Bible Strands
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,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Nebuchadnezzar reacts to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego immediately after their refusal to worship the golden statue. His response occurs at the moment the three men declare they will not serve the king's gods.
The words — The Hebrew חֱמָא (che.Ma') denotes anger, combined with הִתְמְלִי (hit.me.Li) for being filled, describing the king's sudden emotional shift. The verb אֶשְׁתַּנִּי ('esh.ta.nu) literally means "it was changed," marking the visible alteration of his facial expression toward the three men.
The thread — The command to heat the furnace seven times hotter parallels the sevenfold judgment motif in Leviticus 26:24 and Leviticus 26:28. This escalation continues the narrative thread of royal hostility begun in Daniel 3:13.
Why it lands — The text records how earthly authority reacts with intensified violence when confronted with unyielding faith. It requires the reader to observe the direct link between divine defiance and human rage without adding theological commentary.
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 was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
Cross-references
- Daniel 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, furious with rage, summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,
- Leviticus 26:24 then I will act with hostility toward you, and I will strike you sevenfold for your sins.
- Leviticus 26:28 then I will walk in fury against you, and I, even I, will punish you sevenfold for your sins.
- Proverbs 21:24 Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man—of him who acts with excessive pride.
- Genesis 4:5 but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
- Leviticus 26:18 And if after all this you will not obey Me, I will proceed to punish you sevenfold for your sins.
- Leviticus 26:21 If you walk in hostility toward Me and refuse to obey Me, I will multiply your plagues seven times, according to your sins.
- 1 Kings 18:33 Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, placed it on the wood,
- 2 Kings 19:27 But I know your sitting down, your going out and coming in, and your raging against Me.
- Psalms 76:10 Even the wrath of man shall praise You; with the survivors of wrath You will clothe Yourself.