Verse
Daniel 3:18 — But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy…
“But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
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Read it in context
The verses around Daniel 3:18.
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
19Then 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.
20And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
Verse explanation
‘But if not’ is the scene’s most striking phrase: the three make clear that they will obey God even if He decides not to deliver them from the fire — their faithfulness does not depend on a guaranteed outcome.
From the Daniel 3 study in Bible in Stories.
Daniel 3:18 in other versions
The same verse in the 4 Bible versions we have on the site.
- KJV · King James
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Read the chapter in this version → - ARC · Almeida 1911Português
E, se não, sabe tu, ó rei, que não serviremos a teus deuses nem adoraremos a estatua de oiro que levantaste.
Read the chapter in this version → - BLIVRE · Bíblia LivrePortuguês
E se não, sabe tu, ó rei, que não serviremos a teus deuses, nem adoraremos a estátua que ergueste.
Read the chapter in this version → - VBL · Versión Biblia LibreEspañol
Pero aunque no lo haga, Su Majestad debe saber que nunca serviríamos a sus dioses ni adoraríamos la estatua de oro que usted ha erigido”.
Read the chapter in this version →
In other languages: Português (Daniel 3:18) · Español (Daniel 3:18)
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