Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Three young Hebrews refuse to bow to a golden idol and are thrown into a blazing furnace. Their faith and God's miraculous rescue change a king's heart.
Daniel 3:1-30
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The Story
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in Babylon. He summoned all the officials of his kingdom to its dedication and issued a command: 'When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.'
At the sound of the music, all the people fell down and worshiped—all except three young Hebrews: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who served in Nebuchadnezzar's government alongside their friend Daniel. They would not bow.
Some Babylonians brought the accusation to the king. 'These Jews pay no attention to you. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold.'
Furious, Nebuchadnezzar summoned the three. 'Is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the image? I will give you one more chance. When the music plays, if you fall down and worship, very good. But if you do not, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?'
Their answer echoes through the ages: 'King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'
'Even if He does not.' This is the faith that does not bargain with God—that trusts whether or not deliverance comes.
Nebuchadnezzar's face twisted with rage. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual. The fire was so intense that the soldiers who threw the three men into it were killed by the heat.
But as the king watched, his anger turned to astonishment. He leaped to his feet. 'Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?'
'Certainly, Your Majesty.'
'Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed—and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!'
Nebuchadnezzar approached the opening of the furnace. 'Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out!'
They walked out of the fire. All the officials crowded around. The fire had not harmed them. Not a hair of their heads was singed. Their robes were not scorched. There was no smell of fire on them.
Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed: 'Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants! They trusted in Him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that anyone who says anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be cut into pieces. No other god can save in this way.'
Then the king promoted the three men to even higher positions in the province of Babylon. Their refusal to bow had become the greatest witness of all.
Three Brave Friends in the Fire
Kids Version
King Nebuchadnezzar built a GIANT golden statue. It was as tall as a building! He told everyone, 'When you hear the music, you have to bow down to my statue. If you don't, you'll be thrown into a hot, fiery furnace!'
The music played. Everyone bowed down... except for three friends: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They only bowed to the real God!
Some mean people ran to tell the king. 'Those three men didn't bow down!'
The king was VERY angry. He brought the three friends to him. 'Bow down now, or into the fire you go!'
But the three friends said something very brave: 'Our God CAN save us from the fire. But even if He doesn't, we still won't bow down to your statue. We only worship the real God!'
Now the king was SUPER angry! 'Make the fire SEVEN times hotter!' he yelled.
Soldiers tied up the three friends and threw them into the fire. It was SO hot that the soldiers got hurt!
But then the king's eyes got really big. 'Wait!' he said. 'Didn't we throw THREE men in there?'
'Yes, three.'
'But I see FOUR men walking around in the fire! They're not tied up. They're not hurt. And the fourth one looks like an angel!'
The king called out, 'Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego! Come out!'
The three friends walked right out of the fire. Everyone gathered around to look. Their clothes weren't burned. Their hair wasn't burned. They didn't even SMELL like smoke!
The king was amazed! 'Your God is the most powerful God!' he said. 'He sent an angel to save you!'
God protected the three brave friends because they trusted Him. And the whole kingdom learned about the one true God!
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Characters in This Story
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Scripture — Daniel 3:1-30 (KJV)
1Nebuchadnezzar 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.
2Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, aloud: Cald. with might it: Cald. they command
5That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp , sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: dulcimer: or, singing: Cald. symphony
6And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
7Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp , sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
9They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
10Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp , sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer , and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
11And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. have: Cald. have set no regard upon thee
13Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? true: or, of purpose
15Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp , sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 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 Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. full: Cald. filled
20And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. most: Cald. mighty of strength
21Then 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. coats: or, mantles hats: or, turbans
22Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. commandment: Cald. word flame: or, spark
23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. counsellors: or, governors
25He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. they: Cald. there is no hurt in them
26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. mouth: Cald. door
27And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. I make: Cald. a decree is made by me any: Cald. error cut: Cald. made pieces
30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon. promoted: Cald. made to prosper
Memory Verse
“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)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” in the Bible?
Three young Hebrews refuse to bow to a golden idol and are thrown into a blazing furnace. Their faith and God's miraculous rescue change a king's heart. This story is found in Daniel 3:1-30.
Where is “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” found in the Bible?
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” is found in Daniel 3:1-30, in the book of Daniel.
What can children learn from “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego”?
This story teaches children about Faithfulness, Idolatry, Courage, God's protection, Witness. Three friends named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego wouldn't bow to a fake god. They were thrown into a super hot fire, but God kept them safe!