Daniel 3
Lutheran reading notes
In Daniel chapter 3, the prophetic message continues to reveal themes of faithfulness in exile and visions of God's ultimate kingdom. Lutheran interpretation often emphasizes the contrast between divine law, which exposes sin, and the promise of grace through God's future redemption. The chapter illustrates both warning and hope within God's covenant relationship.
1
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height {was} threescore cubits, {and} the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 3:1 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Daniel 3:2 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Daniel 3:3 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, {aloud: Chaldee, with might} {it...: Chaldee, they command}
Daniel 3:4 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
{That} at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: {dulcimer: or, singing: Chaldee, symphony}
Daniel 3:5 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:6 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
Therefore 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.
Daniel 3:7 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
Daniel 3:8 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
Daniel 3:9 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: {dulcimer: or, singing: Chaldee, symphony}
Daniel 3:10 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, {that} he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:11 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. {have...: Chaldee, have set no regard upon thee}
Daniel 3:12 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
Then Nebuchadnezzar in {his} rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
Daniel 3:13 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, {Is it} true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? {true: or, of purpose}
Daniel 3:14 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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 musick, 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? {dulcimer: or, singing: Chaldee, symphony}
Daniel 3:15 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we {are} not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Daniel 3:16 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
If it be {so}, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver {us} out of thine hand, O king.
Daniel 3:17 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
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.
Daniel 3:18 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: {therefore} he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. {full: Chaldee, filled}
Daniel 3:19 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
And he commanded the most mighty men that {were} in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, {and} to cast {them} into the burning fiery furnace. {most...: Chaldee, mighty of strength}
Daniel 3:20 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
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. {coats: or, mantles} {hats: or, turbans}
Daniel 3:21 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. {commandment: Chaldee, word} {flame: or, spark}
Daniel 3:22 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:23 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
24
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, {and} spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. {counsellors: or, governors}
Daniel 3:24 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
25
He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. {they...: Chaldee, there is no hurt in them}
Daniel 3:25 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
26
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, {and} spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come {hither}. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. {mouth: Chaldee, door}
Daniel 3:26 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
27
And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
Daniel 3:27 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
28
{Then} Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed {be} the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
Daniel 3:28 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
29
Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. {I make...: Chaldee, a decree is made by me} {any...: Chaldee, error} {cut...: Chaldee, made pieces}
Daniel 3:29 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
30
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon. {promoted: Chaldee, made to prosper}
Daniel 3:30 highlights prophetic call to repentance and hope with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.