DAN 3:24 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Then King Nevukadnetstsar was startled and jumped up and asked his counsellors, “Wasn’t it three who were tied up that were thrown there into the middle of the fire?
¶ “Certainly, your majesty,” they replied.

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and stood up in haste. He said to his counselors, “Did we not throw three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “Certainly, O king.”

UST But as Nebuchadnezzar was watching, he was amazed. He suddenly jumped up and shouted to his advisors, “Did we tie up three men and throw them into the flames, or not?”
¶  They replied, “Yes, O king, we did.”

OEB No OEB DAN book available

WEBBE Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished and rose up in haste. He spoke and said to his counsellors, “Didn’t we cast three men bound into the middle of the fire?”
¶ They answered the king, “True, O king.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Then King Nebuchadnezzar was startled and quickly got up. He said to his ministers, “Wasn’t it three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied to the king, “For sure, O king.”

LSV Then Nebuchadnezzar the king has been astonished, and has risen in haste; he has answered and said to his counselors, “Have we not cast three men into the midst of the fire—bound?” They have answered and are saying to the king, “Certainly, O king.”

FBV Then King Nebuchadnezzar suddenly jumped up in amazement. “Didn't we throw three men tied up into the furnace?” he asked his advisors. “Yes, that's right, Your Majesty,” they replied.

T4T But as Nebuchadnezzar was watching, he was amazed. He suddenly jumped up and shouted to his advisors, “Did we tie up three men and throw them into the flames, or not?”
¶ They replied, “Yes, O king, we did.”

LEB Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and he rose up in haste and he asked, saying to his advisers, “Did we not throw three men, bound, into the midst of the fire? They answered, saying to the king, “Certainly, O king!”

BBE Then King Nebuchadnezzar, full of fear and wonder, got up quickly, and said to his wise men, Did we not put three men in cords into the fire? and they made answer and said to the king, True, O King.

Moff Then king Nebuchadnezzar became alarmed. He started up hurriedly and asked his ministers of state, “Was it not three men that we flung bound into the middle of the fire?” They answered the king, “That is so, O king.”

JPS Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was alarmed, and rose up in haste; he spoke and said unto his ministers: 'Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?' They answered and said unto the king: 'True, O king.'

ASV Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste: he spake and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

DRA And they walked in the midst of the flame, praising God and blessing the Lord.

YLT Then Nebuchadnezzar the king hath been astonished, and hath risen in haste; he hath answered and said to his counsellors, 'Have we not cast three men into the midst of the fire — bound?' They have answered and are saying to the king, 'Certainly, O king.'

Drby Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste; he spoke and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said to the king, True, O king.

RV Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste: he spake and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
(Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste: he spake and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, Oh king. )

SLT At that time Nebuchadnezzar the king was grieved, and rose up in haste; he answered and said to the counselors, Did we not cast three men into the midst of the fire, bound? They answering and saying to the king, True, O king.

Wbstr Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spoke, and said to his counselors, Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said to the king, True, O king.

KJB-1769 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.[fn]
(Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, Oh king. )

3.24 counsellors: or, governors

KJB-1611 [fn]Then Nebuchad-nezzar the king was astonied, and rose vp in haste, and spake and said vnto his counsellers, Did not wee cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said vnto the king; True, O king.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

3:24 Or, gouernours.

Bshps Then Nabuchodonozor the king was astonied, & rose vp in all haste: he spake vnto his counsel, and sayd, Dyd not we cast three men bounde into the mids of the fire? They aunswered and sayde vnto the king: It is true, O king.
(Then Nabuchodonozor the king was astonished, and rose up in all haste: he spake unto his council/counsel, and said, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king: It is true, Oh king.)

Gnva Then Nebuchad-nezzar the King was astonied and rose vp in haste, and spake, and saide vnto his counsellers, Did not wee cast three men bound into the middes of the fire? Who answered and said vnto the King, It is true, O King.
(Then Nebuchad-nezzar the King was astonished and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? Who answered and said unto the King, It is true, Oh King. )

Cvdl Then Nabuchodonosor the kynge marueled, and stode vp in all haist: he spake vnto his councel and sayde: dyd not ye cast these thre men bounde in to the fyre? They answered, and sayde vnto the kynge: Yee o kynge.
(Then Nebuchadnezzar the king marvelled, and stood up in all haste: he spake unto his council/counsel and said: did not ye/you_all cast these three men bound in to the fire? They answered, and said unto the king: Ye/You_all o king.)

Wycl And thei walkiden in the myddis of the flawme, and herieden God, and blessiden the Lord.
(And they walkedn in the midst of the flame, and herieden God, and blessed the Lord.)

Luth Da entsetzte sich der König Nebukadnezar und fuhr eilends auf und sprach zu seinen Räten: Haben wir nicht drei Männer gebunden in das Feuer lassen werfen? Sie antworteten und sprachen zum Könige: Ja, Herr König!
(So horrified itself/yourself/themselves the/of_the king Nebukadnezar and drove rushings on/in/to and spoke to/for his councilsn: Have we/us not three men bound/tied in the fire(n) let throw? They/She replied and said for_the king(s): Yes, Lord king!)

ClVg Et ambulabant in medio flammæ, laudantes Deum, et benedicentes Domino.
(And they_were_walking in/into/on in_the_middle flames, praising God, and blessing Master. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–30: God delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace

This is the only chapter in the book of Daniel where the author does not refer to Daniel himself. Scholars have debated why this might be. Possibly he was traveling somewhere else in the empire on the king’s business at this time.

The author wrote Daniel 3 in the Aramaic language. These Notes usually follow the Aramaic found in the Masoretic Text (MT). The early Greek translation of Daniel 3 is somewhat different from the Aramaic. The Greek translation includes two stories that are not in the MT. The first is called “The Prayer of Azariah” (3:24–45). The second is called “The Song of the Three Young Men” (3:50–90). These two stories are connected by a short paragraph (3:46–50). Most English versions do not include these two stories. The NJB, however, does include them. As a result the verse numbers in the NJB are different from those of most other English versions.

In some other places the Greek text of Daniel 3 differs from the Aramaic of the Masoretic Text. For example, the Greek text includes a date in 3:1 that is not in the MT. Scholars have different views on why the two texts differ. It is possible that the Greek versions may have translated from a different Aramaic original. The Notes will discuss the differences between the two texts for certain important passages.

Outline: This chapter can be divided into four parts:

1. Setting: Nebuchadnezzar commanded all his officials of Babylon to come and worship the golden image that he had set up. (3:1–7)

2. Problem: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down and worship the image. The king threatened to kill them, but they still refused. (3:8–18)

3. Action: The king ordered his soldiers to throw the three young men into the furnace. (3:19–23)

4. Result/Outcome: God delivered the three young men from the furnace, and Nebuchadnezzar gave honor to God. (3:24–30)

The author gave prominence to Daniel 3:16–18, when the three young men proclaimed that they trusted in God to rescue them. If you have a way in your language to mark this section as important, you should use do that here

Headings:

The Notes interpret Daniel 3:1–30 as a one unit with one heading. However, in some languages it may be helpful to divide this chapter into more than one unit and to give each unit a separate heading. The following are some examples of how English versions divide the chapter into units and the headings they give for each unit:

Some versions have one heading. For example:
1. “The Image of Gold and the Fiery Furnace” (NIV)
2. “The Fiery Furnace” (REB)
3. “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Refuse to Worship an Idol” (GW)

2. Some have two headings:

“The Golden Image” (NRSV, 3:1–18)
- “Nebuchadnezzar’s Gold Statue” (NLT, 3:1–18)
“The Fiery Furnace” (NRSV, 3:19–30)
- “The Blazing Furnace” (NLT, 3:19–30)

3. The GNT has four headings:

“Nebuchadnezzar Commands Everyone to Worship a Gold Statue” (3:1–7)
“Daniel’s Three Friends Are Accused of Disobedience” (3:8–18)
“Daniel’s Three Friends Are Sentenced to Death” (3:19–25)
“The Three Men Are Released and Promoted” (3:26–30)

Special Translation Problems:

Lists: The author liked to use lists. He repeated these lists throughout the chapter. For example:
1. the list of the names of officials (3:2, 3, 27)
2. the list of musical instruments (3:5, 7, 10, 15)
3. the phrase: “peoples, nations, and languages” (3:4, 29)
Repetition: The author also liked to repeat phrases throughout the narrative. Some of these phrases are:
1. “the image that King Nebuchadnezzar set up” (3:1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 14, 18)
2. “hear the sound of the horn” (3:5, 7, 10, 15)
3. “fall down and worship” (3:5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 15)
4. “burning fiery furnace” (3:6, 11, 15, 17, 20, 21, 23, 26)
5. “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” (3:12, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20, 22, 26, 28, 29, 30)

Each language uses repetition in its own way. These notes will discuss the significance of the repetitions in Daniel. In some languages, the repetition may not be natural. If that is true in your language, you will have to consider how best to communicate the same meaning.

Paragraph 3:24–25

The narrative does not directly tell what happened to the men in the furnace. Instead, the focus moves to the king. The king expressed his shock and amazement at what he saw.The Septuagint (LXX), the ancient Greek version, here adds two stories that are not in the Masoretic Text. The LXX says “the king is amazed because he hears them singing.” Like the LXX, the NJB adds “the song of Azariah in the furnace” (3:24–50) and “The song of the three young men” (3:51–90). The NJB includes these additions and then continues translating the Aramaic text at verse 91. For more information on these added texts see the introduction to the Notes. The Dead Sea Scrolls, like the Masoretic Text, do not include these additions. These Notes also do not include these sections in the Notes or the Display.

3:24a

Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement

¶ But King Nebuchadnezzar was so astonished that he suddenly stood up.
¶ But as he was sitting watching, King Nebuchadnezzar was shocked and quickly stood up.

Suddenly: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates Suddenly begins a new stage in the action.Collins, p. 179. Here there is a change in the focus and also a sudden strong contrast. As a result, some translations, including the BSB, introduce the clause with a connector that shows contrast. For example:

But suddenly (NLT)

Use a form that is natural in your language for introducing a sudden change in the action of a story.

King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement: This is more literally “was amazed and stood up quickly.” The king was probably sitting on his throne watching the celebrations. He saw something that surprised him and caused him to stand up quickly. Other ways to translate this include:

King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up quickly (NRSV)

Nebuchadnezzar was startled. He sprang to his feet. (GW)

as he was watching, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement.

3:24b

and asked his advisers, “Did we not throw three men, firmly bound, into the fire?”

He said to his advisers, “We threw three men into the fire, did we not? And we tied them up!”
He exclaimed to his counselors, “I thought that I had ordered the soldiers to tie up three men and put them into the fire!”

and asked his advisers: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as asked is literally “answered and saying.” In this context, the phrase introduces the king’s reaction to an unexpected sight. Introduce the king’s reaction to what he saw in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

exclaimed to his advisers (NLT)

advisers: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as advisers probably refers to high-ranking royal officials who advised the king. It is the same as the fifth word in the list in 3:2. Other English versions say:

officials (GNT)

counselors (RSV)

Did we not throw three men, firmly bound, into the fire?: This is a rhetorical question. It functions as a statement and implies a positive answer, “yes.” The king was expecting his advisers to confirm/agree that they had tied up three men and thrown them into the fire. There are several ways to translate this question:

As a rhetorical question or questions. For example:
Was it not three men that we threw bound into the fire? (NRSV)
Is it not true that we tied/bound three men? We threw only those three men into the fire, didn’t we?
As a statement. For example:
I thought that I had three men bound and thrown into the furnace!
I am/feel sure it was three men that I ordered my soldiers to tie up and throw into the furnace!

we: The king himself did not take part in this action. He ordered his guards/soldiers to tie up the Jewish men. If in your language it is not natural to use a first-person plural pronoun in this context, you may need to say:

I had three men bound and thrown into the fire, did I not?

How many men did I command my soldiers to tie up and throw into the fire? Was it not three?

I thought my soldiers bound and threw three men into the fire!

three men: The word three is emphatic and important in this verse part. In some languages it may be natural in this context to follow the NCV and say:

only three men (NCV)

firmly bound: The Aramaic verb that the BSB translates as firmly bound is emphatic. Translate this verb explicitly, as in 3:20a.

3:24c

“Certainly, O king,” they replied.

They answered the king, “Yes, king, that is true.”
The counselors answered, “Yes, you did, sir.”

Certainly: The counselors agreed with the king. Translate this in a way that is natural for expressing agreement. For example:

Yes, we did (GNT)

True (RSV)

Surely (NJPS)

O king: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as O king is more literally “King.” Translate in a way that is natural for advisers to speak in addressing their king. See the Notes at 2:4a. Here is another way to translate this:

Your Majesty (NIV)

they replied: The Aramaic text indicates that the advisers replied to the king. You may include this in your translation if it is natural in your language. For example:

They answered the king (NRSV)

Parallel DAN 3:24

Section 3:1–30: God delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace

Paragraph 3:24–25

3:24a

3:24b

3:24c