קרבו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- גברין: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כשדאין: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ואכלו: VERB,qal,imp,2,mp
- קרציהון: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהודיא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Dan.6:4-5 (structural): Officials conspire to find fault with a faithful Israelite (Daniel) and bring an accusation to the king—parallel situation of Chaldeans bringing charges against the Jewish men before Nebuchadnezzar.
- Esth.3:8-11 (thematic): Haman presents an accusation against ‘a certain people’ (the Jews) to the king to obtain their destruction—a close thematic parallel of enemies accusing the Jews to royal authority.
- Ps.35:11 (verbal): The psalmist laments that ‘malicious witnesses rise up’ and give false testimony—echoing the motif of hostile accusers bearing charges against the righteous.
- Ps.109:2 (thematic): The psalm describes wicked, deceitful men speaking lies against the psalmist—similar language and theme of false and hostile accusations directed at God’s people.
Alternative generated candidates
- At that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought accusation against the Jews.
- At that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought accusation against the Jews.
Dan.3.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ענו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- ואמרין: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לנבוכדנצר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לעלמין: PREP
- חיי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
Parallels
- Dan.3.11 (verbal): The same Aramaic royal formula ("O king, live forever") is used again by the accusers when they report the three Jews to Nebuchadnezzar — a direct verbal parallel within the same scene.
- Dan.3.13 (structural): Closely related courtroom sequence in which the accused are brought before the king; repeats the courtly address and shows the same formal procedure and rhetoric.
- Dan.2.4 (allusion): Both verses occur in the Aramaic portion of Daniel and display the courtly Aramaic register and formal addresses used in royal Babylonian/Chaldean audiences.
- Esther 6:12–13 (thematic): Courtroom/court-life motif in the Persian imperial court: public honors and humiliations, and the rhetoric surrounding a king's dignity, parallel the ceremonial flattery encapsulated by 'O king, live forever.'
Alternative generated candidates
- They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever!
- They answered and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever!"
Dan.3.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אנת: PRON,2,m,sg
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שמת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- טעם: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כל: DET
- אנש: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישמע: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- קל: ADV
- קרנא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- משרקיתא: ADJ,f,sg
- קתרוס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שבכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פסנתרין: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וסופניה: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- זני: ADJ,m,pl
- זמרא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יפל: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ויסגד: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לצלם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דהבא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Dan.3.5 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same chapter specifying that at the sound of cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer and all kinds of music everyone must fall down and worship the image.
- Dan.3.14-15 (thematic): Nebuchadnezzar's later address reiterates the command to worship the image and threatens punishment for refusal, showing the coercive context behind the musical summons in v.10.
- Exod.32.1-6 (thematic): The golden-calf episode: people assemble, offer sacrifices and engage in music/dancing to worship a made image—an Old Testament precedent of communal worship directed toward a constructed idol.
- Rev.13.15 (allusion): The beast’s image is given power to act so that those who will not worship it are killed—a late-biblical parallel where worship of an image is enforced with dire consequences.
- Ps.115.4-8 (thematic): A poetic critique of idols made of silver and gold that cannot speak or act—provides theological contrast to human-made images that demand worship as in Daniel 3:10.
Alternative generated candidates
- You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, psaltery, and all kinds of music shall fall down and worship the golden image,
- You, O king, have issued a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and every kind of music shall fall down and worship the golden image.
Dan.3.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ומן: CONJ+PREP
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- יפל: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ויסגד: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יתרמא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לגוא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אתון: PRON,dem,pl,m
- נורא: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- יקדתא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 20:3-5 (thematic): The Mosaic prohibition against worshipping other gods and making images parallels Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's refusal to worship Nebuchadnezzar's golden image.
- Acts 5:29 (thematic): Peter and the apostles' declaration 'We must obey God rather than men' echoes the same principle of faithful disobedience to imperial demands displayed in Daniel 3.
- Revelation 13:14-15 (structural): The vision of an image empowered to enforce worship by the beast parallels the motif of enforced image-worship and judgment found in the furnace episode.
