The Fiery Furnace

The words

1. Abed-nego

   Abednego, as the KJV spells the name.

   Earlier named Azariah, Abed-nego is accused with Shadrach and Meshach of refusing the king’s gods and golden image.

   Daniel 1:6–7 (opens a new tab) · Daniel 3:12 (opens a new tab)

2. Cornet

   A horn, in the NET’s instrument list.

   The cornet begins the herald’s list of instruments whose sound commands the assembled peoples to fall down before the golden image.

   Daniel 3:4–5 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Daniel 3:5 (opens a new tab)

3. Dulcimer

   An uncertain instrument name: pipes in the NET, bagpipe or double pipe in Brown–Driver–Briggs.

   The dulcimer is named in the original command and again when the accusers repeat the musical signal to the king.

   Daniel 3:5 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Daniel 3:5 (opens a new tab) · Daniel 3:10 (opens a new tab) · Lexicons: dulcimer (opens a new tab)

4. Dura

   Nebuchadnezzar sets up the golden image on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon, and summons officials to its dedication.

   Daniel 3:1–3 (opens a new tab)

5. Fiery Furnace

   Nebuchadnezzar orders the furnace heated “seven times more” than usual, then has the three men bound and thrown into it.

   Daniel 3:19–23 (opens a new tab)

6. Fourth Man

   The astonished king recalls three men being thrown in bound, yet says he sees four walking loose in the fire without injury.

   Daniel 3:24–25 (opens a new tab)

7. Garments

   The three are thrown in wearing their clothes; afterward, the officials see that their coats have not changed and their hair is unsinged.

   Did you know?

   The NET lists cloaks, trousers and turbans, but its note cautions that the specific ancient clothing items are uncertain.

   Daniel 3:21 (opens a new tab) · Daniel 3:27 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Daniel 3:21 (opens a new tab)

8. Golden Image

   The golden image stands at the center of the king’s command: worship at the musical signal or be thrown into the furnace.

   Daniel 3:1; Daniel 3:4–6 (opens a new tab)

9. Meshach

   Meshach, earlier named Mishael, comes out with his companions when Nebuchadnezzar calls them from the furnace as servants of the most high God.

   Daniel 1:7 (opens a new tab) · Daniel 3:26 (opens a new tab)

10. Mighty Men

    The king’s strongest soldiers bind and throw the three men into the furnace; the narrative says the flames kill those soldiers.

    Daniel 3:20–22 (opens a new tab)

11. Music

    The herald commands peoples, nations and languages to bow when they hear the instruments; the narrative then describes the crowd obeying.

    Daniel 3:4–7 (opens a new tab)

12. Sackbut

    A lyre in Strong’s gloss, a trigon in the NET; exact identification is uncertain.

    Nebuchadnezzar repeats the sackbut among the instruments when he offers the three men another chance to worship the image.

    Daniel 3:5 (opens a new tab) · Daniel 3:15 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Daniel 3:5 (opens a new tab) · Lexicons: sackbut (opens a new tab)

13. Shadrach

    Shadrach, earlier named Hananiah, answers with his companions that even without deliverance they will not serve the king’s gods or worship his image.

    Daniel 1:7 (opens a new tab) · Daniel 3:16–18 (opens a new tab)

14. Smell of Fire

    The officials’ inspection finds no singed hair, changed coats or smell of fire on the three men after they leave the furnace.

    Daniel 3:26–27 (opens a new tab)

15. Son of God

    The king compares the fourth figure to “the Son of God” in the KJV; later he says God sent an angel.

    Did you know?

    Many modern translations use a plural comparison: the ESV and NIV both read “a son of the gods.”

    Daniel 3:25; Daniel 3:28 (opens a new tab) · ESV: Daniel 3:25 (opens a new tab) · NIV: Daniel 3:25 (opens a new tab)