Daniel 3:15

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, furious with rage, summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,

14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up?

Now, if you are ready, as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the statue I have made. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

17 If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Now, if you are ready, as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the statue I have made. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?”
KJV
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?
WEB
Now if you are ready whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the image which I have made, good; but if you don’t worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the middle of a burning fiery furnace. Who is that god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
ASV
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 music, 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?
DARBY
Now if ye be ready at the time that ye hear the sound of the cornet, pipe, lute, sambuca, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, [well]: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast that same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace: and who is the God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
BLB
Now, if you⁺ are ready, at that time when you⁺ hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and pipe, and all kinds of music, then you⁺ fall down and give homage to the image that I have made! And if you⁺ will not give homage in it, immediately you⁺ shall be cast into the midst of a burning furnace of fire—and who is the god who will deliver you⁺ from my hands?”
ÅB
Nuvel, hvis dere, når dere hører lyden av horn, fløyte, citar, harpe, lutt, sekkepipe og alle andre slags strengelek, er rede til å falle ned og tilbe det bilde jeg har gjort, så er det godt og vel; men hvis dere ikke tilber det, så skal dere i samme stund kastes i den brennende ildovn, og hvem er den gud som kan frelse dere av min hånd?
OTB
Nå, hvis dere er klare, når dere hører lyden av horn, fløyte, lyre, trigon, harpe, sekkepipe og alle slags musikk, til å falle ned og tilbe bildet jeg har laget, så er det bra. Men hvis dere ikke tilber, skal dere straks kastes i en brennende ovn. Og hvilken gud vil kunne redde dere fra mine hender?"
B1930
Nuvel, hvis I, når I hører lyden av horn, fløite, citar, harpe, lutt, sekkepipe og alle andre slags strengelek, er rede til å falle ned og tilbede det billede jeg har gjort, så er det godt og vel; men hvis I ikke tilbeder det, så skal I i samme stund kastes i den brennende ildovn, og hvem er den gud som kan frelse eder av min hånd?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Acts 5:29

    But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 32:15–17

    So now, do not let Hezekiah deceive you, and do not let him mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand!”

    Read in context
  • Daniel 3:17

    If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 5:2

    But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 18:35

    Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”

    Read in context
  • Mark 13:11

    But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

    Read in context
  • Acts 4:8–12

    Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 36:18–20

    Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’ Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?

    Read in context