King James Version

What Does Daniel 3:28 Mean?

Daniel 3:28 in the King James Version says “Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and...” — study this verse from Daniel chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Then 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.”

Daniel 3:28 · KJV

Salvation

Context

26

Then 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

27

And 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.

28

Then 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.

29

Therefore 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

30

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon. promoted: Cald. made to prosper

Read Daniel 3 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Nebuchadnezzar's theological declaration 'Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him' shows remarkable understanding. He recognizes divine action ('sent his angel'), the means of deliverance (angel), the recipients (God's servants), and the ground of deliverance (trust in God). Yet notice: still 'God of' these men, not 'my God'—pagan relativism hasn't fully yielded to exclusive monotheism. The phrase 'trusted in him' identifies faith as the critical factor. The king also notes they 'changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies' rather than compromise worship—he respects their conviction even while earlier punishing it.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern polytheism regularly acknowledged other peoples' gods as real and powerful, especially after demonstrations of divine power. Nebuchadnezzar's blessing doesn't necessarily indicate conversion but rather diplomatic acknowledgment—he won't challenge deities who demonstrate such power. The reference to an angel reflects ancient understanding of divine beings serving as messengers and agents of deity. Mesopotamian religion included complex hierarchies of divine and semi-divine beings, making the angel's appearance interpretable within Babylonian categories.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why can people acknowledge God's power and even praise Him without actually trusting Him as their own God?
  2. What does the connection between trust and deliverance teach about faith as the instrument receiving divine provision?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 32 words
עָנֵ֨ה1 of 32

“spake”

H6032

properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,

נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּ֜ר2 of 32

“Then Nebuchadnezzar”

H5020

nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon

וְאָמַ֗ר3 of 32

“and said”

H560

to speak, to command

בְּרִ֤יךְ4 of 32

“Blessed”

H1289

to bless

לֵאלָֽהֲהֽוֹן׃5 of 32

“be the God”

H426

god

דִּֽי6 of 32
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

שַׁדְרַ֤ךְ7 of 32

“of Shadrach”

H7715

shadrak, the babylonian name of one of daniel's companions

מֵישַׁךְ֙8 of 32

“Meshach”

H4336

meshak, the babylonian

וַעֲבֵ֣ד9 of 32
H0
נְג֔וֹ10 of 32

“and Abednego”

H5665

abed-nego, the name of azariah

דִּֽי11 of 32
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

שְׁלַ֤ח12 of 32

“who hath sent”

H7972

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

מַלְאֲכֵהּ֙13 of 32

“his angel”

H4398

an angel

וְשֵׁיזִ֣ב14 of 32

“and delivered”

H7804

to leave, i.e., (causatively) free

לְעַבְד֔וֹהִי15 of 32

“his servants”

H5649

a servant

דִּ֥י16 of 32
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

הִתְרְחִ֖צוּ17 of 32

“that trusted”

H7365

to attend upon

עֲל֑וֹהִי18 of 32

“in him”

H5922

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

וּמִלַּ֤ת19 of 32

“word”

H4406

a word, command, discourse, or subject

מַלְכָּא֙20 of 32

“the king's”

H4430

a king

שַׁנִּ֔יו21 of 32

“and have changed”

H8133

to alter

וִיהַ֣בוּ22 of 32

“and yielded”

H3052

to give (whether literal or figurative); generally, to put; imperatively (reflexive) come

גֶשְׁמְיה֗וֹן23 of 32

“their bodies”

H1655

used in a peculiar sense, the body (probably for the (figuratively) idea of a hard rain)

דִּ֠י24 of 32
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

וְלָֽא25 of 32

“nor”

H3809

no, not

יִפְלְח֤וּן26 of 32

“serve”

H6399

to serve or worship

וְלָֽא27 of 32

“nor”

H3809

no, not

יִסְגְּדוּן֙28 of 32

“worship”

H5457

to worship

לְכָל29 of 32

“any”

H3606

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

לֵאלָֽהֲהֽוֹן׃30 of 32

“be the God”

H426

god

לָהֵ֖ן31 of 32

“except”

H3861

therefore; also except

לֵאלָֽהֲהֽוֹן׃32 of 32

“be the God”

H426

god

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Daniel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Daniel 3:28 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Daniel 3:28 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Romans 14:7-8Psalms 34:7-8Psalms 84:11-12Exodus 20:5Revelation 12:11Psalms 147:11

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