Daniel 3 · Verse 8

Daniel 3:8

Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
Daniel 3:8, King James Version

Daniel 3:8 in other translations

BSBAt this time some astrologers came forward and maliciously accused the Jews,
WEBTherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near and brought accusation against the Jews.
ASVWherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and brought accusation against the Jews.
YLTTherefore at that time drawn near have certain Chaldeans, and accused the Jews;
DARBYWhereupon at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
BBEAt that time certain Chaldaeans came near and made a statement against the Jews.
WebsterWherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

What does Daniel 3:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. accused the Jews--literally, "ate the rent limbs," or flesh of the Jews (compare Job 31:31; Psa 14:4; 27:2; Jr 10:25). Not probably in general, but as Da 3:12 states, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Why Daniel was not summoned does not appear. Probably he was in some distant part of the empire on state business, and the general summons (Da 3:2) had not time to reach him before the dedication. Also, the Jews' enemies found it more politic to begin by attacking Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who were nearer at hand, and had less influence, before they proceeded to attack Daniel.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 Accused the Jews - That is, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. The other Jews were left unnoticed; and probably at this time Daniel was too high to be touched; but we may rest assured that he was not found among these idolaters, see Dan 3:12.

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 would avoid sin, must not parley with temptation when that to which we are allured or affrighted is manifestly evil. Stand not to pause about it, but say, as Christ did, Get thee behind me, Satan. They did not contrive an evasive answer, when a direct answer was expected. Those who make their duty their main care, need not be anxious or fearful concerning the event. The faithful servants of God find him able to control and overrule all the powers armed against them. Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst. If He be for us, we need not fear what man can do unto us. God will deliver us, either from death or in death. They must obey God rather than man; they must rather suffer than sin; and must not do evil that good may come. Therefore none of these things moved them. The saving them from sinful compliance, was as great a miracle in the kingdom of grace, as the saving them out of the fiery furnace was in the kingdom of nature. Fear of man and love of the world, especially want of faith, make men yield to temptation, while a firm persuasion of the truth will deliver them from denying Christ, or being ashamed of him. We are to be meek in our replies, but we must be decided that we will obey God rather than man.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Daniel 3:8 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.

כָּל\־kol-as to
קֳבֵ֤לko.VelbecauseH6903
דְּנָה֙de.NahthisH1836
בֵּהּ\־beh-at it
זִמְנָ֔אzim.Na'time theH2166
קְרִ֖בוּke.Ri.vuthey approachedH7127
גֻּבְרִ֣יןguv.RinmenH1400
כַּשְׂדָּאִ֑יןkas.da.'InChaldeanH3779
וַאֲכַ֥לוּva.'a.Kha.luand they ateH399
קַרְצֵיה֖וֹןkar.tzei.Honpieces theirH7170
דִּ֥יdiofH1768
יְהוּדָיֵֽא\׃ye.hu.da.Ye'Jews theH3062

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

Cross references for Daniel 3:8

  • Ezra 4:12-16

    Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. …

  • Daniel 6:12-13

    Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

  • Esther 3:8-9

    And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.

  • Daniel 2:10

    The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.

  • Acts 16:20-22

    And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

  • 1 Peter 4:3-4

    For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

  • Acts 28:22

    But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

  • Acts 17:6-8

    And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Cesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

  • Esther 3:6

    And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
and accused.
6:12,13; Ezr 4:12-16; Es 3:6,8,9; Ac 16:20-22; 17:6-8; 28:22
1Pe 4:3,4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Daniel 3:7

    Therefore 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.

  • Daniel 3:8

    Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

  • Daniel 3:9

    They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

Read all of Daniel 3

Daniel 3:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Por esto en el mismo tiempo algunos varones Caldeos se llegaron, y denunciaron de los Judíos,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
À cause de cela, en ce même moment, des hommes chaldéens s’approchèrent et accusèrent les Juifs.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Deswegen traten zur selben Zeit chaldäische Männer herzu, welche die Juden anzeigten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Statimque in ipso tempore accedentes viri Chaldæi accusaverunt Judæos: