Daniel 3:14
What does Daniel 3:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Daniel 3:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Daniel 3:14 means
Nebuchadnezzar directly questioned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, asking if their refusal to serve his god and worship the golden image was indeed deliberate. This rhetorical question offered them a final opportunity to recant or explain themselves, perhaps hoping they had misunderstood the decree or made an accidental oversight. However, it also revealed his deep indignation, implying that their actions were a purposeful act of insubordination against his absolute rule, setting the stage for their defiant response.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Nebuchadnezzar answered and said unto them, Is it of purpose, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that ye serve not my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Nebuchadnezzar answered and said unto them, Is it of purpose, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that ye serve not my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Nebuchadnezzar made answer and said to them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you will not be servants of my god or give worship to the image of gold which I have put up?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Nebuchadnezzar hath answered and said to them, `Is <FI>it<Fi> a laid plan, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego--my gods ye are not serving, and to the golden image that I have raised up ye are not doing obeisance?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Nabuchodonosor, the king, spoke to them, and said: Is it true, O Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, that you do not worship my gods, nor adore the golden statue that I have set up?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them, Is it of purpose, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that ye serve not mygod, nor worship the golden image that I have set up?
Context
This verse presents the king's direct confrontation and initial inquiry to the three men, immediately after their forced appearance. Nebuchadnezzar's question is crucial because it offers them a last chance to conform, but also reveals his personal investment in their obedience. This interrogation sets the stage for the men's defiant declaration of faith, establishing the precise terms of their impending test.
v.13Then Nebuchadnezzar inhisrage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.
v.14This passage
v.15Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made, well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall deliver you out of my hands?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 21:13
And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.
- Daniel 3:1
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
- Jeremiah 50:2
Declare ye among the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed; her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.
- Isaiah 46:1
Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth; their idols are upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: the things that ye carried about are made a load, a burden to the weary beast.
- Daniel 4:8
But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and I told the dream before him, saying,
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