Daniel 3:6
What does Daniel 3:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Daniel 3:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Daniel 3:6 means
The decree included a severe and immediate penalty for disobedience: anyone who failed to fall down and worship the golden image would be instantly cast into a burning fiery furnace. This swift and brutal consequence was designed to instill absolute fear and ensure compliance, leaving no room for defiance or deliberation. The fiery furnace served as a terrifying symbol of Nebuchadnezzar's supreme power and his unwavering demand for total allegiance from all his subjects, establishing the high stakes of the impending crisis.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And anyone not falling down and worshipping will that same hour be put into a burning and flaming fire.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and whoso doth not fall down and do obeisance, in that hour he is cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But if any man shall not fall down and adore, he shall the same hour be cast into a furnace of burning fire.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and whosoever doth not fall down and worship shall that same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Context
This verse directly follows the command to worship, detailing the brutal consequence for non-compliance. It is absolutely vital for understanding the gravity of the choice facing the Jewish officials. Without this explicit penalty, the later refusal of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego would lack its dramatic tension and the miraculous deliverance would lose its impact. It clarifies the ultimate price of their faith.
v.5that 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;
v.6This passage
v.7Therefore 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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Daniel 3:21
Then these men were bound in their hosen, their tunics, and their mantles, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
- Revelation 14:11
and the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name.
- Daniel 2:12
For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
- Isaiah 44:17
And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image; he falleth down unto it and worshippeth, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.
- Matthew 13:50
and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
- 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?
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