Daniel 3:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace."

NIV: Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."

NASB: But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown into the middle of a furnace of blazing fire.'

CSB: But whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire."

NLT: Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.'

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

NKJV: and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”

After hearing the interpretation of his dream (Daniel 2:1–3, 36–38), Nebuchadnezzar decided to build a golden idol (Daniel 3:1). This might have been to represent himself, to affirm his commitment to Babylonian gods, or to celebrate some occasion. He ordered powerful people from all over the empire (Daniel 3:2–3) and gave them strict instructions. When they hear a musical cue, all of them are to bow in worship of this manmade object (Daniel 3:4–5).

The penalty for disobedience is an immediate, horrific death by fire. The "furnace" in question was probably a type of kiln used to create lime. This would have been a domed surface with an opening on top to insert fuel and a space at the bottom to remove ashes and waste. For centuries in Babylonian culture, being burnt alive had been a traditional punishment for blasphemy (Jeremiah 29:22). Not only is the process presumed to be painful, but it is also thorough, capable of destroying the body entirely and leaving little to no trace. This chapter repeats this exact phrase multiple times, echoing the legalism and bureaucracy of Babylon.

Persian culture considered fire too holy for use as an execution tool. This is likely why Darius, a later king (Daniel 2:37–39), used a lion pit as the severest punishment for disobedience (Daniel 6:7).

Daniel 3:1–7 follows the incident where Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's frightening dream. It's possible that the king took pride in being depicted as a head of gold (Daniel 2:37–38), and so he makes a golden image of himself to be revered. The people of Babylon are commanded to worship this idol under threat of death: being burned alive. Repetition in the passage highlights the overbearing, controlling nature of the king's edict. This passage continues a segment of the Bible 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.