- Psalm 115:4-8 (thematic): The psalm's depiction of idols as lifeless and powerless contrasts with and critiques the practice of bowing to images, underlying the theological rationale for the youths' refusal.
- Isaiah 44:9-20 (thematic): Isaiah's satire of idol-makers and the folly of worshipping wood and metal thematically connects to Daniel 3's denunciation of idolatry and dependence on the living God.
Alternative generated candidates
- and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
- And whoever does not fall down and worship shall at once be cast into the burning fiery furnace.
Dan.3.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- איתי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- גברין: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- יהודאין: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מנית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יתהון: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- עבידת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- מדינת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- בבל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שדרך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- מישך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ועבד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגו: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- גבריא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אלך: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- שמו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- עלך: PREP,2,m,sg
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- טעם: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לאלהך: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss2,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- פלחין: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- ולצלם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דהבא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הקימת: VERB,qal,perf,2,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- סגדין: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
Parallels
- Daniel 3:15 (structural): The royal command that everyone must fall down and worship the golden image — the immediate action to which the Aramaic verse refers.
- Daniel 3:18 (quotation): The explicit refusal of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to serve the king's gods or worship the image, directly continuing and explaining the declaration noted in 3:12.
- Exodus 20:3-5 (thematic): The Decalogue's prohibition against worshiping other gods or making/adoring idols provides the theological basis for the Jews' refusal to bow to the golden image.
- Acts 5:29 (thematic): Peter and the apostles' declaration 'We must obey God rather than men' parallels the principle of refusing civil commands that conflict with divine duty.
- 1 John 5:21 (thematic): The admonition 'Little children, keep yourselves from idols' echoes the ethical stance against idolatrous worship embodied by the Jewish men in Daniel 3:12.
Alternative generated candidates
- There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑Nego. These men, O king, pay no heed to you; they neither serve your gods nor worship the golden image which you have set up."
- There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego—these men, O king, pay no regard to you; they do not serve your gods and they do not worship the golden image that you have set up.
Dan.3.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- באדין: ADV
- נבוכדנצר: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ברגז: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וחמה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- להיתיה: VERB,qal,inf
- לשדרך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מישך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ועבד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגו: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- באדין: ADV
- גבריא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אלך: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- היתיו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- קדם: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Daniel 3:19 (verbal): Immediate continuation of the same episode: Nebuchadnezzar's fury escalates and he orders the furnace heated and the youths bound — same royal anger and punitive command in contiguous context.
- Daniel 2:12–13 (verbal): Earlier royal reaction in the same book where the king's decree threatens the wise men with death when they cannot deliver what he demands — parallels the motif and Aramaic royal language of issuing capital orders in anger.
- Esther 7:7–10 (thematic): Ahasuerus's sudden rage leads directly to an execution order (Haman's hanging). The narrative pattern of a king's anger producing immediate, lethal punitive action parallels Nebuchadnezzar's response to religious dissent.
- Acts 12:1–4 (thematic): Herod's arrest and planned execution of the apostles (James killed; Peter seized) reflects the broader biblical motif of political rulers using their power to punish or execute those seen as challenging royal authority or social norms, comparable to Nebuchadnezzar's treatment of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑Nego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.
- Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.
Dan.3.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ענה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נבכדנצר: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- ואמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- להון: PREP+PRON,3,pl
- הצדא: NOUN,f,sg,def
- שדרך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- מישך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ועבד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגו: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- לאלהי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,const
- לא: PART_NEG
- איתיכון: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- פלחין: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- ולצלם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דהבא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הקימת: VERB,hiph,perf,1,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- סגדין: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Dan.3.12 (verbal): Accusers charge Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego with the same words — that they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image — repeating the key phrase found in 3:14.
- Dan.3.18 (verbal): The three men's reply echoes the language of 3:14, explicitly refusing to serve the king's gods or worship the golden image and thus directly responds to Nebuchadnezzar's question.
- Exod.20:3-5 (thematic): The Decalogue's prohibition of other gods and graven images provides the covenantal/theological basis for refusing idolatrous worship as in Daniel 3:14.
- Acts 5:29 (thematic): Peter and the apostles' declaration 'We must obey God rather than men' expresses the same principle of resisting human demands to worship that the three Jews demonstrate in Daniel 3.
Alternative generated candidates
- Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up?
- Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?"
Dan.3.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כען: ADV
- הן: PART
- איתיכון: VERB,qal,ptcp,3,pl
- עתידין: ADJ,m,pl
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בעדנא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תשמעון: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- קל: ADV
- קרנא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- משרוקיתא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- קתרוס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שבכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פסנתרין: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וסומפניה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- זני: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- זמרא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תפלון: VERB,qal,fut,2,pl
- ותסגדון: CONJ+VERB,qal,fut,2,pl
- לצלמא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עבדת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- והן: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- תסגדון: VERB,qal,fut,2,pl
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- שעתה: ADV
- תתרמון: VERB,qal,fut,2,pl
- לגוא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אתון: PRON,2,pl
- נורא: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- יקדתא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ומן: CONJ+PREP
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישיזבנכון: VERB,qal,fut,3,sg,OBJ2,pl
- מן: PREP
- ידי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
Parallels
- Daniel 3:14 (structural): Immediate precursor in the same speech: Nebuchadnezzar summons the three men and challenges them about refusing to worship the image, setting up the command found in 3:15.
- Daniel 3:16-18 (structural): Immediate response and contrast: the three men refuse to worship and express faith that God can deliver them, directly answering the king's threat and rhetorical question in 3:15.
- Exodus 32:26-28 (thematic): Both passages center on an enforced cultic response to an image and the communal crisis that follows idolatrous worship—commands to participate in an instituted cult and the severe consequences surrounding the episode.
- Psalm 115:4-8 (thematic): Contrasting theological perspective on idols: where Nebuchadnezzar presumes power behind the image and threatens divine deliverance from his hand, the psalm emphasizes that idols are powerless to save.
- Isaiah 46:1-2 (thematic): Similar theme of the impotence of idols—Isaiah depicts idols as burdens carried by their worshipers and unable to help, an implicit counterpoint to the king's boasting and challenge about who can rescue from his hand.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now if you are ready at the moment when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, psaltery, and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the image I have made, well and good; but if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hand?"
- Now if you are ready, when you hear the sound, to fall down and worship, well; but if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace—then what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?"
Dan.3.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ענו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- שדרך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- מישך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ועבד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגו: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ואמרין: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- למלכא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נבוכדנצר: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- חשחין: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,pl
- אנחנה: PRON,1,pl
- על: PREP
- דנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- פתגם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- להתבותך: VERB,hith,inf,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Daniel 3:17-18 (structural): Immediate continuation: the three declare God’s power to deliver them but also their refusal to serve the king’s gods — directly completes and clarifies their refusal in 3:16.
- Daniel 1:8 (thematic): Daniel and his friends resolve not to defile themselves with the king’s food — both passages show faithful youths refusing royal demands that conflict with devotion to God.
- Acts 5:29 (verbal): “We must obey God rather than men.” Like 3:16, Peter’s statement asserts precedence of divine over human authority when confronted by a secular ruler.
- Acts 4:19-20 (thematic): Peter and John refuse to be silenced by the authorities, insisting they cannot but speak what they have seen — parallels the courage and refusal to submit to royal interrogation in 3:16.
- Exodus 1:15-21 (thematic): The Hebrew midwives’ refusal to follow Pharaoh’s command out of fear of God models civil disobedience before a monarch for religious conscience, similar to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s stance.
Alternative generated candidates
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑Nego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to give you an answer in this matter.
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
Dan.3.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הן: PART
- איתי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- אלהנא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אנחנא: PRON,1,pl
- פלחין: VERB,qal,impf,1,pl
- יכל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לשיזבותנא: PREP+VERB,qal,inf,1,pl
- מן: PREP
- אתון: PRON,2,pl
- נורא: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- יקדתא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ומן: CONJ+PREP
- ידך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,f,sg
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישיזב: VERB,qal,impf,3,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 43:2 (verbal): Promises God's presence and preservation in danger—'when thou passest through the fire thou shalt not be burned'—echoes the claim that God can deliver from the fiery furnace.
