Daniel 3:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace.

NIV: So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.

NASB: Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps, and their other clothes, and were thrown into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire.

CSB: So these men, in their trousers, robes, head coverings, and other clothes, were tied up and thrown into the furnace of blazing fire.

NLT: So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments.

KJV: Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

NKJV: Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

King Nebuchadnezzar once promoted these men to high office (Daniel 2:48–49). Bitter rivals accused them of disobeying the king's command (Daniel 3:8, 12). The three Hebrews openly refused to worship an idol (Daniel 3:16–18). In a fit of temper, the king ordered some of his soldiers to tie the Jews up and throw them into a superheated furnace (Daniel 3:19–20).

The clothing described would have been typical of Babylon in that era. Terms may vary, but the three Hebrews were likely wearing an undergarment, overgarment, and possibly ceremonial clothing. Execution victims would probably be stripped, in most cases, but here the king wants them executed instantly. None of this was necessary, but it all suited the king's intense rage at being defied.

God will thwart every detail of this temper tantrum. The men will survive (Daniel 3:26) without even their clothes smelling like smoke (Daniel 3:27), though their restraints will be dissolved (Daniel 3:25). Only the king's soldiers will be killed (Daniel 3:22).

Nearly the same information will be repeated (Daniel 3:23), as part of a pattern in this chapter. This segment repeats certain phrases and ideas, both for emphasis and as a way of satirizing the bureaucracy and control of Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon.

Daniel 3:19–25 follows the description of Nebuchadnezzar's angry response to an accusation: that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 1:6–7) refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar's golden image (Daniel 3:1–7, 8–12). Rather than begging for mercy, the men openly refuse to commit idolatry (Daniel 3:16–18). This enrages the king, who tries to make an example of them, which is thwarted by God (Daniel 3:22–27). The passage is recorded in Aramaic, highlighting its importance to non-Jewish people of the ancient world.

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.