Keraia
Daniel 3

Daniel 3:1

Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Statue · Daniel 3:1–7
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Translations

Modern
King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
Traditional
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Literal
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold; its height was sixty cubits, its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
Latin
Nabuchodonosor rex fecit statuam auream, altitudine cubitorum sexaginta, latitudine cubitorum sex, et statuit eam in campo Dura, provinciæ Babylonis.

Interlinear

Hebrew
English
King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

Notes

Daniel 3:1

  • The plain of Dura may have been the plain next to the city of Babylon. Another possibility is that the Aramaic term refers to the great outer wall of Babylon described by the Greek historian Herodotus.

  • statue: This word means "image."

Daniel 3:1–30

Nebuchadnezzar's obsession with power might have been fueled by the vision in Daniel 2. This obsession led him to build a golden statue and order everyone in his empire to worship it. He did not understand that God cannot be contained in any created object.

The three young Hebrews refused to worship the statue as a god. They remained faithful to the Lord, and the Lord saved them from the king's anger.

Daniel 2:1–6:28

This section contains stories and dreams from the experiences of Daniel and his friends in Babylon. Daniel used his special gift to understand dreams and showed great skill in the study of literature and science (Daniel 1:17). Chapter 2 provides a broad overview of history until God's kingdom appears (Daniel 2:44–49). Daniel 3–6 describes the fall of Babylon and the rise of Persia. History is moving toward a clear goal. That goal is the everlasting kingdom of God (Daniel 2:44; 4:2–3, 34; 6:26).

Events

Measurements

  • six cubits wide: About 90 ft x 9 ft (27.4 m x 2.7 m)

People

Nebuchadnezzar: Emperor of Babylon who conquered Judah

Places

Babylon: Ancient Mesopotamian city, capital of Babylonian Empire, site of the Tower of Babel Dura: A plain in Babylon where Nebuchadnezzar set up a statue

Glossary

Aramaic Book of Daniel Book of Jeremiah Daniel, Additions to Dura, Plain of Furnace Mishael Musical Instruments Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Topics

Babylon: Babylon the Chief Province of Babylon: Empire of Divisions of Babylon: Empire of Tyrannical Coercion: Religious Dura: Plain of Fire: Torture By Idolatry: Nebuchadnezzar Indictments: Three Hebrew Captives on the Charge of Defiance Against Authority Nebuchadnezzar: His Administration Obedience: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego Religion: Outstanding Religious Persons: The Three Hebrews (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) Rulers: Wicked: Nebuchadnezzar, Committing the Three Hebrews to the Furnace Shadrach: A Hebrew Captive in Babylon