- Daniel 6:16-23 (structural): Parallel deliverance story within Daniel: like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Daniel expresses trust in God's power and is miraculously rescued (from the lions' den), reinforcing the book's theme of God's ability to save his faithful from deadly peril.
- Psalm 34:19 (thematic): Affirms that the righteous face many afflictions but the LORD delivers them from all—echoes the confident assertion that God 'is able to deliver us' from life-threatening trial.
- Psalm 91:3 (thematic): Speaks of God's deliverance from danger ('He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence') and protection in perilous circumstances, thematically paralleling reliance on God's rescuing power from the furnace.
Alternative generated candidates
- If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
- Behold, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
Dan.3.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והן: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- ידיע: VERB,qal,impf,1,u,pl
- להוא: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאלהך: PREP+NOUN,pl,m,abs+POSS,2,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- איתנא: VERB,qal,impf,1,u,pl
- פלחין: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ולצלם: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דהבא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הקימת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- נסגד: VERB,qal,impf,1,u,pl
Parallels
- Acts 4:19-20 (thematic): Peter and John refuse to obey human authorities when commanded to stop speaking about Jesus—parallels the stand in Daniel 3 of obeying God rather than the king and refusing forced worship.
- Exodus 20:3-5 (verbal): The Decalogue's prohibition of other gods and idolatry provides the core legal/theological basis for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's refusal to worship the golden image.
- Psalm 115:4-8 (thematic): Depicts idols as powerless, mute objects made by hands—supports the theological rationale for refusing to bow to a crafted golden image.
- Revelation 13:15-17 (allusion): Describes enforced worship of the beast's image and the consequences for refusal—echoes the motif of coercive idolatry and faithful resistance in Daniel 3.
- Daniel 6:10 (structural): Daniel's continued prayer to God despite a royal decree parallels the narrative pattern of faithful refusal to obey royal commands that conflict with worship of God.
Alternative generated candidates
- But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up."
- But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods nor worship the golden image that you have set up."
Dan.3.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- באדין: ADV
- נבוכדנצר: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- התמלי: VERB,hithpael,perf,3,m,sg
- חמא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וצלם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אנפוהי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- אשתני: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- שדרך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- מישך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ועבד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגו: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ענה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- למזא: ADV
- לאתונא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- חד: NUM,card,m,sg
- שבעה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חזה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- למזיה: VERB,qal,inf
Parallels
- Daniel 3:13–18 (structural): Immediate antecedent: the accusation against Shadrach, Meshach and Abed‑nego and their refusal to worship the image—this explains why Nebuchadnezzar becomes furious in v.19.
- Daniel 3:20–23 (structural): Immediate continuation: the king orders the furnace heated 'seven times' and has the men bound and cast in—the direct narrative parallel to v.19's fury and the intensified execution.
- Daniel 6:10–17 (thematic): Another court story of faithful refusal to obey a royal command (Daniel's continued prayer) provoking the king to enforce a capital punishment (the lions' den); parallels theme of pious dissent and a ruler's punitive reaction.
- Acts 4:19–20 (thematic): The apostles' refusal to obey human authorities because they must 'obey God rather than men' echoes the theological posture of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed‑nego that precipitates royal anger and threatened execution.
- Esther 3:8–15 (thematic): Use of royal authority to authorize the destruction of a targeted group—Haman persuading the king to issue a lethal decree—parallels the motif of a sovereign using his power to order lethal measures against those singled out in his court.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑Nego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.
- Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego; and he ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.
Dan.3.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ולגברין: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- גברי: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- חיל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בחילה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לכפתה: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- לשדרך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מישך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ועבד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגו: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- למרמא: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לאתון: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נורא: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- יקדתא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 43:2 (thematic): Promises God’s presence and preservation when his people pass through fire and flood—parallels the theme of God protecting Shadrach, Meshach and Abed‑nego in the fiery furnace.
- Psalm 66:12 (thematic): Speaks of passing through fire and water yet being brought safely through—echoes the motif of deliverance from lethal fire in Daniel 3.
