Daniel 3:21

Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their [other] garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Then {H116} these {H479} men {H1400} were bound {H3729} in their coats {H5622}, their hosen {H6361}{H6361}, and their hats {H3737}, and their other garments {H3831}, and were cast {H7412} into the midst {H1459} of the burning {H3345} fiery {H5135} furnace {H861}.

So these men were tied up in their cloaks, tunics, robes and other clothes, and thrown into the blazing hot furnace.

So they were tied up, wearing robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, and they were thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.

Then these men were bound in their hosen, their tunics, and their mantles, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Context

Daniel 3:21 describes a pivotal moment in the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, three faithful Hebrew men serving in King Nebuchadnezzar's court. Following the king's decree that all must worship a massive golden image, these men famously refused, declaring their allegiance to God alone. This act of civil disobedience, recounted in Daniel 3:12, enraged Nebuchadnezzar, who commanded the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. This verse details the immediate consequence of their steadfast faith: their binding and impending execution.

Meaning of the Verse

This verse vividly portrays the scene of the three men being prepared for their fiery ordeal. The detail that they were bound "in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their [other] garments" emphasizes the haste and thoroughness of their captors. It also highlights that they were cast into the furnace fully clothed, making their miraculous survival even more astonishing. The phrase "cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace" underscores the severity of the punishment and the absolute certainty of death under normal circumstances. It sets the stage for God's extraordinary intervention.

Key Themes

  • Unwavering Faith: The men's willingness to face a horrific death rather than compromise their faith is a testament to their deep conviction in God.
  • Consequence of Conviction: This verse shows the immediate, severe consequence of standing firm for one's beliefs, a common theme in biblical accounts of persecution.
  • Divine Protection Foreshadowed: By detailing the binding and casting, the narrative heightens the tension and sets the stage for the incredible display of God's power to deliver, as seen later in Daniel 3:27.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV's "coats, their hosen, and their hats" refers to specific articles of Babylonian clothing, indicating their daily attire. This detail is crucial because it emphasizes that they were not stripped or prepared in any special way for the fire; they went in as they were. The Hebrew words for these garments (e.g., sarbalin for 'coats' or 'mantles', patishin for 'trousers' or 'hosen', karbelath for 'turbans' or 'hats') point to typical Persian-style attire, reflecting the historical period and setting of the Babylonian empire. The fact that their clothes were untouched by the flames later (Daniel 3:27) further testifies to the supernatural nature of their deliverance.

Significance and Application

Daniel 3:21 serves as a powerful reminder of the cost of discipleship and the unwavering commitment required when faith is tested. It encourages believers to remain steadfast even when facing extreme pressure or persecution for their convictions. The vivid imagery of the binding and casting highlights that true faith often involves stepping into seemingly impossible situations, trusting that God is able to deliver or sustain, as seen in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. This verse invites reflection on our own willingness to stand for truth, even when it leads to difficult circumstances, knowing that God is with us in the midst of our trials, just as He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

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.

No cross-references found for this verse.

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