Daniel 3:7
What does Daniel 3:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Daniel 3:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Daniel 3:7 means
As soon as the specified music began to play, all the assembled peoples, nations, and languages, demonstrating widespread and immediate obedience, fell down and worshipped the golden image. This universal compliance highlights the fear inspired by the king's decree and the immense pressure to conform. The ease with which the vast multitude bowed down underscores the singular courage required by anyone who would dare to defy such a powerful and universally enforced command, setting the scene for the exceptional actions of a select few.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Therefore 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Therefore 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So at that time, all the people, when the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, and all sorts of instruments, came to their ears, went down on their faces in worship before the image of gold which Nebuchadnezzar the king had put up.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Therefore at that time, when all the peoples are hearing the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, and all kinds of music, falling down are all the peoples, nations and languages, doing obeisance to the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath raised up.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Upon this, therefore, at the time when all the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the flute, and the harp, of the sackbut, and the psaltery, of the symphony, and of all kind of music, all the nations, tribes, and languages fell down and adored the golden statue which king Nabuchodonosor had set up.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Therefore at that time when all the peoples heard the sound of the cornet, pipe, lute, sambuca, 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.
Context
This verse shows the immediate, widespread compliance with Nebuchadnezzar's decree, following the announcement of the command and its penalty. It establishes the norm of obedience among the assembled peoples, emphasizing the overwhelming cultural and political pressure. This widespread conformity serves as a stark contrast to the actions of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, making their subsequent refusal all the more remarkable and highlighting their unique faithfulness amidst a sea of compromise.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 13:3
And I saw one of his heads as though it had been smitten unto death; and his death-stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast;
- Jeremiah 51:7
Babylon hath been a golden cup in Jehovah’s hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.
- Revelation 13:8
And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.
- Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.
- Revelation 13:14
And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by reason of the signs which it was given him to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who hath the stroke of the sword and lived.
- 1 John 5:19
We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one.
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