Daniel 3 · Verse 16

Daniel 3:16

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Daniel 3:16, King James Version

Daniel 3:16 in other translations

BSBShadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
WEBShadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
ASVShadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter.
YLTShadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego have answered, yea, they are saying to the king Nebuchadnezzar, ‘We have no need concerning this matter to answer thee.
DARBYShadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter.
BBEShadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answering Nebuchadnezzar the king, said, There is no need for us to give you an answer to this question.
WebsterShadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

What does Daniel 3:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. not careful to answer thee--rather, "We have no need to answer thee"; thou art determined on thy side, and our mind is made up not to worship the image: there is therefore no use in our arguing as if we could be shaken from our principles. Hesitation, or parleying with sin, is fatal; unhesitating decision is the only safety, where the path of duty is clear (Mt 10:19, 28).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 We are not careful - We have no need to put thee to any farther trouble; we have made up our minds on this subject, and have our answer ready: Be it known unto thee, We Will Not Serve Thy Gods. This was as honest as it was decisive.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Daniel 3:8-18

True devotion calms the spirit, quiets and softens it, but superstition and devotion to false gods inflame men's passions. The matter is put into a little compass, Turn, or burn. Proud men are still ready to say, as Nebuchadnezzar, Who is the Lord, that I should fear his power? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not hesitate whether they should comply or not. Life or death were not to be considered. Those that…

Read the full comment on Daniel 3:8-18 →

Daniel 3:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

עֲנ֗וֹa.Nothey repliedH6032
שַׁדְרַ֤ךְshad.RakhShadrachH7715
מֵישַׁךְ֙mei.shaKhMeshachH4336
וַעֲבֵ֣דva.'a.Vedand Abed-H5665
נְג֔וֹne.Go-negoH5665
וְאָמְרִ֖יןve.'a.me.Rinand [they were] sayingH560
לְמַלְכָּ֑אle.mal.Ka'to king theH4430
נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּ֔רne.vu.khad.ne.TzarNebuchadnezzarH5020
לָֽא\־la'-notH3809
חַשְׁחִ֨יןchash.Chin[are] needingH2818
אֲנַ֧חְנָה'a.Nach.nahweH586
עַל\־'al-concerningH5922
דְּנָ֛הde.NahthisH1836
פִּתְגָ֖םpit.GamaffairH6600
לַהֲתָבוּתָֽךְ\׃la.ha.ta.vu.Takhto send back to youH8421

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Daniel 3:16

  • Daniel 1:7

    Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed–nego.

  • Daniel 3:12

    There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Context

  • Daniel 3:15

    Now 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?

  • Daniel 3:16

    Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

  • Daniel 3:17

    If 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.

Read all of Daniel 3

Daniel 3:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Sadrach, Mesach, y Abed-nego respondieron y dijeron al rey Nabucodonosor: No cuidamos de responderte sobre este negocio.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Shadrac, Méshac et Abed-Nego répondirent et dirent au roi: Nebucadnetsar, il n’est pas nécessaire que nous te répondions sur ce sujet.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sadrach, Mesach und Abednego antworteten und sprachen zu dem König: Nebukadnezar, wir halten es nicht für nötig, dir ein Wort darauf zu erwidern.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Respondentes Sidrach, Misach, et Abdenago, dixerunt regi Nabuchodonosor: Non oportet nos de hac re respondere tibi.