Bible Strands
Daniel 3:13
Then Nebuchadnezzar, furious with rage, summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Nebuchadnezzar summons Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego immediately after the Babylonian officials report their refusal to worship the golden statue. The three men are then physically brought before the king for direct confrontation.
The words — The Hebrew בִּרְגַז וַחֲמָה (birgaz vachamah) literally translates to "in rage and anger," marking the king's emotional state. The verb לְהַיְתָה (lehaytah) means "to bring," describing the forced relocation of the men to the throne room.
The thread — This sequence of royal fury followed by judicial summons recurs in Daniel 2:12, where the king orders the destruction of the wise men, and in Esther 3:5, where Haman's rage triggers his plot against Mordecai.
Why it lands — The text places the reader in a moment where public defiance meets immediate royal authority. It requires acknowledging that obedience to God occurs within a framework of concrete political consequence.
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
Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego. Then they brought these men before the king.
Cross-references
- Daniel 3:19 At this, Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual,
- Daniel 2:12 This response made the king so angry and furious that he gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
- Esther 3:5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage.
- Genesis 4:5 but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
- 1 Samuel 20:30 Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you?
- Proverbs 17:12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
- Proverbs 27:3 A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
- Proverbs 29:22 An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
- Matthew 10:18 On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
- Mark 13:9 So be on your guard. You will be delivered over to the councils and beaten in the synagogues. On My account you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.