New International VersionBut 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.”
New Living TranslationBut 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.”
English Standard VersionBut 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.”
Berean Standard BibleBut even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”
King James BibleBut 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.
New King James VersionBut 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 American Standard BibleBut even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
NASB 1995“But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
NASB 1977“But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Legacy Standard BibleBut if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods, and we will not worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Amplified BibleBut even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up!”
Christian Standard BibleBut even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”
Holman Christian Standard BibleBut even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”
American Standard VersionBut 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.
Contemporary English VersionBut even if he doesn't, we still won't worship your gods and the gold statue you have set up."
English Revised VersionBut 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.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationBut if he doesn't, you should know, Your Majesty, we'll never honor your gods or worship the gold statue that you set up."
Good News TranslationBut even if he doesn't, Your Majesty may be sure that we will not worship your god, and we will not bow down to the gold statue that you have set up."
International Standard VersionBut if not, rest assured, your majesty, that we won't serve your gods, and we won't worship the golden statue that you have set up."
NET BibleBut if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don't serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected."
New Heart English BibleBut if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up."
Webster's Bible TranslationBut if not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”
World English BibleBut if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd behold—not! Be it known to you, O king, that we are not serving your gods, and we do not worship the golden image you have raised up.”
Young's Literal Translation And lo -- not! be it known to thee, O king, that thy gods we are not serving, and to the golden image thou hast raised up we do no obeisance.'
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd if not, it shall be made known to thee, O king, that to thy gods we serve not, and to the image of gold that thou didst set up we will not prostrate ourselves: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut if he will not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not worship thy gods, nor adore the golden statue which thou hast set up.
Catholic Public Domain VersionBut even if he will not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not worship your gods, nor adore the gold statue, which you have raised up.”
New American BibleBut even if he will not, you should know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue which you set up.”
New Revised Standard VersionBut if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen the king shall know that we will not serve your god nor worship the golden image which you have set up.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedBut you shall know, oh King, that we do not serve your god, and we are not bowing down the image of gold that you have set up!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917But 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.'
Brenton Septuagint TranslationBut if not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the image which thou hast set up.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Accused… 17If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. 18But even ifHe does not,let itbe knownto you,O king,thatwe will notserveyour godsor worshipthe goldenstatueyou have set up.”
Cross References Exodus 20:3-5You shall have no other gods before Me. / You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. / You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Acts 5:29But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
Isaiah 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Matthew 10:28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Hebrews 11:34quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.
1 Peter 4:16But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.
Joshua 24:15But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
Revelation 13:15The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed.
2 Timothy 1:12For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.
Psalm 118:6The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Romans 8:35-39Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? / As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” / No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ...
1 Corinthians 10:13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
Isaiah 46:9-10Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. / I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
Philippians 1:20-21I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. / For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
1 Kings 18:36-39At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command. / Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back again.” / Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench. ...
Treasury of Scripture But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up. be it. Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. Isaiah 51:12,13 I,even I,am he that comforteth you: whoart thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a manthat shall die, and of the son of manwhich shall be madeas grass; … that. Exodus 20:3-5 Thou shalt have no other gods before me… Leviticus 19:4 Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: Iam the LORD your God. Jump to Previous GodsGoldGoldenImageObeisanceRaisedServantsServeServingWantWorshipJump to Next GodsGoldGoldenImageObeisanceRaisedServantsServeServingWantWorshipDaniel 3 1.Nebuchadnezzar dedicates a golden image in Dura.3.They being threatened, make a good confession.8.Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are accused for not worshipping the image.19.They are cast into the furnace,24.from which God delivers them.28.Nebuchadnezzar seeing the miracle blesses God, and advances them.But even if He does notThis phrase reflects the unwavering faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They acknowledge God's power to save them but also express their commitment to Him regardless of the outcome. This demonstrates a profound trust in God's sovereignty, similar to Job's declaration of faith in Job 13:15. It highlights the principle of faithfulness to God even in the face of potential suffering or death, a theme echoed in Hebrews 11:35-38, where the faith of those who endured persecution is commended. let it be known to you, O king
Addressing King Nebuchadnezzar directly, the three men show respect for his authority while firmly standing by their convictions. This reflects the biblical principle of respecting earthly authorities (Romans 13:1-7) while prioritizing obedience to God (Acts 5:29). Their boldness in the face of the king's power is reminiscent of the apostles' courage in the New Testament when they were commanded to stop preaching about Jesus. that we will not serve your gods
The refusal to serve the Babylonian gods underscores the exclusivity of worship that the Israelites were commanded to uphold (Exodus 20:3-5). This act of defiance against idolatry is consistent with the teachings of the Old Testament prophets who warned against the worship of foreign gods. The cultural context of Babylon, a polytheistic society, makes their stance even more significant, as it directly challenges the prevailing religious practices of the time. or worship the golden statue you have set up.
