The Meaning of Daniel 3:28 Explained

Daniel 3:28

KJV: 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.

YLT: Nebuchadnezzar hath answered and hath said, 'Blessed is the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who hath sent His messenger, and hath delivered His servants who trusted on Him, and the word of the king changed, and gave up their bodies that they might not serve nor do obeisance to any god except to their own God.

Darby: Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and who changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God!

ASV: Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[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. 

What does Daniel 3:28 Mean?

Study Notes

angel
angels
Angel, Summary: Angel, "messenger," is used of God, of men, and of an order of created spiritual beings whose chief attributes are strength and wisdom. 2 Samuel 14:20 ; Psalms 103:20 ; Psalms 104:4 . In the O.T. the expression "the angel of the Lord" (sometimes "of God") usually implies the presence of Deity in angelic form.; Genesis 16:1-13 ; Genesis 21:17-19 ; Genesis 22:11-16 ; Genesis 31:11-13 ; Exodus 3:2-4 ; Judges 2:1 ; Judges 6:12-16 ; Judges 13:3-22 (See Scofield " Malachi 3:1 ") . The word "angel" is used of men in; Luke 7:24 ; James 2:25 ; Revelation 1:20 ; Revelation 2:1 ; Revelation 2:8 ; Revelation 2:12 ; Revelation 2:18 ; Revelation 3:1 ; Revelation 3:7 ; Revelation 3:14 In Revelation 8:3-5 . Christ is evidently meant. Sometimes angel is used of the spirit of man.; Matthew 18:10 ; Acts 12:15 . Though angels are spirits; Psalms 104:4 ; Hebrews 1:14 power is given them to become visible in the semblance of human form. Genesis 19:1 cf; Genesis 19:5 ; Exodus 3:2 ; Numbers 22:22-31 ; Judges 2:1 ; Judges 6:11 ; Judges 6:22 ; Judges 13:3 ; Judges 13:6 ; 1 Chronicles 21:16 ; 1 Chronicles 21:20 ; Matthew 1:20 ; Luke 1:26 ; John 20:12 ; Acts 7:30 ; Acts 12:7 ; Acts 12:8 etc.). The word is always used in the masculine gender, though sex, in the human sense, is never ascribed to angels.; Matthew 22:30 ; Mark 12:25 . They are exceedingly numerous.; Matthew 26:53 ; Hebrews 12:22 ; Revelation 5:11 ; Psalms 68:17 . The power is inconceivable. 2 Kings 19:35 . Their place is about the throne of God.; Revelation 5:11 ; Revelation 7:11 . Their relation to the believer is that of "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation," and this ministry has reference largely to the physical safety and well-being of believers.; 1 Kings 19:5 ; Psalms 34:7 ; Psalms 91:11 ; Daniel 6:22 ; Matthew 2:13 ; Matthew 2:19 ; Matthew 4:11 ; Luke 22:43 ; Acts 5:19 ; Acts 12:7-10 . From; Hebrews 1:14 ; Matthew 18:10 ; Psalms 91:11 it would seem that this care for the heirs of salvation begins in infancy and continues through life. The angels observe us; 1 Corinthians 4:9 ; Ephesians 3:10 ; Ecclesiastes 5:6 a fact which should influence conduct. They receive departing saints. Luke 16:22 . Man is made "a little lower than the angels," and in incarnation Christ took "for a little "time" this lower place.; Psalms 8:4 ; Psalms 8:5 ; Hebrews 2:6 ; Hebrews 2:9 that He might lift the believer into His own sphere above angels. Hebrews 2:9 ; Hebrews 2:10 . The angels are to accompany Christ in His second advent. Matthew 25:31 . To them will be committed the preparation of the judgment of the nations. Matthew 13:30 ; Matthew 13:39 ; Matthew 13:41 ; Matthew 13:42 . See Scofield " Matthew 25:32 ". The kingdom-age is not to be subject to angels, but to Christ and those for whom He was made a little lower than the angels. Hebrews 2:5 An archangel, Michael, is mentioned as having a particular relation to Israel and to the resurrections.; Daniel 10:13 ; Daniel 10:21 ; Daniel 12:1 ; Daniel 12:2 ; Judges 1:9 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:16 . The only other angel whose name is revealed Gabriel, was employed in the most distinguished services.; Daniel 8:16 ; Daniel 9:21 ; Luke 1:19 ; Luke 1:26 .
Fallen angels. Two classes of these are mentioned:
(1) "The angels which kept not their first estate place, but left their own habitation," are "chained under darkness," awaiting judgment. 2 Peter 2:4 ; Judges 1:6 ; 1 Corinthians 6:3 ; John 5:22 .
(See Scofield " Genesis 6:4 ")
(2) The angels who have Satan Genesis 3:1 as leader.
(See Scofield " Revelation 20:10 ") .
The origin of these is nowhere explicitly revealed. They may be identical with the demons.
(See Scofield " Matthew 7:22 ") . For Satan and his angels everlasting fire is prepared. Matthew 25:41 ; Revelation 20:10 .

