Daniel 3:23
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Connections
בֵּאדַיִן מַלְכָּא אֲמַר וְהַיְתִיו לְדָנִיֵּאל וּרְמוֹ לְגֻבָּא דִּי אַרְיָוָתָא עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר לְדָנִיֵּאל אֱלָהָךְ דִּי (אנתה) אַנְתְּ פָּֽלַֽח-לֵהּ בִּתְדִירָא הוּא יְשֵׁיזְבִנָּֽךְ׃
Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
וַיִּקְחוּ אֶֽת-יִרְמְיָהוּ וַיַּשְׁלִכוּ אֹתוֹ אֶל-הַבּוֹר׀ מַלְכִּיָּהוּ בֶן-הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר בַּחֲצַר הַמַּטָּרָה וַיְשַׁלְּחוּ אֶֽת-יִרְמְיָהוּ בַּחֲבָלִים וּבַבּוֹר אֵֽין-מַיִם כִּי אִם-טִיט וַיִּטְבַּע יִרְמְיָהוּ בַּטִּֽיט׃
Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.
לוּלֵי יְהוָה שֶׁהָיָה לָנוּ יֹֽאמַר-נָא יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
רַבּוֹת רָעוֹת צַדִּיק וּמִכֻּלָּם יַצִּילֶנּוּ יְהוָֽה׃
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
הֲבֵאתָנוּ בַמְּצוּדָה שַׂמְתָּ מוּעָקָה בְמָתְנֵֽינוּ׃
Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
Ἀγαπητοί μὴ ξενίζεσθε τῇ ἐν ὑμῖν πυρώσει πρὸς πειρασμὸν ὑμῖν γινομένῃ ὡς ξένου ὑμῖν συμβαίνοντος
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
צוֹד צָדוּנִי כַּצִּפּוֹר אֹיְבַי חִנָּֽם׃
Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.
Οὐ γὰρ θέλομεν ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν ἀδελφοί ὑπὲρ τῆς θλίψεως ἡμῶν τῆς γενομένης ἡμῖν ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ ὅτι καθ' ὑπερβολὴν ἐβαρήθημεν ὑπὲρ δύναμιν ὥστε ἐξαπορηθῆναι ἡμᾶς καὶ τοῦ ζῆν·
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
τὸ γὰρ παραυτίκα ἐλαφρὸν τῆς θλίψεως ἡμῶν καθ' ὑπερβολὴν εἰς ὑπερβολὴν αἰώνιον βάρος δόξης κατεργάζεται ἡμῖν
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
Copy verses
Daniel 3:23
Masoretic Phrasing
The cantillation accents are the Masoretes' punctuation: each group below ends at a pausing accent. Translate a group as one unit.
וְגֻבְרַיָּ֤א אִלֵּךְ֙
Pashta — a lesser break
תְּלָ֣תֵּה֔וֹן
Zaqef Qatan — a strong break
שַׁדְרַ֥ךְ מֵישַׁ֖ךְ
Tipeha — a lesser break
וַעֲבֵ֣ד נְג֑וֹ
Etnahta — the verse's main pause — take a breath here
נְפַ֛לוּ
Tevir — a lesser break
לְגֽוֹא אַתּוּן נוּרָ֥א יָֽקִדְתָּ֖א
Tipeha — a lesser break
מְכַפְּתִֽין
Silluq — end of the verse
Word Parts
וְ
גֻבְרַיָּ
֤א
וְ
Prefix — connector
and (sometimes: but, so, then)
גֻבְרַיָּ
Root word
men, certain, man
֤א
Dictionary form:
גְּבַר
· ɡeh-BAHR
Prefix — article
the
Grammar
C/Ncmpd/Td
Noun — Common, masculine plural, determined state
plural — usually add "-s"; determined — includes "the" (Aramaic)
| וְ | Speech Conjunction |
| גֻבְרַיָּ | Speech Noun Type Common Gender Masculine Number Plural State Determined |
| א | Speech Particle Type Definite Article |
In English
In the KJV here: men
men ×15
a man ×2
certain ×2
of the men ×2
More options
man — Default singular; broad and natural in most contexts.
male individual — More precise when gender specificity matters.
person — Gender-neutral; use when inclusive reading is preferred.
someone — Informal; good for indefinite or 'certain one' sense.
fellow — Colloquial; suits narrative contexts with informal tone.
individual — Neutral and formal; fits legal or official passages.
Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
Strong's Definition
H1400
men, certain, man
gĕbar
a person
- a man, a certain (one)
Variations
7 forms of this word
Translations
4 English renderings
Word Parts
Breakdown unavailable for this word.
Dictionary form:
אִלֵּךְ
· il-LAKE
Grammar
Pdxcp
Noun — Common, plural
plural — usually add "-s"
| Speech Noun Type Common Number Plural | |
| Speech Pronoun Type Demonstrative Number Plural |
In English
In the KJV here: and these
these ×7
those ×2
and these ×1
of these ×1
to cause these ×1
unto these ×1
we those ×1
More options
these — Proximate demonstrative; preferred when referent is near or just mentioned.
those — Distal demonstrative; use when referent is more remote in context.
these ones — Adds slight emphasis or contrast to a specific group.
such — Useful when the referent is qualitative or categorical rather than physical.
Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
Strong's Definition
H479
these, those
ʾillēk
these
- these, those
Variations
1 forms of this word
Translations
7 English renderings
Word Parts
תְּלָ֣תֵּ
ה֔וֹן
תְּלָ֣תֵּ
Root word
three, third
ה֔וֹן
Dictionary form:
תְּלָת
· teh-LAWT
Suffix — pronoun
their / them
Grammar
Acmsc/Sp3mp
Adjective — Cardinal Number, masculine singular, construct state
"___ of …" — bound to the next word; a number (one, two, three, …)
| תְּלָתֵּ | Speech Adjective Type Cardinal Number Gender Masculine Number Singular State Construct |
| הוֹן | Speech Suffix Type Pronominal Person Third Person Gender Masculine Number Plural |
In English
In the KJV here: three
three ×7
and it had three ×1
the third ×1
whom there were three ×1
with three ×1
More options
three — Standard cardinal number; most broadly useful.
trio — Collective noun; suits literary or thematic contexts.
third — Ordinal use; prefer when indicating sequence or rank.
threefold — Emphasizes multiplicity or repetition in a set.
Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
masculine
Strong's Definition
H8532
three, third
tĕlāt
three or third
- three
- three (cardinal number) "third (ordinal number)
Variations
6 forms of this word
Translations
5 English renderings
Word Parts
שַׁדְרַ֥ךְ
שַׁדְרַ֥ךְ
Dictionary form:
שַׁדְרַךְ
· shahd-RAHK
Root word
a name — transliterate it ("Shadrach")
Grammar
Np
Noun — Proper Name
| שַׁדְרַךְ | Speech Noun Type Proper Name |
In English
In the KJV here: shadrach
shadrach ×13
o shadrach ×1
More options
Shadrach — Standard anglicized form; use in most contexts.
Shadrak — Alternate spelling closer to Hebrew/Aramaic phonology.
Shad-rach — Hyphenated form useful for emphasizing syllable stress in study aids.
Strong's Definition
H7715
shadrach
šadrak
royal, the great scribe
Shadrak, the Babylonian name of one of Daniel's companions
- the godly friend of Daniel whom Nebuchadnezzar renamed Shadrach; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord
- also, 'Hananiah' (H2608)
Variations
2 forms of this word
Translations
2 English renderings
Word Parts
מֵישַׁ֖ךְ
מֵישַׁ֖ךְ
Dictionary form:
מֵישַׁךְ
· may-SHAHK
Root word
a name — transliterate it ("Meshach")
Grammar
Np
Noun — Proper Name
| מֵישַׁךְ | Speech Noun Type Proper Name |
In English
In the KJV here: meshach
meshach ×14
More options
Meshach — Standard English rendering of this Babylonian proper name.
Mēšak — Scholarly transliteration for academic or critical editions.
Mishaku — Reconstructed Akkadian form; use in historically-focused contexts.
