English Standard Version
Daniel 3:18
18But 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."
Daniel 3:18 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (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.”
- New King James Version (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.”
- New Living Translation (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.”
Context of Daniel 3:18
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 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." 19Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. 20And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
Read all of Daniel 3Daniel 3:18 word by word
וְהֵ֣ן לָ֔א יְדִ֥יעַ לֶהֱוֵא־לָ֖ךְ מַלְכָּ֑א דִּ֤י לֵֽאלָהָךְ֙ לָא־אִיתַ֣נָא פָֽלְחִ֔ין וּלְצֶ֧לֶם דַּהֲבָ֛א דִּ֥י הֲקֵ֖ימְתָּ לָ֥א נִסְגֻּֽד׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But ifהֵןhên · ifH2006
- notלָאlâ' lâh · notH3809
- be itהֲוָאhâvâ' hâvâh · to beH1934
- knownיְדַעyeda‛ · to knowH3046
- unto thee, O kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
- that we willאִיתַי'îythay · there isH383
- serveפְּלַחpelach · to serveH6399
- thy godsאֱלָהּ'ĕlâhh · godH426
- worshipסְגִ֑דsegid · to do homageH5457
- the goldenדְּהַבdehab · goldH1722
- imageצְלֵםtselem tselem · imageH6755
- which thou hast set upקוּםqûm · to stand: establishH6966
Cross-references for Daniel 3:18
- Job 13:15Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.
- Proverbs 28:1The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
- Isaiah 51:12"I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass,
- Matthew 10:28And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
- Matthew 16:2He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.'
- Luke 12:3Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
- Acts 4:10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.
- Acts 5:29But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.
- Revelation 2:10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- Revelation 12:11And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
- Exodus 20:3"You shall have no other gods before me.
- Leviticus 19:4Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God.
Commentaries on Daniel 3:18
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18But if not - That is, “if he should “not” deliver us; if it should “not” occur that he would protect us, and save us from that heated oven: whatever may be the result in regard to us, our determination is settled.” Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods - This answer is firm and noble. It showed that their minds were made up, and that it was with them a matter of “principle” not to worship false gods. The state of mind which is…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-18Verses 8-18 True devotion calms the spirit, quiets and softens it, but superstition and devotion to false gods inflame men's passions. The matter is put into a little compass, Turn, or burn. Proud men are still ready to say, as Nebuchadnezzar, Who is the Lord, that I should fear his power? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not hesitate whether they should comply or not. Life or death were not to be considered. Those that would avoid sin, must not parley…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-18The three men declared their loyalty to God above all else. They trusted the God who had saved the entire nation of Israel from Pharaoh's power (Exodus 18:10). God later showed that those who stay faithful until death will be saved even after they have died (Daniel 12:1–3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. But if not, &c.--connected with Da 3:18. "Whether our God deliver us, as He is able, or do not, we will not serve thy gods." Their service of God is not mercenary in its motive. Though He slay them, they will still trust in Him (Job 13:15). Their deliverance from sinful compliance was as great a miracle in the kingdom of grace, as that from the furnace was in the kingdom of nature. Their youth, and position as captives and friendless exiles, before…Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 3:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Daniel 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries