Daniel 3:5

What does Daniel 3:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Daniel 3:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Daniel 3:5 means

The specific decree commanded that upon hearing a designated array of musical instruments—cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music—everyone must immediately fall down and worship the golden image Nebuchadnezzar had erected. This synchronization of music and mandated worship created a powerful, sensory experience designed to compel universal obeisance. The use of various instruments highlighted the grand and overwhelming nature of this command, intended to ensure no one could escape the public act of adoration.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

That when the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all sorts of instruments, comes to your ears, you are to go down on your faces in worship before the image of gold which Nebuchadnezzar the king has put up:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

at the time that ye hear the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, the symphony, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and do obeisance to the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath raised up:

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

That in the hour that you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, and of the flute, and of the harp, of the sackbut, and of the psaltery, and of the symphony, and of all kind of music, ye fall down and adore the golden statue which king Nabuchodonosor hath set up.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, pipe, lute, sambuca, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up;

Context

This verse specifies the exact nature of the king's command, providing the details of the required act of worship. It expands on the herald's general proclamation in the previous verse, giving concrete instructions that clarify what is expected. This detailed instruction is crucial for understanding the straightforward nature of the impending test of faith and the clear line that would be crossed by any who refused to comply, setting the stage for the penalty.

v.4Then the herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,

v.5This passage

v.6and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Daniel 3:7

    Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

  • Daniel 3:15

    Now 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?

  • Daniel 3:10

    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;

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