Chapter Overview
Summary
The fiery furnace narrative. Theodotion follows the MT closely for the 30 MT verses. The LXX tradition inserts the Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Young Men between 3:23 and 3:24 (treated separately in chapter-03-additions.json). The OG has differences in the dimensions of the statue and in the list of officials.
Notable Variants
The OG gives the image's height as 60 cubits but omits or varies some of the officials' titles. The Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Young Men (68 verses) are present in both OG and Theodotion but absent from the MT. Theodotion's verse 25 uses 'son of gods' (bar elahin) where the OG has 'angel of God.'
Structural Notes
MT has 30 verses. The LXX/Theodotion insert 68 additional verses between 3:23 and 3:24 (the Additions). These are provided in chapter-03-additions.json.
King Nebuchadnezzar made a statue of gold, sixty cubits tall and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
Masoretic (WLC)
שִׁתִּין אַמִּין
sixty cubits
Septuagint (LXX)
πηχῶν ἑξήκοντα
sixty cubits
All three versions agree on the dimensions (60 cubits high, 6 cubits wide). The proportions are unusual — 10:1 rather than the normal human proportion of roughly 5:1.
King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected.
Masoretic (WLC)
אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא סִגְנַיָּא וּפַחֲוָתָא
the satraps, the prefects, and the governors
Septuagint (LXX)
τοὺς ὑπάτους καὶ τοὺς στρατηγοὺς καὶ τοὺς τοπάρχας
the consuls, generals, and regional governors
The list of officials differs between OG and Theodotion. The OG uses Roman-era Greek titles (hypatous, stratēgous), while Theodotion uses terms closer to the Aramaic originals.
So the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected. They stood before the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
A herald proclaimed loudly, "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages:
Masoretic (WLC)
כָּרוֹזָא קָרֵא בְחָיִל
the herald called with force
Septuagint (LXX)
ὁ κῆρυξ ἐβόα
the herald cried out
OG shortens this; Theodotion preserves the Aramaic b'chayil (with force/loudly).
At the moment you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and every kind of instrument, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
Masoretic (WLC)
קַרְנָא מַשְׁרוֹקִיתָא קַתְרוֹס שַׂבְּכָא פְּסַנְתֵּרִין
horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp
Septuagint (LXX)
σάλπιγγος, σύριγγος, κιθάρας, σαμβύκης, ψαλτηρίου
trumpet, pipe, lyre, sambuca, psaltery
The instrument list is rendered differently in OG vs. Theodotion. Some Aramaic instrument names are Persian loanwords whose exact identification is uncertain.
Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace of fire."
Masoretic (WLC)
אַתּוּן נוּרָא יָקִדְתָּא
the burning fiery furnace
Septuagint (LXX)
εἰς τὴν κάμινον τοῦ πυρὸς τὴν καιομένην
into the furnace of fire, the burning one
Both Greek versions render the Aramaic literally. The phrase becomes significant in the NT (Matthew 13:42, 50).
Therefore, at that moment, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, and every kind of instrument, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
At that time, certain Chaldeans came forward and denounced the Jews.
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
They spoke up and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever!
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
You, O king, issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and every kind of instrument must fall down and worship the golden statue,
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
and whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace of fire.
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
There are certain Jews whom you appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, have paid no attention to you. They do not serve your gods, and they do not worship the golden statue you have set up."
Masoretic (WLC)
לָא שָׂמוּ עֲלָיִךְ טְעֵם
they pay no attention to you
Septuagint (LXX)
οὐχ ὑπήκουσαν τῷ δόγματί σου
they did not obey your decree
OG uses dogma (decree) where the Aramaic has the idiom 'set regard upon you.' Theodotion follows the Aramaic more closely.
Then Nebuchadnezzar, in a rage of fury, ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego brought before him. The men were brought before the king.
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
Nebuchadnezzar asked them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up?
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
Now, if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and every kind of instrument, to fall down and worship the statue I have made — very well. But if you do not worship, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace of fire. And what god is there who can deliver you from my hand?"
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
If our God whom we serve exists, he is able to rescue us from the blazing furnace of fire and from your hand, O king.
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
But even if he does not — let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, and we will not worship the golden statue you have set up."
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than it was usually heated.
Masoretic (WLC)
שִׁבְעָא חַד
seven times more
Septuagint (LXX)
ἑπταπλασίως (heptaplasiōs)
seven times over
Greek uses the multiplicative adverb. Both OG and Theodotion agree.
He commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace of fire.
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
So the men were bound in their robes, trousers, turbans, and other garments, and thrown into the blazing furnace of fire.
Masoretic (WLC)
סַרְבָּלֵיהוֹן פַּטְּשֵׁיהוֹן
their robes, their trousers
Septuagint (LXX)
σὺν τοῖς σαραβάροις αὐτῶν καὶ ταῖς τιάραις
with their trousers and their turbans
The exact garment terms are debated. The Aramaic sarbālēhōn and pattshēhōn are Persian loanwords. Greek versions translate differently.
Because the king's order was so urgent and the furnace was heated to such an extreme, the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego up.
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
And the three men — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — fell bound into the blazing furnace of fire.
After this verse, the LXX/Theodotion insert the Prayer of Azariah (67 verses) and the Song of the Three Young Men, totaling 68 additional verses. These are absent from the MT and are treated in chapter-03-additions.json.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and leaped to his feet in alarm. He asked his advisors, "Did we not throw three men, bound, into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king."
Masoretic (WLC)
נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר תְּוַהּ
Nebuchadnezzar was astounded
Septuagint (LXX)
Ναβουχοδονοσορ ἐθαύμασεν
Nebuchadnezzar was astonished
In the LXX numbering, this verse comes after the 68-verse insertion. Both Greek versions note the king's amazement.
He exclaimed, "Look! I see four men, unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are unharmed! And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."
Masoretic (WLC)
בַר־אֱלָהִין
a son of the gods
Septuagint (LXX)
OG: ἄγγελος θεοῦ / Th: υἱῷ θεοῦ
OG: 'angel of God' / Th: 'son of God'
Major theological variant. Theodotion preserves the Aramaic bar elahin (son of gods/divine being). The OG interprets this as angelos theou (angel of God), a theological clarification. The church fathers debated whether this was a pre-incarnate Christophany.
Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and called out, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
The satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisors crowded around and saw that the fire had no power over the bodies of these men. The hair on their heads was not singed, their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
Nebuchadnezzar declared, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel and rescued his servants who trusted in him! They defied the royal decree and gave up their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.
Therefore I issue a decree: any people, nation, or language that speaks blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be reduced to rubble, for there is no other god who can rescue like this."
Masoretic (WLC)
יִתְעַבֵּד הַדָּמִין
will be cut in pieces
Septuagint (LXX)
μελισθήσεται (melisthēsetai)
will be dismembered
Both Greek versions agree on this violent punishment idiom.
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
No significant variant between the LXX/Theodotion and the MT for this verse.