Daniel 3:25
What does Daniel 3:25 mean?
A plain-English look at Daniel 3:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Daniel 3:25 means
In utter amazement, Nebuchadnezzar declared that he saw four men, not three, walking unbound and unharmed in the midst of the fiery furnace. Even more astonishingly, he described the fourth figure as having the appearance of "a son of the gods." This divine observation strongly points to a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, supernaturally joining and protecting His faithful servants. This miraculous sight confirmed God's direct intervention and complete control over the most destructive elements.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of the gods.
KJV
King James Version · 1611He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of the gods.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949He made answer and said, Look! I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not damaged; and the form of the fourth is like a son of the gods.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862He answered and hath said, `Lo, I am seeing four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the appearance of the fourth <FI>is<Fi> like to a son of the gods.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Then Azarias standing up, prayed in this manner, and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, he said:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son ofGod.
Context
This verse is the dramatic climax of the chapter, revealing the miraculous intervention. Nebuchadnezzar's observation of a fourth figure "like a son of the gods" in the furnace with the three is the absolute turning point, transforming the scene from a tragedy to a testament of divine power. This revelation directly leads to Nebuchadnezzar's recognition of the Most High God and his immediate summoning of the men from the fire.
v.24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste: he spake and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
v.25This passage
v.26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace: he spake and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came forth out of the midst of the fire.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Daniel 3:18
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
- Psalms 91:3
For he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence.
- Mark 16:18
they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
- Psalms 34:7
The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, And delivereth them.
- Isaiah 43:2
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
- Daniel 3:28
Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
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