Daniel 3:10

You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden statue,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Chaldaeans address King Nebuchadnezzar to remind him of his own public proclamation regarding the golden statue. They speak immediately after the herald’s initial command and just before detailing the penalty for disobedience.

The words — The phrase שָׂ֣מְתָּ טְּעֵם (Sa.me.ta te.'Em) translates literally as "you made a decree." This verb-accented construction emphasizes the king’s direct authorship of the command.

The thread — The passage mirrors the structure of royal edicts in Esther 3:12 and Daniel 6:12, where monarchs issue binding orders that trigger national compliance or conflict. Daniel 3:4 supplies the herald’s initial proclamation that the accusers are now citing.

Why it lands — The text forces a reader to confront the tension between human authority and divine allegiance. It demands a clear choice between obeying a state mandate and maintaining fidelity to God.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:

Cross-references

Esther 3:12 On the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal scribes were summoned and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded the royal satraps, the governors of each province, and the officials of each people, in the script of each province and the language of every people. It was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the royal signet ring.
Daniel 3:4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded:
Daniel 6:12 So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?” The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.”
Exodus 1:16 “When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the birthstools. If the child is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.”
Exodus 1:22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: “Every son born to the Hebrews you must throw into the Nile, but every daughter you may allow to live.”
Exodus 15:20 Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing.
Exodus 32:18 But Moses replied: “It is neither the cry of victory nor the cry of defeat; I hear the sound of singing!”
1 Chronicles 15:16 David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.
1 Chronicles 15:28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and with cymbals and the music of harps and lyres.
1 Chronicles 16:5 Asaph was the chief, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals