New English Translation
Daniel 3:12
12But there are Jewish men whom you appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – and these men have not shown proper respect to you, O king. They don’t serve your gods and they don’t pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.”
Daniel 3:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
- New International Version (NIV)But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
- New King James Version (NKJV)There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Context of Daniel 3:12
10You have issued an edict, O king, that everyone must bow down and pay homage to the golden statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music. 11And whoever does not bow down and pay homage must be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. But there are Jewish men whom you appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – and these men have not shown proper respect to you, O king. They don’t serve your gods and they don’t pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.” 13Then Nebuchadnezzar in a fit of rage demanded that they bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego before him. So they brought them before the king. 14Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don’t serve my gods and that you don’t pay homage to the golden statue that I erected?
Read all of Daniel 3Daniel 3:12 word by word
אִיתַ֞י גֻּבְרִ֣ין יְהוּדָאיִ֗ן דִּֽי־מַנִּ֤יתָ יָתְהוֹן֙ עַל־עֲבִידַת֙ מְדִינַ֣ת בָּבֶ֔ל שַׁדְרַ֥ךְ מֵישַׁ֖ךְ וַעֲבֵ֣ד נְג֑וֹ גֻּבְרַיָּ֣א אִלֵּ֗ךְ לָא־שָׂ֨מֽוּ עֲלָ֤ךְ מַלְכָּא֙ טְעֵ֔ם לֵֽאלָהָךְ֙ לָ֣א פָלְחִ֔ין וּלְצֶ֧לֶם דַּהֲבָ֛א דִּ֥י הֲקֵ֖ימְתָּ לָ֥א סָגְדִֽין׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- There areאִיתַי'îythay · there isH383
- certainגְּבַרgebar · manH1400
- Jewsיְהוּדַיyehûdâ'îy · JewH3062
- whomיָתyath · whomH3487
- thou hast setמְנָהmenâ' menâh · to reckon/appointH4483
- overעַל‛al · uponH5922
- the affairsעֲבִידָה‛ăbîydâh · serviceH5673
- of the provinceמְדִינָהmedîynâh · provinceH4083
- of Babylonבָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶלbâbel · BabylonH895
- Shadrachשַׁדְרַךְshadrak · ShadrachH7715
- Meshachמֵישַׁךְmêyshak · MeshachH4336
- and Abed–negoעֲבֵד נְגוֹ‛ăbêd negô' · AbednegoH5665
- theseאִלֵּךְ'illêk · theseH479
- O kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
- haveשׂוּםώûm · to set: put/giveH7761
- notלָאlâ' lâh · notH3809
- regardedטְעֵםţe‛êm · commandH2942
- they 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 3:12
- Daniel 2:49And at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the administration of the province of Babylon. Daniel himself served in the king’s court.
- 1 Samuel 18:7The women who were playing the music sang, “Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands!”
- Esther 3:8Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a particular people that is dispersed and spread among the inhabitants throughout all the provinces of your kingdom whose laws differ from those of all other peoples. Furthermore, they do not observe the king’s laws. It is not appropriate for the king to provide a haven for them.
- Proverbs 27:4Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
- Ecclesiastes 4:4Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless – like chasing the wind.
- Acts 5:28saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name. Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood on us!”
- Acts 17:7and Jason has welcomed them as guests! They are all acting against Caesar’s decrees, saying there is another king named Jesus!”
Commentaries on Daniel 3:12
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego - Daniel 2:49. It is quite remarkable that the name of Daniel does not occur in the record of this transaction, and that he does not appear to have been involved in the difficulty. Why he was not cannot now be certainly known. We may be sure that he would not join in the worship of the idol, and yet it would seem, as Nebuchadnezzar had…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. 12These Jews had disobeyed the king by refusing to worship his statue. Disobeying the king was considered an act of high treason (see Daniel 2:10–13).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. serve not thy gods--not only not the golden image, but also not any of Nebuchadnezzar's gods.Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 3:12
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