Daniel 3:17

If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego address King Nebuchadnezzar directly, having just refused to worship his golden statue and been threatened with the fiery furnace.

The words — הֵ֣ן (hen), the Aramaic conditional "if," frames the entire statement as a hypothesis rather than an assertion, which is remarkable given the speakers' evident conviction. The verb יָכִ֖ל (ya.Khil), "is able," locates the question in God's capacity, not His obligation.

The thread — The same logic of divine ability runs through Luke 1:37 ("no word from God will fail"), Romans 8:31 ("If God is for us"), and Hebrews 7:25 ("He is able to save completely").

Why it lands — The speakers act on a conditional they know to be true, and the verse puts the reader in the position of deciding whether their own faith is a hypothesis they're willing to test.

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

הֵ֣ןhenif אִיתַ֗י'i.Taithere אֱלָהַ֙נָא֙'e.la.Ha./na'[is] God/ our דִּֽי־di-whom אֲנַ֣חְנָא'a.Nach.na'we פָֽלְחִ֔יןfa.le.Chin[are] paying reverence יָכִ֖לya.Khil[is] being able לְשֵׁיזָבוּתַ֑נָאle./shei.za.vu.Ta./na'to/ deliver/ us מִן־min-from אַתּ֨וּן'a.Tun[the] furnace of נוּרָ֧אnu.Ra/'fire/ the יָקִֽדְתָּ֛אya.kid.Ta/'<the>/ burning וּמִן־u./min-and/ from יְדָ֥ךְye.Da/khhand/ your מַלְכָּ֖אmal.Ka/'king/ O יְשֵׁיזִֽב׃ye.shei.Zivhe will deliver

King James Version

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

Cross-references

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Luke 1:37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
Psalms 27:1 Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread?
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
Jeremiah 1:8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
Daniel 6:20 When he reached the den, he cried out in a voice of anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Job 5:19 He will rescue you from six calamities; no harm will touch you in seven.
Genesis 18:14 Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”