Daniel 3:1

¶ 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.

Nebuchadnezzar {H5020} the king {H4430} made {H5648} an image {H6755} of gold {H1722}, whose height {H7314} was threescore {H8361} cubits {H521}, and the breadth {H6613} thereof six {H8353} cubits {H521}: he set it up {H6966} in the plain {H1236} of Dura {H1757}, in the province {H4083} of Babylon {H895}.

N'vukhadnetzar the king had a gold statue made, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, which he set up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Bavel.

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.

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.

Daniel 3:1 KJV introduces a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, setting the stage for one of the most famous accounts of faith and divine intervention in the Old Testament. This verse describes King Nebuchadnezzar's grand act of defiance and pride: the construction of an enormous golden image, intended to be a focal point of worship for his vast empire.

Context

Following the interpretation of his dream in Daniel chapter 2, where Daniel revealed God's prophetic timeline of successive kingdoms, culminating in God's eternal kingdom, Nebuchadnezzar responded by making an image entirely of gold. This act can be seen as a direct challenge or an attempt to nullify the prophecy that his kingdom, represented by the head of gold, would be followed by lesser kingdoms. By making the entire image gold, he perhaps sought to declare the eternal supremacy of Babylon. The image, towering sixty cubits (approximately 90 feet or 27 meters) high and six cubits (approximately 9 feet or 2.7 meters) wide, was erected in the plain of Dura, a significant location in the province of Babylon, likely chosen for its visibility and suitability for large gatherings.

Key Themes

  • Idolatry and Human Pride: The construction of this colossal image is a stark example of human pride and the temptation to create objects of worship that rival God. Nebuchadnezzar's decree demanded universal worship, asserting his absolute authority and challenging the sovereignty of the one true God.
  • Defiance of Prophecy: By making the entire image gold, Nebuchadnezzar seemingly attempted to contradict the prophetic dream that foretold the eventual decline of his kingdom and the rise of others, ultimately leading to God's eternal kingdom (Daniel 2:44).
  • Setting the Stage for Conflict: This verse is crucial as it establishes the setting and the source of the conflict that the faithful Jewish exiles, particularly Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, would soon face. Their refusal to bow down to this idol would lead to their famous trial in the fiery furnace.

Linguistic Insights

The dimensions "threescore cubits" (60 cubits) and "six cubits" are notable. While not explicitly stated as symbolic, the repetition of the number six (60 high, 6 wide) has led some commentators to note its association with human imperfection or the number of man, often contrasted with the divine number seven. This massive size would have made the image an imposing and unavoidable presence in the landscape, emphasizing Nebuchadnezzar's immense power and wealth.

Practical Application

Daniel 3:1 serves as a timeless reminder of the enduring human tendency towards idolatry. While we may not erect physical golden images today, the principle remains: anything that takes the place of God in our lives—be it wealth, power, status, comfort, or even self—becomes an idol. This verse challenges us to examine what we truly worship and whether our allegiances align with the first commandment to have no other gods before the Lord. It sets the scene for the powerful lesson that true faithfulness may require standing against the prevailing culture, even when faced with severe consequences, trusting in God's ultimate deliverance and sovereignty.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Habakkuk 2:19

    Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it [is] laid over with gold and silver, and [there is] no breath at all in the midst of it.

  • Jeremiah 16:20

    Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they [are] no gods?

  • Isaiah 46:6

    They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, [and] hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.

  • Hosea 8:4

    They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew [it] not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

  • Acts 19:26

    Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

  • Acts 17:29

    Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

  • Isaiah 40:19

    The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.

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