New International Version
Daniel 3:18
18But 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.”
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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."
- 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 replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 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.” 19Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing 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, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.
- Proverbs 28:1The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
- Isaiah 51:12“I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass,
- Matthew 10:28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
- Matthew 16:2He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’
- Luke 12:3What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
- Acts 4:10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
- Acts 5:29Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!
- Revelation 2:10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
- Revelation 12:11They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
- Exodus 20:3“You shall have no other gods before me.
- Leviticus 19:4“ ‘Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. 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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