- Malachi 3:2-3 (thematic): God as refiner who purifies by fire; relates conceptually to trials by fire that test and vindicate the faithful in Daniel 3.
- 1 Peter 1:6-7 (thematic): Describes believers’ faith being proved genuine 'by fire'—the NT theological development of the same testing/trial imagery exemplified by the furnace episode.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑Nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
- And he commanded certain mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
Dan.3.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- באדין: ADV
- גבריא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אלך: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- כפתו: NOUN,m,pl,poss3mp
- בסרבליהון: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,poss3mp
- פטשיהון: NOUN,m,pl,poss3mp
- וכרבלתהון: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,poss3mp
- ולבשיהון: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,poss3mp
- ורמיו: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- לגוא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אתון: PRON,3,pl
- נורא: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- יקדתא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Dan.3.19 (structural): Immediate context: Nebuchadnezzar, furious at the three, orders the furnace heated and the men bound so they can be thrown in—sets up the action described in 3:21.
- Dan.3.24 (structural): Direct continuation/resolution: after being thrown in (3:21), the king sees the men walking unbound in the fire and a fourth figure with them—connects the binding/throwing to divine deliverance.
- Isa.43:2 (thematic): God’s promise of presence in trials—'when you pass through fire I will be with you; you shall not be burned'—parallels the motif of surviving a fiery ordeal through divine protection.
- Ps.66:12 (thematic): Image of passing 'through fire and through water' and being brought out to safety—echoes the deliverance motif of surviving deadly elements with God’s help.
- 1 Pet.4:12 (thematic): New Testament application of 'fiery trials' for the faithful—frames persecution/ordeal (like the furnace) as a test in which believers may expect God's sustaining presence.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and were thrown into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
- Therefore these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and were thrown into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Dan.3.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כל: DET
- קבל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- דנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מן: PREP
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלת: NOUN,f,sg,cns
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מחצפה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ואתונא: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl
- אזה: DEM,m,sg
- יתירא: ADV
- גבריא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אלך: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הסקו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- לשדרך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מישך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ועבד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגו: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- קטל: VERB,qal,perf,3,sg
- המון: NOUN,m,sg,def
- שביבא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נורא: ADJ,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Daniel 3:24-25 (structural): Immediate pericope: the king sees a fourth figure 'walking in the midst of the fire' who is unharmed—continues the same episode and contrasts the fate of the executioners with the deliverance of the three youths.
- Daniel 6:22 (thematic): Parallel case of divine rescue (Daniel in the lions' den): God prevents human agents/instruments of death from harming his servant, underscoring God's direct intervention to save the faithful.
- Isaiah 43:2 (thematic): Prophetic promise that passing through fire will not destroy the faithful—theological motif of God's protection in deadly danger that frames the furnace narrative.
- Hebrews 11:34 (allusion): The NT recounts faith-enabled deliverances 'quenched the power of fire,' alluding to OT episodes like the fiery furnace as examples of faith and divine rescue.
Alternative generated candidates
- Because the king's command was urgent and the furnace exceedingly hot, those who heard the king's command were killed before they could reach the bottom of the furnace.
- Because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace had been made exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego.
Dan.3.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וגבריא: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אלך: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- תלתהון: NUM,card,pl
- שדרך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- מישך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ועבד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגו: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- נפלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לגוא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אתון: DEM,pl
- נורא: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- יקדתא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מכפתין: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Daniel 3:16-18 (structural): Immediate context: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to worship the image and declare their willingness to be cast into the fire, which leads directly to them being bound and thrown in (background to v.23).
- Daniel 3:24 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: witnesses see four men walking in the furnace (the miraculous presence/companion while the three are in the fire), directly linked to the scene of v.23.
- Daniel 3:27 (verbal): Outcome of the furnace episode: officials find the three men unhurt and unbound, emphasizing the theme of divine preservation introduced when they were cast in (v.23).
- Isaiah 43:2 (thematic): The prophetic promise that God is with his people in peril—'when you pass through fire you shall not be burned'—parallels the theme of preservation in the furnace episode.
- Psalm 66:12 (thematic): Imagery of passing 'through fire and through water' and being brought out alive echoes the motif of deliverance from lethal peril found in Daniel 3:23–27.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus these three men — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑Nego — fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.
- And these three men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego—fell bound into the midst of the burning fire.
Dan.3.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אדין: ADV
- נבוכדנצר: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תוה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- וקם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בהתבהלה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ענה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- להדברוהי: VERB,inf
- הלא: PART
- גברין: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- תלתא: NUM,card
- רמינא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לגוא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נורא: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- מכפתין: VERB,ptc,pass,3,m,pl
- ענין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואמרין: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- למלכא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יציבא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Daniel 3:25 (structural): Immediate continuation of the scene: after Nebuchadnezzar’s question the narrator reports the king’s astonishment at seeing a fourth figure in the furnace—connects directly to the query about three men thrown into the fire.
- Daniel 3:28 (structural): Later verse in the same pericope where Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges and praises the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—the king’s astonishment in v.24 leads to this confession of God’s deliverance.
- Isaiah 43:2 (thematic): Promise of God’s saving presence through fire and water (‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…when you walk through fire you shall not be burned’), thematically parallel to the miraculous preservation in the furnace.
- Hebrews 11:34 (thematic): In the catalogue of faith, Hebrews mentions those who ‘quenched the power of fire’—an explicit New Testament echo of deliverance from deadly fire by faith, resonant with the furnace episode.
- Psalm 66:12 (thematic): Speaks of passing ‘through fire and through water’ and being brought out by God—uses similar imagery of perilous trial by fire followed by divine rescue as in Daniel’s furnace narrative.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste; he spoke and said to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king."
- Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up hastily; he declared to his counselors, "Was it not three men whom we cast bound into the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king."
Dan.3.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ענה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- הא: PRON,3,f,sg
- אנה: ADV,interrog
- חזה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- גברין: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ארבעה: NUM,card,m,sg
- שרין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מהלכין: VERB,ptc,qal,act,pl,m
- בגוא: PREP
- נורא: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- וחבל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- איתי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- בהון: PREP+PRON,3,pl
- ורוה: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- רביעאה: ADJ,ord,sg,f
- דמה: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,f,sg
- לבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg
- אלהין: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Daniel 3:24-27 (structural): Immediate context: the same scene in which the king sees the fourth figure in the fire and the three men emerge unbound; provides the full narrative setting and outcome of the vision in v.25.
- Job 1:6 (and 2:1) (verbal): Uses the phrase 'sons of God' (Heb. benê ’ĕlōhîm); parallels the language and concept of a divine or heavenly figure appearing among other spiritual beings, comparable to 'like a son of the gods' in Dan 3:25.
- Exodus 3:2 (thematic): Theophany in flame: the 'angel of the LORD' appears in a burning bush—echoes the motif of divine/angelic presence manifesting in fire, as in the figure seen in the furnace.
- Isaiah 43:2 (thematic): God's promise 'When you pass through the fire I will be with you'—the idea of divine presence protecting the righteous in a lethal fire parallels the protection of the three men in the furnace.
- Daniel 6:22 (thematic): God's supernatural rescue motif: Daniel's deliverance from the lions' den by God's action/angelic intervention parallels the miraculous preservation of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace.
Alternative generated candidates
- He said, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."
- He answered and said, "Look! I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."
Dan.3.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- באדין: ADV
- קרב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- נבוכדנצר: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לתרע: PREP
- אתון: PRON,dem,pl
- נורא: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- יקדתא: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ענה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- שדרך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- מישך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ועבד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגו: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- עבדוהי: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלהא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עלאה: ADJ,m,sg
- פקו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- ואתו: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- באדין: ADV
- נפקין: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- שדרך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- מישך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ועבד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגו: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- מן: PREP
- גוא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נורא: ADJ,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Dan.3.25 (structural): Immediately preceding verse describing the fourth figure 'like a son of the gods' in the furnace; provides the immediate narrative context for Nebuchadnezzar's summons and the miraculous deliverance.
- Isa.43.2 (thematic): God's promise that when his people pass through fire he will be with them parallels the theme of divine presence and protection in the fiery furnace episode.
- Ps.66.12 (verbal): The image of going 'through fire and through water' and being brought out echoes the motif of communal trial by fire and subsequent deliverance found in Daniel 3.
- Heb.11.34 (allusion): In the New Testament 'heroes of faith' are credited with quenching the power of fire; this likely alludes to OT deliverances such as the rescue of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of fire and spoke, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑Nego, servants of the Most High God, come forth and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑Nego came forth from the midst of the fire.
- Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace and called, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego, servants of the Most High God, come forth!" So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego came forth from the fire.
Dan.3.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ומתכנשין: VERB,hit,pres,3,m,pl
- אחשדרפניא: NOUN_PROP,m,sg,abs
- סגניא: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ופחותא: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- והדברי: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חזין: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לגבריא: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אלך: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- שלט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נורא: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- בגשמהון: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ושער: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ראשהון: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- התחרך: VERB,hit,perf,3,m,pl
- וסרבליהון: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- שנו: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,pl
- וריח: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- עדת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- בהון: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Isaiah 43:2 (thematic): Both texts promise divine protection through deadly elements—'when you pass through fire you shall not be burned' parallels the oven-survivors whose clothing and bodies are unchanged.
- Psalm 66:12 (thematic): Speaks of passing 'through fire and through water' and God bringing his people out, echoing the motif of survival and deliverance from life-threatening elements found in Daniel 3:27.
- Hebrews 11:34 (verbal): Lists miraculous deliverances by faith, including those who 'quenched the power of fire,' a verbal and thematic echo of the furnace deliverance recounted in Daniel 3.
- Zechariah 3:2 (allusion): The Lord's rebuke to Satan—'Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?'—uses fire imagery of rescue and preservation that alludes to the motif of being saved from the flames in Daniel 3.
- Daniel 6:22 (structural): Within the same book another episode of divine rescue (Daniel in the lions' den: 'my God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths') provides a structural parallel of God intervening to preserve his faithful servants from deadly threat.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, and magistrates saw these men; and they perceived that the fire had not had power over their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed, nor were their cloaks changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them.
- And the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, and all the rulers of the provinces gathered and saw these men; the fire had no power on their bodies—no hair of their heads was singed, their cloaks were not harmed, nor was the smell of fire upon them.
Dan.3.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ענה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נבוכדנצר: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ואמר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בריך: ADJ,m,sg
- אלההון: NOUN,m,sg,suf
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שדרך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- מישך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ועבד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגו: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שלח: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מלאכה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ושיזב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לעבדוהי: VERB,qal,inf,NA,NA,NA
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- התרחצו: VERB,hithp,perf,3,m,pl
- עלוהי: PREP,3,m,sg
- ומלת: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שניו: NOUN,f,pl,poss3,m,pl
- ויהבו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- גשמהון: NOUN,m,sg,suf
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- יפלחון: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ולא: CONJ
- יסגדון: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לכל: PREP
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
- להן: PREP+PRON,3,f,pl
- לאלההון: PREP,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Dan.3.29 (structural): Immediate continuation: Nebuchadnezzar issues a royal decree forbidding blasphemy of the God who rescued the three men—same incident and outcome, direct structural parallel.
- Dan.6.26-27 (thematic): Darius issues a decree praising the God of Daniel who rescued him from the lions; parallels the motif of a king publicly acknowledging and legally honoring the God who delivers his servants.
- Dan.4.34-37 (verbal): Nebuchadnezzar later praises and blesses the Most High, acknowledging God’s sovereignty and deliverance; echoes language of blessing God and ascribing ultimate authority to him.
- Acts 16:25-34 (thematic): A miraculous deliverance (Paul and Silas/the jailer) leads to public confession and proclamation of God’s power and salvation—parallel in deliverance producing public recognition and commitment to God.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑Nego, who sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him; they disobeyed the king's command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their God.
- Then Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego, who sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him; they disobeyed the king’s command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their God.
Dan.3.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ומני: CONJ+PREP+PRON,1,sg
- שים: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- טעם: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כל: DET
- עם: PREP
- אמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ולשן: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יאמר: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- שלו: PRON,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- אלההון: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שדרך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- מישך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ועבד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגוא: VERB,qal,perf,3,ms
- הדמין: DEF+DEM,pl
- יתעבד: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,ms
- וביתה: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,cstr+PRSFX,3,f,sg
- נולי: ADV
- ישתוה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,pl
- כל: DET
- קבל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- איתי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
- אחרן: ADJ,m,sg
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יכל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- להצלה: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- כדנה: PRON,dem,f,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kings 18:39 (thematic): After Elijah's miracle on Mount Carmel the people publicly acknowledge the LORD as the true God—comparable to Nebuchadnezzar's public proclamation that no other god can rescue like the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed‑nego.
- Psalm 115:4–8 (verbal): This psalm contrasts the impotence of idols (they have mouths but cannot speak or save) with the living God’s power—echoing Daniel 3’s emphasis that there is no other god who can deliver in this way.
- Isaiah 45:21–22 (verbal): God’s declaration that there is no God besides him and his unique role as savior parallels Nebuchadnezzar’s admission of the exclusivity of divine deliverance.
- Jeremiah 10:10–11 (thematic): Jeremiah proclaims the LORD as the true God and pronounces the failure of idols—resonant with Daniel 3’s denunciation of other gods and affirmation of the one who can rescue.
- Acts 4:12 (thematic): The New Testament assertion that salvation is found in no one else mirrors Daniel 3’s claim of exclusive rescue by the one true God, showing continuity in the theme of exclusive divine deliverance.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑Nego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses shall be laid in ruins, for there is no other god who can deliver in this way."
- Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses made a ruin, for there is no other god who can deliver in this way."
Dan.3.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- באדין: ADV
- מלכא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הצלח: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לשדרך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מישך: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ועבד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגו: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- במדינת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- בבל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Daniel 2:48 (verbal): Nebuchadnezzar promotes Daniel and makes him a chief ruler after Daniel interprets the king’s dream — a close verbal/structural parallel of the king elevating faithful Jewish officials in Babylon.
- Genesis 41:39-41 (thematic): Pharaoh elevates Joseph to high office after Joseph interprets dreams; thematically parallels foreign ruler rewarding a faithful servant for wise insight and bringing them to power.
- Daniel 6:28 (thematic): Statement that Daniel prospered under Darius and Cyrus echoes the theme of God’s servants thriving and being promoted while serving in foreign administrations.
- Psalm 105:21-22 (allusion): Psalm account of God raising up Joseph from hardship to authority highlights the theological motif that God exalts his faithful servants—paralleling the elevation of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑Nego in the province of Babylon.
- Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego in the province of Babylon.
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold; its height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. So the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces were assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Then a herald cried aloud with force: "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages:
that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, lyre, harp, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.
Therefore at the appointed time, when all the peoples, nations, and languages heard the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, lyre, harp, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
At that time some Chaldeans came forward and brought accusations against the Jews.
They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever!
You, O king, have ordained a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, lyre, harp, and every kind of music shall fall down and worship the golden image,
and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. But there are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego—who pay no regard to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the golden image which you have set up."
Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and furious anger commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.
Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, lyre, harp, and every kind of music to fall down and worship the image I have made, well. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into the burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?"
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning furnace, he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods nor worship the golden image that you have set up."
Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. And he commanded some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
Then these men were bound in their cloaks, tunics, hats, and other garments, and were cast into the furnace.
Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego. And these three men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego—fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He spoke and said to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king."
He answered and said, "Look! I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."
Then Nebuchadnezzar drew near to the door of the burning furnace and called, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego, servants of the Most High God, come forth!" So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego came out of the fire. And the satraps, prefects, governors, and the king's counselors gathered and observed these men; the fire had no power over their bodies, nor was a hair of their head singed; their cloaks were not harmed, and there was no smell of fire on them.
Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego, who sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king's command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their God.
Therefore I make a decree: any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way."
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‑nego in the province of Babylon.