The golden statue represents the idolatrous practices that were common in ancient Mesopotamia. Archaeological findings have confirmed the existence of large statues and idols in Babylon, which were often used to assert the power and divinity of the king. The refusal to worship the statue is a direct challenge to Nebuchadnezzar's authority and the religious syncretism of the empire. This act of defiance can be seen as a type of Christ, who also stood against the religious and political powers of His time, ultimately leading to His crucifixion. The steadfastness of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego prefigures the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, who remained faithful to God's will even unto death. Persons / Places / Events 1. Shadrach, Meshach, and AbednegoThree Jewish men who were taken into Babylonian captivity and served in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar. They are known for their unwavering faith in God, even in the face of death. 2. King NebuchadnezzarThe Babylonian king who created a golden statue and commanded all to worship it. His decree set the stage for the test of faith faced by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 3. The Golden StatueA massive idol erected by Nebuchadnezzar, symbolizing the king's power and the demand for absolute loyalty and worship from his subjects. 4. The Fiery FurnaceThe method of execution chosen by Nebuchadnezzar for those who refused to worship the golden statue. It represents the severe trials and persecution faced by believers. 5. BabylonThe setting of this event, representing a place of exile and a culture often in opposition to the worship of the one true God. Teaching Points Faith in the Face of PersecutionShadrach, Meshach, and Abednego demonstrate unwavering faith, even when faced with death. Believers today are called to stand firm in their faith, regardless of societal pressures or threats. God's Sovereignty and DeliveranceWhile God is able to deliver us from trials, our faith should not be contingent on His intervention. Trust in God's sovereignty, knowing that His plans are perfect, even if they differ from our desires. The Cost of DiscipleshipFollowing Christ may require us to stand against cultural norms and face persecution. We must be prepared to pay the price for our faith, trusting in God's eternal promises. Witness Through ObedienceThe bold stance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego served as a powerful witness to Nebuchadnezzar and others. Our obedience to God can be a testimony to those around us. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Daniel 3:18?
2.How does Daniel 3:18 demonstrate unwavering faith in God's sovereignty and power?
3.What can we learn about obedience to God from Daniel 3:18?
4.How does Daniel 3:18 connect to Romans 8:28 about God's purpose?
5.How can we apply the courage of Daniel 3:18 in our daily lives?
6.What does Daniel 3:18 teach about standing firm against cultural pressures?
7.How does Daniel 3:18 challenge the concept of unwavering faith in God despite consequences?
8.What historical evidence supports the events described in Daniel 3:18?
9.How does Daniel 3:18 illustrate the theme of divine deliverance?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Daniel 3?
11.Why is Daniel, a prominent figure in the king's court, conspicuously absent in the events of Daniel 3?
12.How does the dramatic rescue in Daniel 3 align with other biblical narratives where faithful individuals still suffer or are not saved miraculously?
13.Given Romans 13:5 implies a duty to submit for conscience’s sake, how do we justify civil disobedience when authorities command actions contrary to moral law?