Context Summary

Daniel 3:19-30 - Loyalty Rewarded
It is only when we reach the fire that we become aware of the presence of the divine Companion, walking beside us as if treading the dew-besprinkled glades of Paradise. The Good Shepherd was there with His rod and staff. Loose, Daniel 3:25, that is, the fire had consumed their bonds and nothing else. Hair would soonest catch the flame, but not a hair perished, Luke 12:7; Luke 21:18. The yielded body of Daniel 3:28 reminds us of Romans 6:13; Romans 12:1-2. Let us yield our bodies and souls to our faithful Creator for Him to use as He will. He made and redeemed, let Him have; and when we are possessed by His Spirit, all other fires, whether physical or temperamental, fail to hurt. Of the martyrs, it may be said that upon them also the fire had no power, Isaiah 43:2! [source]

Chapter Summary: Daniel 3

1  Nebuchadnezzar dedicates a golden image in Dura
3  They being threatened, make a good confession
8  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are accused for not worshipping the image
19  They are cast into the furnace,
24  from which God delivers them
28  Nebuchadnezzar seeing the miracle blesses God, and advances them

What do the individual words in Daniel 3:28 mean?

Spoke Nebuchadnezzar and saying Blessed be the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abed-nego who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him and word king's the they have frustrated and yielded - their bodies that not they should serve nor worship any god except their own God
עָנֵ֨ה נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּ֜ר וְאָמַ֗ר בְּרִ֤יךְ אֱלָהֲהוֹן֙ דִּֽי־ שַׁדְרַ֤ךְ מֵישַׁךְ֙ וַעֲבֵ֣ד נְג֔וֹ דִּֽי־ שְׁלַ֤ח מַלְאֲכֵהּ֙ וְשֵׁיזִ֣ב לְעַבְד֔וֹהִי דִּ֥י הִתְרְחִ֖צוּ עֲל֑וֹהִי וּמִלַּ֤ת מַלְכָּא֙ שַׁנִּ֔יו וִיהַ֣בוּ [גשמיהון] (גֶשְׁמְה֗וֹן‪‬) דִּ֠י לָֽא־ יִפְלְח֤וּן וְלָֽא־ יִסְגְּדוּן֙ לְכָל־ אֱלָ֔הּ לָהֵ֖ן לֵאלָֽהֲהֽוֹן

עָנֵ֨ה  Spoke 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עֲנָה  
Sense: to answer, respond.
נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּ֜ר  Nebuchadnezzar 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר  
Sense: the great king of Babylon who captured Jerusalem and carried Judah captive.
וְאָמַ֗ר  and  saying 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אֲמַר  
Sense: (P’al) to say, to speak, to command, to tell, to relate.
בְּרִ֤יךְ  Blessed  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: בְּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
אֱלָהֲהוֹן֙  the  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אֱלָהּ  
Sense: god, God.
שַׁדְרַ֤ךְ  Shadrach 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁדְרַךְ  
Sense: the godly friend of Daniel whom Nebuchadnezzar renamed Shadrach; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king’s table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord.
מֵישַׁךְ֙  Meshach 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֵישַׁךְ  
Sense: the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Meshach; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king’s table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord.
נְג֔וֹ  Abed-nego 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֲבֵד נְגֹו  
Sense: the godly friend of Daniel who Nebuchadnezzar renamed Abednego; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king’s table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord.
שְׁלַ֤ח  sent 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שְׁלַח  
Sense: to send.
מַלְאֲכֵהּ֙  His  Angel 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מַלְאַךְ  
Sense: angel.
וְשֵׁיזִ֣ב  and  delivered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁיזִב  
Sense: (Peel or Peil) to deliver.
לְעַבְד֔וֹהִי  His  servants 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֲבֵד  
Sense: servant, slave.
הִתְרְחִ֖צוּ  trusted 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Perfect, third person masculine plural
Root: רְחַץ  
Sense: to trust.
עֲל֑וֹהִי  in  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל  
Sense: upon, over, on account of, above, to, against.
וּמִלַּ֤ת  and  word 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מִלָּה  
Sense: word, thing.
מַלְכָּא֙  king's  the 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: מֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king.
שַׁנִּ֔יו  they  have  frustrated 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שְׁנָה  
Sense: to change, be altered, be changed.
וִיהַ֣בוּ  and  yielded 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יְהַב  
Sense: to give, provide.
[גשמיהון]  - 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
(גֶשְׁמְה֗וֹן‪‬)  their  bodies 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: גְּשֵׁם  
Sense: body.
דִּ֠י  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: דִּי  
Sense: who, which, that mark of genitive.
יִפְלְח֤וּן  they  should  serve 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: פְּלַח  
Sense: to serve, worship, revere, minister for, pay reverence to.
וְלָֽא־  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: לָא 
Sense: no, not, nothing.
יִסְגְּדוּן֙  worship 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: סְגִד  
Sense: to prostrate oneself, do homage, worship.
לְכָל־  any 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, whole, the whole.
אֱלָ֔הּ  god 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱלָהּ  
Sense: god, God.
לָהֵ֖ן  except 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: לָהֵן 
Sense: therefore.
לֵאלָֽהֲהֽוֹן  their  own  God 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אֱלָהּ  
Sense: god, God.