Daniel 3:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

NIV: But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

NASB: But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.'

CSB: But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up."

NLT: But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:14–17) demonstrate intense trust in God. They know the Lord is powerful enough to rescue them from the consequences of defying Nebuchadnezzar's command to worship an idol (Daniel 3:1–7), but they don't demand that He do so. They did not know whether God would deliver them or allow them to die in the flames. They knew, however, that He was able to deliver them. In either case, they clearly told the king that they would not serve his heathen gods or worship his golden image. They were determined to be faithful to God, no matter what. Even if that meant death, they trusted the Lord with the outcome.

Exodus 20:3–5 was indelibly stamped on the hearts of these Hebrew slaves: "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them." New Testament believers, too, must disdain idolatry. In Colossians 3:5 Paul equates covetousness with idolatry, and the apostle John writes in 1 John 5:21: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."

Daniel 3:8–18 records an accusation, a confrontation, and a confession. Daniel's three friends (Daniel 1:6–7) are reported to the king by jealous advisors who claim the Jewish men refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar's golden image (Daniel 3:1, 4–5). The king offers them an opportunity to disprove the charge, or at least to change their minds. Instead, the three faithful men admit they have not and will not compromise their faith in the One True God. Whether they live or die, they will not worship the false gods of Babylon. This passage is part of the Scriptures recorded in Aramaic (Daniel 2:4—7:28).

Nebuchadnezzar builds a golden idol, possibly inspired by the explanation of his own dream (Daniel 2:36–38). He commands all people to worship it, at a given musical signal, on pain of death. Three Hebrew men openly defy this command and are thrown into a superheated furnace. To his shock, the king sees a supernatural figure with the still-living Israelites. Not only do they survive, but their clothes aren't singed nor even smelling like smoke. The king praises their faith, and their God, commanding that no one speak ill of the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

The first chapter of Daniel explained how four captive Israelite boys became respected advisors to a Babylonian king. Chapter 2 showed these men praying for divine wisdom to untangle that same king's dream. These events set the stage for this chapter and the famous trio of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The men refuse to bow to an idol and are rescued from fiery death by God. This is the last mention of these men in Scripture, as focus shifts back to Babylon's kings and the prophet Daniel.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.