Daniel 3:1New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, the height of which [was] sixty cubits [and] its width six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— Nebuchadnezzar the king made 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.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— Nebuchadnezzar the king made 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.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— Nebuchadnezzar the king made 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.
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose hight [was] sixty cubits, [and] the breadth of it six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits, [and] its breadth six cubits; he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— Nebuchadnezzar the king, made an image of gold, the height thereof, sixty cubits, the breadth thereof, six cubits,—he set it up in the valley of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— Nebuchadnezzar the king hath made an image of gold, its height sixty cubits, its breadth six cubits; he hath raised it up in the valley of Dura, in the province of Babylon;
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— King Nabuchodonosor made a statue of gold, of sixty cubits high, and six cubits broad, and he set it up in the plain of Dura, of the province of Babylon.
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— Nebuchad-nezzar the King made an image of gold, whose height was three score cubits, and the breadth thereof sixe cubites: hee set it vp in the plaine of Dura, in the prouince of Babel.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— Nebuchad nezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height [was] threescore cubits, and ye breadth thereof sixe cubites: he set it vp in the plaine of Dura, in the prouince of Babylon.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— NEBUCHADNEZZAR the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits; and he set it up in the plain of Dora, in the province of Babylon.
Brenton Greek Septuagint (LXX, Restored Names)
— In [his] eighteenth year Nebuchadnezzar{gr.Nabuchodonosor} the king made a golden image, its height was sixty cubits, its breadth six cubits: and he set it up in the plain of Deira, in the province of Babylon.
Full Hebrew Names / Holy Name KJV (2008) [2] [3]
— Nevukhadnetztzar the king made 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 Bavel. |
Nævûȼađne´xxar
נְבוּכַדנֶאצַּר
5020
the king
4430 {4430} Primeמֶּלֶךְmelek{meh'-lek}
(Chaldee); corresponding to H4428; a king.
made
5648 {5648} Primeעַבַד`abad{ab-bad'}
(Chaldee); corresponding to H5647; to do, make, prepare, keep, etc.
z8754 <8754> Grammar
Stem - Peal (See H8837) Mood - Perfect (See H8816) Count - 231
an image
6755 {6755} Primeצֶלֶםtselem{tseh'-lem}
(Chaldee); corresponding to H6754; an idolatrous figure.
of
x1768 (1768) Complementדִּיdiy{dee}
(Chaldee); apparently for H1668; that, used as relative, conjugational, and especially (with preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as a preposition of.
gold,
1722 {1722} Primeדְּהַבd@hab{deh-hab'}
(Chaldee); corresponding to H2091; gold.
whose height
7314 {7314} Primeרוּםruwm{room}
(Chaldee); from H7313; (literally) altitude.
[ was] threescore
8361 {8361} Primeשִׁתִּיןshittiyn{shit-teen'}
(Chaldee); corresponding to H8346 (compare H8353); sixty.
cubits,
521 {0521} Primeאַמָּה'ammah{am-maw'}
(Chaldee); corresponding to H0520.
[ and] the breadth
6613 {6613} Primeפְּתָיp@thay{peth-ah'-ee}
(Chaldee); from a root corresponding to H6601; open, that is, (as noun) width.
thereof six
8353 {8353} Primeשֵׁתsheth{shayth}
(Chaldee); corresponding to H8337.
cubits:
521 {0521} Primeאַמָּה'ammah{am-maw'}
(Chaldee); corresponding to H0520.
he set it up
6966 {6966} Primeקוּםquwm{koom}
(Chaldee); corresponding to H6965.
z8684 <8684> Grammar
Stem - Aphel (See H8817) Mood - Perfect (See H8816) Count - 66
in the plain
1236 {1236} Primeבִּקְעָהbiq`a'{bik-aw'}
(Chaldee); corresponding to H1237.
of
Dûrä´
דּוּרָא,
1757 {1757} PrimeדּוּרָאDuwra'{doo-raw'}
(Chaldee); probably from H1753; circle or dwelling; Dura, a place in Babylon.
in the province
4083 {4083} Primeמְשִׂינָהm@diynah{med-ee-naw'}
(Chaldee); corresponding to H4082.
of
Bävel
בָּבֶל.
895 {0895} PrimeבָּבֶלBabel{baw-bel'}
(Chaldee); corresponding to H0894. |
Daniel 3:1
_ _ Daniel 3:1-30. Nebuchadnezzar’s idolatrous image; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego are delivered from the furnace.
_ _ Between the vision of Nebuchadnezzar in the second chapter and that of Daniel in the seventh, four narratives of Daniel’s and his friends’ personal history are introduced. As the second and seventh chapters go together, so the third and sixth chapters (the deliverance from the lions’ den), and the fourth and fifth chapters. Of these last two pairs, the former shows God’s nearness to save His saints when faithful to Him, at the very time they seem to be crushed by the world power. The second pair shows, in the case of the two kings of the first monarchy, how God can suddenly humble the world power in the height of its insolence. The latter advances from mere self-glorification, in the fourth chapter, to open opposition to God in the fifth. Nebuchadnezzar demands homage to be paid to his image (Daniel 3:1-6), and boasts of his power (Daniel 4:1-18). But Belshazzar goes further, blaspheming God by polluting His holy vessels. There is a similar progression in the conduct of God’s people. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refuse positive homage to the image of the world power (Daniel 3:12); Daniel will not yield it even a negative homage, by omitting for a time the worship of God (Daniel 6:10). Jehovah’s power manifested for the saints against the world in individual histories (the third through sixth chapters) is exhibited in the second and seventh chapters, in world-wide prophetical pictures; the former heightening the effect of the latter. The miracles wrought in behalf of Daniel and his friends were a manifestation of God’s glory in Daniel’s person, as the representative of the theocracy before the Babylonian king, who deemed himself almighty, at a time when God could not manifest it in His people as a body. They tended also to secure, by their impressive character, that respect for the covenant-people on the part of the heathen powers which issued in Cyrus’ decree, not only restoring the Jews, but ascribing honor to the God of heaven, and commanding the building of the temple (Ezra 1:1-4) [Auberlen].
_ _ image — Nebuchadnezzar’s confession of God did not prevent him being a worshipper of idols, besides. Ancient idolaters thought that each nation had its own gods, and that, in addition to these, foreign gods might be worshipped. The Jewish religion was the only exclusive one that claimed all homage for Jehovah as the only true God. Men will in times of trouble confess God, if they are allowed to retain their favorite heart-idols. The image was that of Bel, the Babylonian tutelary god; or rather, Nebuchadnezzar himself, the personification and representative of the Babylonian empire, as suggested to him by the dream (Daniel 2:38), “Thou art this head of gold.” The interval between the dream and the event here was about nineteen years. Nebuchadnezzar had just returned from finishing the Jewish and Syrian wars, the spoils of which would furnish the means of rearing such a colossal statue [Prideaux]. The colossal size makes it likely that the frame was wood, overlaid with gold. The “height,” sixty cubits, is so out of proportion with the “breadth,” exceeding it ten times, that it seems best to suppose the thickness from breast to back to be intended, which is exactly the right proportion of a well-formed man [Augustine, The City of God, 15.26]. Prideaux thinks the sixty cubits refer to the image and pedestal together, the image being twenty-seven cubits high, or forty feet, the pedestal thirty-three cubits, or fifty feet. Herodotus [1.183] confirms this by mentioning a similar image, forty feet high, in the temple of Belus at Babylon. It was not the same image, for the one here was on the plain of Dura, not in the city. |
Daniel 3:1-7
_ _ We have no certainty concerning the date of this story, only that if this image, which Nebuchadnezzar dedicated, had any relation to that which he dreamed of, it is probable that it happened not long after that; some reckon it to be about the seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar, a year before Jehoiachin's captivity, in which Ezekiel was carried away. Observe,
_ _ I. A golden image set up to be worshipped. Babylon was full of idols already, yet nothing will serve this imperious prince but they must have one more; for those who have forsaken the one only living God, and begin to set up many gods, will find the gods they set up so unsatisfying, and their desire after them so insatiable, that they will multiply them without measure, wander after them endlessly, and never know when they have sufficient. Idolaters are fond of novelty and variety. They choose new gods. Those that have many will wish to have more. Nebuchadnezzar the king, that he might exert the prerogative of his crown, to make what god he thought fit, set up this image, Daniel 3:1. Observe, 1. The valuableness of it; it was an image of gold, not all gold surely; rich as he was, it is probable that he could not afford that, but overlaid with gold. Note, The worshippers of false gods are not wont to mind charges in setting up images and worshipping them; they lavish gold out of the bag for that purpose (Isaiah 46:6), which shames our niggardliness in the worship of the true God. 2. The vastness of it; it was threescore cubits high and six cubits broad. It exceeded the ordinary stature of a man fifteen times (for that is reckoned but four cubits, or six feet), as if its being monstrous would make amends for its being lifeless. But why did Nebuchadnezzar set up this image? Some suggest that it was to clear himself from the imputation of having turned a Jew, because he had lately spoken with great honour of the God of Israel and had preferred some of his worshippers. Or perhaps he set it up as an image of himself, and designed to be himself worshipped in it. Proud princes affected to have divine honours paid them; Alexander did so, pretending himself to be the son of Jupiter Olympius. He was told that in the image he had seen in his dream he was represented by the head of gold, which was to be succeeded by kingdoms of baser metal; but here he sets up to be himself the whole image, for he makes it all of gold. See here, (1.) How the good impressions that were then made upon him were quite lost, and quickly. He then acknowledged that the God of Israel is of a truth a God of gods and a Lord of kings; and yet now, in defiance of the express law of that God, he sets up an image to be worshipped, not only continues in his former idolatries, but contrives new ones. Note, Strong convictions often come short of a sound conversion. Many a pang have owned the absurdity and dangerousness of sin, and yet have gone on in it. (2.) How that very dream and the interpretation of it, which then made such good impressions upon him, now had a quite contrary effect. Then it made him fall down as a humble worshipper of God; now it made him set up for a bold competitor with God. Then he thought it a great thing to be the golden head of the image, and owned himself obliged to God for it; but, his mind rising with his condition, now he thinks that too little, and, in contradiction to God himself and his oracle, he will be all in all.
_ _ II. A general convention of the states summoned to attend the solemnity of the dedication of this image, Daniel 3:2, Daniel 3:3. Messengers are despatched to all parts of the kingdom to gather together the princes, dukes, and lords, all the peers of the realm, with all officers civil and military, the captains and commanders of the forces, the judges, the treasurers or general receivers, the counsellors, and the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces; they must all come to the dedication of this image upon pain and peril of what shall fall thereon. He summons the great men, for the great honour of his idol; it is therefore mentioned to the glory of Christ that kings shall bring presents unto him. If he can bring them to pay homage to his golden image, he doubts not but the inferior people will follow of course. In obedience to the king's summons all the magistrates and officers of that vast kingdom leave the services of their particular countries, and come to Babylon, to the dedication of this golden image; long journeys many of them took, and expensive ones, upon a very foolish errand; but, as the idols are senseless things, such are the worshippers.
_ _ III. A proclamation made, commanding all manner of persons present before the image, upon the signal given, to fall down prostrate, and worship the image, under the style and title of The golden image which Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. A herald proclaims this aloud throughout this vast assembly of grandees, with their numerous train of servants and attendants, and a great crowd of people, no doubt, that were not sent for; let them all take notice, 1. That the king does strictly charge and command all manner of persons to fall down and worship the golden image; whatever other gods they worship at other times, now they must worship this. 2. That they must all do this just at the same time, in token of their communion with each other in this idolatrous service, and that, in order hereunto, notice shall be given by a concert of music, which would likewise serve to adorn the solemnity and to sweeten and soften the minds of those that were loth to yield and bring them to comply with the king's command. This mirth and gaiety in the worship would be very agreeable to carnal sensual minds, that are strangers to that spiritual worship which is due to God who is a spirit.
_ _ IV. The general compliance of the assembly with this command, Daniel 3:7. They heard the sound of the musical instruments, both wind-instruments and hand-instruments, the cornet and flute, with the harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, the melody of which they thought was ravishing (and fit enough it was to excite such a devotion as they were then to pay), and immediately they all, as one man, as soldiers that are wont to be exercised by beat of drum, all the people, nations, and languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image. And no marvel when it was proclaimed, That whosoever would not worship this golden image should be immediately thrown into the midst of a burning fiery furnace, ready prepared for that purpose, Daniel 3:6. Here were the charms of music to allure them into a compliance and the terrors of the fiery furnace to frighten them into a compliance. Thus beset with temptation, they all yielded. Note, That way that sense directs the most will go; there is nothing so bad which the careless world will not be drawn to by a concert of music, or driven to by a fiery furnace. And by such methods as these false worship has been set up and maintained. |
Daniel 3:1
Made an image — Perhaps he did this, that he might seem no ways inclined to the Jews, or their religion, whereof the Chaldeans might be jealous, seeing he had owned their God to be greatest, and had preferred Daniel and his friends to great honours. |
Daniel 3:1
Nebuchadnezzar the king made (a) 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.
(a) Under pretence of religion, and holiness in making an image to his idol Bel, he sought his own ambition and vain glory: and this declares that he was not touched with the true fear of God before, but that he confessed him on a sudden motion, as the wicked when they are overcome with the greatness of his works. The Greek interpreters write that this was done eighteen years after the dream, and as may appear, the King feared lest the Jews by their religion should have altered the state of his commonwealth: therefore he meant to bring all to one type of religion, and so rather sought his own peace than God's glory. |
- made:
Daniel 2:31-32 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness [was] excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof [was] terrible. ... This image's head [was] of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
Daniel 5:23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath [is], and whose [are] all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:
Exodus 20:23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.
Exodus 32:2-4 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which [are] in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring [them] unto me. ... And he received [them] at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These [be] thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Exodus 32:31 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.
Deuteronomy 7:25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold [that is] on them, nor take [it] unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it [is] an abomination to the LORD thy God.
Judges 8:26-27 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred [shekels] of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that [was] on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that [were] about their camels' necks. ... And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, [even] in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
1 Kings 12:28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves [of] gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
2 Kings 19:17-18 Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, ... And have cast their gods into the fire: for they [were] no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
Psalms 115:4-8 Their idols [are] silver and gold, the work of men's hands. ... They that make them are like unto them; [so is] every one that trusteth in them.
Psalms 135:15 The idols of the heathen [are] silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
Isaiah 2:20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made [each one] for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
Isaiah 30:22 Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.
Isaiah 40:19-31 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. ... But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 46:6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, [and] hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
Jeremiah 10:9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple [is] their clothing: they [are] all the work of cunning [men].
Jeremiah 16:20 Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they [are] no gods?
Hosea 8:4 They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew [it] not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.
Habakkuk 2:19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it [is] laid over with gold and silver, and [there is] no breath at all in the midst of it.
Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Acts 19:26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
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- in the province:
Daniel 3:30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 2:48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise [men] of Babylon.
Esther 1:1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this [is] Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, [over] an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
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