📖 Daniel — Chapter 3 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Daniel 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king Rmade 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 3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king Rsent 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 3:3 Then Rthe 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 3:4 Then an herald cried RTaloud, To you Tit is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
Daniel 3:5 That at what time ye hear the sound of Rthe cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, Tdulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
Daniel 3:6 And whoso Rfalleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:7 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 3:8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, Rand accused the Jews.
Daniel 3:9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, RO king, live for ever.
Daniel 3:10 Thou, O king, Rhast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and Tdulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
Daniel 3:11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:12 There are Rcertain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, Thave not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Daniel 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar Rin his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
Daniel 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it RTtrue, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
Daniel 3:15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and Tdulcimer, and all kinds of musick, Rye 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?
Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Daniel 3:17 If it be so, Rour 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 3:18 But if not, Rbe it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Daniel 3:19 Then Rwas Nebuchadnezzar Tfull 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.
Daniel 3:20 And he commanded the Tmost mighty men that were in his army Rto bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:21 Then these men were bound in their Tcoats, their hosen, and their Thats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:22 Therefore because the king’s Tcommandment was Rurgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Daniel 3:23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Rfell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his RTcounsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
Daniel 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, Rwalking in the midst of the fire, and Tthey have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Daniel 3:26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the Tmouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Rye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
Daniel 3:27 And Rthe 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 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, RBlessed 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 3:29 RTherefore TI make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak Tany thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be Tcut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
Daniel 3:30 Then Rthe king Tpromoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Daniel 3:1–12 — An image and a command to worship
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
A great golden image is set up, and assembled officials must bow at the musical signal or face the furnace. The three Jewish officers are accused of refusing the imposed worship.
Key Truth: Recognize the pressure to direct worship away from God.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of ____ , whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof …” (Daniel 3:1)
Find it in Daniel 3:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Wherefore at that ____ certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.” (Daniel 3:8)
Find it in Daniel 3:8 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “There are ____ Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the …” (Daniel 3:12)
Find it in Daniel 3:12 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Daniel 3:13–23 — Faithfulness does not demand a guaranteed escape
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The king repeats the threat, but the three men affirm God’s ability to deliver while refusing the image even if he does not. They are bound and cast into the overheated furnace, which kills the men carrying them.
Key Truth: Remain faithful without making deliverance a condition of obedience.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “____ Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, …” (Daniel 3:13)
Find it in Daniel 3:13 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “But if not, be it ____ unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy …” (Daniel 3:18)
Find it in Daniel 3:18 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “And ____ three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into …” (Daniel 3:23)
Find it in Daniel 3:23 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Daniel 3:24–30 — The men are brought out unharmed
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The king sees four figures walking loose in the fire and summons the three servants of the most high God. Their bodies and clothing are unharmed, and the king acknowledges the deliverance and promotes them.
Key Truth: Receive rescue with praise while honoring steadfast trust.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “____ the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province …” (Daniel 3:30)
Find it in Daniel 3:30 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “And the ____ , governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered …” (Daniel 3:27)
Find it in Daniel 3:27 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “Then Nebuchadnezzar the ____ was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and …” (Daniel 3:24)
Find it in Daniel 3:24 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Isaiah 43:2 — The earlier promise speaks of God’s presence through fire.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Where must faithfulness remain steady even when the outcome is uncertain?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Which summary best distinguishes Daniel 3:1–12 (An image and a command to worship) from the chapter’s other sections?
2. Which summary best distinguishes Daniel 3:13–23 (Faithfulness does not demand a guaranteed escape) from the chapter’s other sections?
3. Which summary best distinguishes Daniel 3:24–30 (The men are brought out unharmed) from the chapter’s other sections?
4. What does the men’s refusal show about their faithfulness?
5. What observation distinguishes their deliverance from partial survival?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
Loading your notes…
Chapter Navigation