14.Mark 12:13–17: If Jesus endorses paying taxes to an oppressive regime, how does that square with calls for justice elsewhere in Scripture?What Does Daniel 3:18 Mean But even if He does not• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have just declared, “Our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us” (v. 17), yet they immediately add this sober clause. • True faith does not dictate outcomes to God; it submits to His sovereign will. Job voices the same heart: “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him” (Job 13:15). • They are prepared for either result—deliverance or death—echoing Habakkuk’s resolve to rejoice “though the fig tree does not bud” (Habakkuk 3:17-18). •Hebrews 11 reminds us that faith sometimes “quenched the fury of the flames” (v. 34) yet at other times endured torture and death (vv. 35-38). These men place themselves firmly in God’s hands, whichever path He chooses.
let it be known to you, O king• Their words are courteous but uncompromising. They address Nebuchadnezzar respectfully, yet they speak a truth higher than royal decree. • Peter and John will later say to the Sanhedrin, “We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20); the same spirit drives these three men. • Jesus promised, “Everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess before My Father” (Matthew 10:32). Public allegiance matters, even when costly. •1 Peter 3:15 urges believers to give a defense “with gentleness and respect,” which is precisely the tone used here—clear conviction without personal insult.
that we will not serve your gods• The first commandment still holds: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). Serving any rival deity is unthinkable. • Joshua’s challenge, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15), echoes through their answer. They have already chosen. • Paul later warns, “Flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14). Refusal is sometimes the only faithful option; no middle ground exists between the one true God and false gods.
or worship the golden statue you have set up• Idolatry is not merely inward affection; it also involves outward acts. Bowing would publicly deny their exclusive loyalty to the LORD. • Israel’s history shows the danger of blending worship: “They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their idols” (2 Kings 17:41). These men refuse that compromise. • Paul urges believers, “Do not be conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2). Saying no to the statue keeps them distinct in a culture pressuring conformity. • Revelation portrays a later image demanding worship (Revelation 13:14-15). Their stand foreshadows the steadfast endurance God’s people will need in every age.
summaryDaniel 3:18 captures unwavering faith: confidence in God’s power, submission to His will, bold public witness, and unyielding allegiance to Him alone. Whether God intervenes miraculously or not, His people remain steadfast, proving that true worship is non-negotiable and that obedience is worth any cost.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew But even ifוְהֵ֣ן(wə·hên)Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 2006:Lo!, there, less, whether, but, ifHe does not,לָ֔א(lā)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3809:Not, nolet itלֶהֱוֵא־(le·hĕ·wê-)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1934:To become, come to pass, bebe knownיְדִ֥יעַ(yə·ḏî·a‘)Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 3046:To knowto you,לָ֖ךְ(lāḵ)Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's HebrewO king,מַלְכָּ֑א(mal·kā)Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430:A kingthatדִּ֤י(dî)Pronoun - relative
Strong's 1768:Who, which, that, becausewe will notלָא־(lā-)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3809:Not, noserveפָֽלְחִ֔ין(p̄ā·lə·ḥîn)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6399:To pay reverence to, serveyour godsלאלהיך(lê·lā·hā·yiḵ)Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 426:Godor worshipנִסְגֻּֽד׃(nis·guḏ)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 5457:To prostrate oneselfthe goldenדַּהֲבָ֛א(da·hă·ḇā)Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 1722:Goldstatueוּלְצֶ֧לֶם(ū·lə·ṣe·lem)Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6755:An idolatrous figureyou have set up.”הֲקֵ֖ימְתָּ(hă·qê·mə·tā)Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6966:To arise, stand
Links Daniel 3:18 NIVDaniel 3:18 NLTDaniel 3:18 ESVDaniel 3:18 NASBDaniel 3:18 KJV
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OT Prophets: Daniel 3:18 But if not be it known (Dan. Da Dn) |