Strong's Definition
H4336
meshach
mêšak
guest of the king
Meshak, the Babylonian
- the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Meshach; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord
- original name 'Mishael'
Variations
1 forms of this word
Translations
1 English renderings
Word Parts
וַ
עֲבֵ֣ד
וַ
Prefix — connector
and (sometimes: but, so, then)
עֲבֵ֣ד
Dictionary form:
עֲבֵד נְגוֹא
· uh-BADE neh-ɡOH
Root word
a name — transliterate it
Grammar
C/Np
Noun — Proper Name
| וַ | Speech Conjunction |
| עֲבֵד | Speech Noun Type Proper Name |
In English
and abed-nego ×14
More options
Abednego — Standard modern English spelling; use in most contexts.
Abed-Nego — Hyphenated form, highlights compound name structure.
Abed-nego — Mixed-case hyphenated; common in modern critical editions.
Strong's Definition
H5665
abed-nego
ʿăbēd nĕgôʾ
servant of Nebo
Abed-Nego, the name of Azariah
- the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Abednego; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord
- also, 'Azariah' (H5838 or H5839)
Variations
2 forms of this word
Translations
1 English renderings
Word Parts
נְג֑וֹ
נְג֑וֹ
Dictionary form:
עֲבֵד נְגוֹא
· uh-BADE neh-ɡOH
Root word
a name — transliterate it ("And abed-nego")
Grammar
Np
Noun — Proper Name
| נְגוֹ | Speech Noun Type Proper Name |
In English
In the KJV here: and abed-nego
and abed-nego ×14
More options
Abednego — Standard modern English spelling; use in most contexts.
Abed-Nego — Hyphenated form, highlights compound name structure.
Abed-nego — Mixed-case hyphenated; common in modern critical editions.
Strong's Definition
H5665
abed-nego
ʿăbēd nĕgôʾ
servant of Nebo
Abed-Nego, the name of Azariah
- the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Abednego; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord
- also, 'Azariah' (H5838 or H5839)
Variations
2 forms of this word
Translations
1 English renderings
Word Parts
נְפַ֛לוּ
נְפַ֛לוּ
Dictionary form:
נְפַל
· neh-PAHL
Root word
down, fell, falleth, occasion
Grammar
Vqp3mp
Verb — Peal, Perfect (Qatal), third person masculine plural
simple action (Aramaic) — like Hebrew Qal
completed action — try "he ___ed" or "he has ___ed"
the built-in subject is "they"
| נְפַלוּ | Speech Verb Stem Peal Type Perfect (Qatal) Person Third Person Gender Masculine Number Plural |
In English
In the KJV here: fell down
down falleth ×2
fell ×2
fell down ×2
ye fall down ×2
shall fall down ×1
there fell ×1
thou shalt have occasion ×1
More options
fall — Most versatile; suits physical or figurative falling.
collapse — Emphasizes sudden, total loss of support or strength.
fall down — Adds directional emphasis; good for prostration or worship.
tumble — Informal register; suits accidental or chaotic falling.
drop — Concise; fits sudden downward motion or defeat.
bow down — Prefer when context implies reverence or submission.
Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
Pe`al 1. 3.
Strong's Definition
H5308
down, fell, falleth, occasion
nĕpal
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
- to fall
- (P'al)
- to fall "to fall down
Variations
7 forms of this word
Translations
7 English renderings
Word Parts
לְ
גֽוֹא
לְ
Prefix — preposition
to, for
גֽוֹא
Dictionary form:
גַּו
· ɡa
Root word
midst, same, therein, wherein
Grammar
R/Ncmsc
Noun — Common, masculine singular, construct state
"___ of …" — bound to the next word
| לְ | Speech Preposition |
| גֽוֹא | Speech Noun Type Common Gender Masculine Number Singular State Construct |
In English
In the KJV here: into the midst
into the midst ×6
in the midst ×3
and therein ×1
him wherein ×1
the midst ×1
within the same ×1
More options
middle — Most natural modern noun for central position.
center — Spatial emphasis; good for physical or abstract contexts.
interior — Highlights inside space; suits architectural or body contexts.
within — Adverbial/prepositional use; fits embedded or enclosed sense.
inside — Informal register; clear for general audiences.
Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
[
a.
b.
c.
Strong's Definition
H1459
midst, same, therein, wherein
gǎw
the middle
- midst, the midst
Variations
8 forms of this word
Translations
6 English renderings
Word Parts
אַתּוּן
אַתּוּן
Dictionary form:
אַתּוּן
· at-TOON
Root word
furnace
Grammar
Ncmsc
Noun — Common, masculine singular, construct state
"___ of …" — bound to the next word
| אַתּוּן | Speech Noun Type Common Gender Masculine Number Singular State Construct |
In English
In the KJV here: furnace
furnace ×8
and the furnace ×1
the furnace ×1
More options
furnace — Standard modern rendering; broadly understood.
kiln — Emphasizes a fired structure for burning or smelting.
blazing furnace — Highlights intense heat; vivid in narrative contexts.
oven — More domestic feel; use only if context is small-scale.
smelting furnace — Technical; suited to metallurgical or industrial contexts.
Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
Strong's Definition
H861
furnace
ʾattûn
probably a fire-place, i.e., furnace
- furnace
Variations
4 forms of this word
Translations
3 English renderings
Word Parts
נוּרָ
֥א
נוּרָ
Root word
fiery, fire
֥א
Dictionary form:
נוּר
· noor
Prefix — article
the
Grammar
Ncbsd/Td
Noun — Common, both singular, determined state
determined — includes "the" (Aramaic)
| נוּרָ | Speech Noun Type Common Gender Both Number Singular State Determined |
| א | Speech Particle Type Definite Article |
In English
In the KJV here: fiery
fiery ×8
of the fire ×3
the fire ×2
a fiery ×1
fire ×1
of fire ×1
was like the fiery ×1
More options
fire — Most direct rendering; best for concrete, literal contexts.
flame — Emphasizes the visible, active blaze; vivid and natural.
blaze — Dynamic and intense; suits dramatic or threatening fire.
fiery — Adjectival use; prefer when modifying a noun directly.
burning — Highlights ongoing process; good for furnace or judgment imagery.
Strong's Definition
H5135
fiery, fire
nûr
fire
- fire
Variations
3 forms of this word
Translations
7 English renderings
Word Parts
יָֽקִדְתָּ
֖א
יָֽקִדְתָּ
Root word
burning
֖א
Dictionary form:
יְקַד
· yeh-KAHD
Prefix — article
the
Grammar
Vqrfsd/Td
Verb — Peal, Participle Active, feminine singular, determined state
simple action (Aramaic) — like Hebrew Qal
ongoing action — try "___ing" or "one who ___s"
| יָֽקִדְתָּ | Speech Verb Stem Peal Type Participle Active Gender Feminine Number Singular State Determined |
| א | Speech Particle Type Definite Article |
In English
In the KJV here: of the burning
of a burning ×3
of the burning ×3
the burning ×1
them into the burning ×1
More options
burning — Most natural modern English; fits most contexts.
blaze — Vivid, active image; suits intense or dramatic fire.
furnace — Preferred when the burning place is an enclosed structure.
conflagration — Formal register; suits large or catastrophic fires.
Strong's Definition
H3345
burning
yĕqad
to burn
- (P'al) to burn
Variations
3 forms of this word
Translations
4 English renderings
Word Parts
מְכַפְּתִֽין
מְכַפְּתִֽין
Dictionary form:
כְּפַת
· keh-PAHT
Root word
bound, bind
Grammar
Vpsmpa
Verb — Pael, Participle Passive, masculine plural, absolute state
intensive (Aramaic) — like Hebrew Piel
a settled state — try "___ed"
| מְכַפְּתִֽין | Speech Verb Stem Pael Type Participle Passive Gender Masculine Number Plural State Absolute |
In English
In the KJV here: bound
bound ×2
to bind ×1
were bound ×1
More options
bind — Most versatile; covers all active and infinitive contexts.
tie up — Vivid, colloquial; suits narrative action scenes.
restrain — Emphasizes the effect of binding rather than the act.
fetter — Implies binding with chains or shackles; formal register.
shackle — Strong physical image; good for imprisonment contexts.
secure — Neutral, modern; suitable when force is less emphasized.
Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
Strong's Definition
H3729
bound, bind
kĕpat
to fetter
- to bind
- (P'il) to be bound "(Pael) to bind
Variations
4 forms of this word
Translations
3 English renderings