Daniel 3.27-Nebuchadnezzar's Satraps, Prefects, Governors And Counselors Find Shadrach, Meshach And Abednego Totally Unharmed After Examining Them
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Thursday August 2, 2012
Daniel: Daniel 3:27-Nebuchadnezzar’s Satraps, Prefects, Governors And Counselors Find Shadrach, Meshach And Abednego Totally Unharmed After Examining Them
Lesson # 102
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 3:27.
This evening we will study Daniel 3:27, which records Nebuchadnezzar’s satraps, military prefects, governors and counselors gathering themselves together as they observed that the fire had absolutely no affect on Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego whatsoever.
Daniel 3:27 The satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them. (NASB95)
Daniel 3:27 marks the next event that took place after Nebuchadnezzar commanded Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to emerge from the fiery furnace.
“Gathered around” is the masculine plural hitpaʿʿal (Hebrew: piel) middle participle form of the verb kenǎš (כְּנַשׁ) (kaw-nash´), which is in the middle voice and means “to gather themselves together.”
It denotes Nebuchadnezzar’s satraps, military prefects, governors and counselors “gathered themselves together” in order to examine Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
“Saw” is the masculine plural peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active participle form of the verb ḥǎzā(h) (חֲזָה) (khaz-aw´), which means “to observe” in the sense of inspecting and looking carefully with attention to details for the purpose of arriving at a judgment.
Here it denotes Nebuchadnezzar’s satraps, military prefects, governors and counselors gathering themselves together and “observing” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
They observed these three in the sense that they carefully inspected them with attention to details for the purpose of arriving at a judgment as to whether or not they were truly alive and had witnessed something supernatural.
This interpretation of the verb is indicated by the statements to follow which record that these individuals observed that the hair of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as well as their clothing was completely unharmed by the flames and there was not even the smell of smoke on them.
“Had no effect” is composed of the negative particle lā(ʾ) (לָא) (law), “no” which is negating the meaning of the third person masculine singular peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active perfect form of the verb šelēṭ (שְׁלֵט) (shel-ate´), “had effect.”
The verb šelēṭ means “to have power over” and its meaning is emphatically negated by the negative particle lā(ʾ), which means “absolutely no” since it is a marker of emphatic negation.
Therefore, these two words denote that the fire “had absolutely no power over” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego so that as a result they were totally and completely unharmed.
“On the bodies of these men” is composed of the preposition b- (בְּ־) (beh) “on” and its object is the masculine singular construct form of the noun gešēm (גְּשֵׁם) (gheh´-shem), “the bodies of” which is followed by the third person masculine plural pronominal suffix him∙mô (הִמֹּו) (him-mo´), “them.”
The noun gešēm means “bodies” referring to the bodies of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and is the object of the preposition bĕ, which is used as a marker of authority.
This means that the fire had absolutely no authority over the bodies of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego because the preincarnate Christ delivered them by means of His omnipotence.
The implication is that the Lord had authority over their bodies and not the fire or Nebuchadnezzar for that matter.
“Nor was the hair of their head singed” is an emphatic clause meaning that it is advancing upon and is intensifying the previous statement.
This statement advances upon the previous one in the sense that it is explaining specifically what Nebuchadnezzar’s satraps, military prefects, governors and counselors observed about the bodies of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
The previous statement says that the fire had absolutely no power over their bodies and now the conjunction wa introduces the statement which says that the hair of their heads was not even singed.
Thus, Daniel goes from telling the reader that the fire had absolutely no power over the bodies of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to providing a specific example of this.
This statement is not only advancing upon Nebuchadnezzar’s previous description but also intensifies that description in the sense that hair would be the first part of the body to be burned up when it comes into contact with intense heat and flames.
“Nor was singed” is composed of the third person masculine singular hitpaʿʿal (Hebrew: piel) middle perfect form of the verb ḥǎrǎḵ (חֲרַךְ) (khar-ak´), “was singed” and its meaning is negated by the negative particle lā(ʾ) (לָא) (law), “nor.”
The verb ḥǎrǎḵ means “to singe, to be scorched,” i.e. hair of one’s head being burned on the edges and refers to something being burned superficially or lightly.
The word’s meaning is emphatically negated by the negative particle lā(ʾ) since it is a marker of emphatic negation.
Therefore, these two words denote that the hair on the heads of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego “was not even singed” or “was in no way singed.”
“Trousers” is the masculine plural construct form of the noun sǎr∙bāl (סַרְבָּל) (sar-bal´), which means “sandals” expressing a contrast with the hair of the heads of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
This noun indicates that the writer is attempting to describe these three men as being totally unharmed from head to foot, which is another way to refer to the entire body.
“Nor were damaged” is composed of the negative particle lā(ʾ) (לָא) (law), “nor” which is negating the meaning of the third person masculine plural act perfect form of the verb šenā(h) (שְׁנָה) (shen-aw´), “were damaged.”
The verb šenā(h) means “to affect” in the sense of producing a material influence upon or alteration in.
Here the word’s meaning is emphatically negated by the negative particle lā(ʾ), which is functioning here as a marker of emphatic negation and thus these two words denote that there was absolutely no affect upon the sandals of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
“Nor had come upon them” is composed of the third person feminine singular peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active perfect form of the verb ʿǎḏā(h) (עֲדָה) (ad-aw´), “come” which is followed by the preposition b- (בְּ־) (beh) “on” and its object is the third person masculine plural pronominal suffix him∙mô (הִמֹּו) (him-mo´), “them.”
The verb ʿǎḏā(h) means “to be present” and its meaning is emphatically negated by the negative particle lā(ʾ), which is functioning here as a marker of emphatic negation.
Thus, these two words denote that the smell of fire “was not even present” on Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Daniel 3:27 Then, the satraps, military prefects as well as governors along with the king’s counselors gathered themselves together as they observed these men whom the fire had absolutely no power over their bodies. In fact, the hair of their head was not even singed. Also, their sandals were totally unaffected. Furthermore, the fire’s smell was not even present on them! (My translation)
This verse contains four statements with the first being a summary statement, which declares that Nebuchadnezzar’s satraps, military prefects, governors and counselors gathered themselves together as they observed that the fire had absolutely no power over the bodies of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
The three statements which follow it provide specific examples they observed which demonstrate that their bodies and clothing were totally and completely protected from the flames.
All three statements are emphatic and serve as evidence which would make quite clear to Nebuchadnezzar and his satraps, military prefects, governors and counselors that they have witnessed a miracle performed by the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
This miracle is referred to in Hebrews 11:34 in the expression “quenched the power of fire.”
The purpose of this miracle in Daniel chapter 3 was not only to deliver Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from death but also it was for the benefit of Nebuchadnezzar, his advisers and the Babylonian people who were unsaved because they did not have a covenant relationship with the God of Israel.
God wanted Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian people to forsake their gods, whom, Satan’s fallen angels were behind and worship Him.
Therefore, this miracle was not only to deliver Daniel’s three friends and increase their faith in Him but also it was for an evangelistic purpose.
In Isaiah 43, the Lord through the prophet Isaiah exhorted Judah not to fear their captivity in Babylon.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego experienced the promises in this passage.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego experienced the Lord being faithful to His promise in Isaiah 43:2 that “when you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.”
They also experienced the promise recorded in Isaiah 43:3, “since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.”
Nebuchadnezzar’s soldiers died from the flames and not Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.