The errors in the Aramaic of this chapter are similar to those of Chapter 2.  Again I will make no remarks concerning

these errors.

נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מַלְכָּא עֲבַד צְלֵם דִּי־דְהַב רוּמֵהּ אַמִּין שִׁתִּין פְּתָיֵהּ אַמִּין שִׁת אֲקִימֵהּ בְּבִקְעַת דּוּרָא   3:1

בִּמְדִינַת בָּבֶל׃

Dani. 3:1   Nebuchadnezzar, the king, made an idol of gold; its height was sixty cubits, its width six

cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

If these cubits are the same as those in the earlier parts of the bible, Nebuchadnezzar’s idol was approximately 90

feet high and nine feet wide.

וּנְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מַלְכָּא שְׁלַח לְמִכְנַשׁ לַאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא סִגְנַיָּא וּפַחֲוָתָא אֲדַרְגָּזְרַיָּא גְדָבְרַיָּא דְּתָבְרַיָּא תִּפְתָּיֵא   3:2

וְכֹל שִׁלְטֹנֵי מְדִינָתָא לְמֵתֵא לַחֲנֻכַּת צַלְמָא דִּי הֲקֵים נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מַלְכָּא׃

Dani. 3:2   And Nebuchadnezzar, the king, sent for the satraps, prefects and governors, judges,

treasurers, lawyers, sheriffs, and all the officials of the provinces to be gathered, to be coming to the dedication of the idol that Nebuchadnezzar, the king, had set up,

בֵּאדַיִן מִתְכַּנְּשִׁין אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא סִגְנַיָּא וּפַחֲוָתָא אֲדַרְגָּזְרַיָּא גְדָבְרַיָּא דְּתָבְרַיָּא תִּפְתָּיֵא וְכֹל שִׁלְטֹנֵי   3:3

מְדִינָתָא לַחֲנֻכַּת צַלְמָא דִּי הֲקֵים נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מַלְכָּא (וְקָאֲמִין) [וְקָיְמִין] לָקֳבֵל צַלְמָא דִּי הֲקֵים נְבוּ כַדְנֶצַּר׃

Dani. 3:3   whereupon the satraps, prefects and governors, judges, treasurers, lawyers, sheriffs,

and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the idol that Nebuchadnezzar,

the king, had set up, and they were standing before the idol that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

וְכָרֹוזָא קָרֵא בְחָיִל לְכֹון אָמְרִין עַמְמַיָּא אֻמַּיָּא וְלִשָּׁנַיָּא׃   3:4

Dani. 3:4   Then a herald proclaimed aloud, “Peoples, nations, and languages, you are being

commanded

בְּעִדָּנָא דִּי־תִשְׁמְעוּן קָל קַרְנָא מַשְׁרֹוקִיתָא (קִיתָרֹוס) [קַתְרֹוס] סַבְּכָא פְּסַנְתֵּרִין סוּמְפֹּנְיָה וְכֹל זְנֵי   3:5

 זְמָרָא תִּפְּלוּן וְתִסְגְּדוּן לְצֶלֶם דַּהֲבָא דִּי הֲקֵים נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מַלְכָּא׃

Dani. 3:5   at the time that you hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe,

and all kinds of instrumental music, you shall fall down and worship the idol of gold that

Nebuchadnezzar, the king, has set up.”

וּמַן־דִּי־לָא יִפֵּל וְיִסְגֻּד בַּהּ־שַׁעֲתָא יִתְרְמֵא לְגֹוא־אַתּוּן נוּרָא יָקִדְתָּא׃   3:6

Dani. 3:6   “And who not shall fall down and worship at that moment shall be cast into the midst of

a fiery burning furnace,

כָּל־קֳבֵל דְּנָה בֵּהּ־זִמְנָא כְּדִי שָׁמְעִין כָּל־עַמְמַיָּא קָל קַרְנָא מַשְׁרֹוקִיתָא (קִיתָרֹס) [קַתְרֹוס] שַׂבְּכָא   3:7

פְּסַנְטֵרִין וְכֹל זְנֵי זְמָרָא נָפְלִין כָּל־עַמְמַיָּא אֻמַיָּא וְלִשָּׁנַיָּא סָגְדִין לְצֶלֶם דַּהֲבָא דִּי הֲקֵים נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מַלְכָּא׃

Dani. 3:7   inasmuch as this is at the time when all the peoples are hearing the sound of the horn,

the pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, and all kinds of instrumental music, all the peoples of nations and

languages must be falling down worshipping the idol of gold that Nebuchadnezzar, the king, has

set up.”

כָּל־קֳבֵל דְּנָה בֵּהּ־זִמְנָא קְרִבוּ גֻּבְרִין כַּשְׂדָּאִין וַאֲכַלוּ קַרְצֵיהֹון דִּי יְהוּדָיֵא׃   3:8

Dani. 3:8   In view of this, at that time certain Chaldeans approached and made their malicious

accusations against the Jews.

עֲנֹו וְאָמְרִין לִנְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מַלְכָּא מַלְכָּא לְעָלְמִין חֱיִי׃   3:9

Dani. 3:9   As they were speaking to Nebuchadnezzar, the king, their reply was, “Live forever, O

king!”

אַנְתָּה) [אַנְתְּ] מַלְכָּא שָׂמְתָּ טְּעֵם דִּי כָל־אֱנָשׁ דִּי־יִשְׁמַע קָל קַרְנָא מַשְׁרֹקִיתָא (קִיתָרֹס) [קַתְרֹוס   3:10

 שַׂבְּכָא פְסַנְתֵּרִין (וְסִיפֹּנְיָה) [וְסוּפֹּנְיָה] וְכֹל זְנֵי זְמָרָא יִפֵּל וְיִסְגֻּד לְצֶלֶם דַּהֲבָא׃

Dani. 3:10   “You, O king, made a decree that everyone who will hear the sound of the horn, the

pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of instrumental music must fall down and

worship the idol of gold,

וּמַן־דִּי־לָא יִפֵּל וְיִסְגֻּד יִתְרְמֵא לְגֹוא־אַתּוּן נוּרָא יָקִדְתָּא׃   3:11

Dani. 3:11   and who shall not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a fiery burning

furnace.”

אִיתַי גֻּבְרִין יְהוּדָאיִן דִּי־מַנִּיתָ יָתְהֹון עַל־עֲבִידַת מְדִינַת בָּבֶל שַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד נְגֹו גֻּבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ   3:12

לָא־שָׂמוּ (עֲלַיִךְ) [עֲלָךְ] מַלְכָּא טְעֵם (לֵאלָהַיִךְ) [לֵאלָהָךְ] לָא פָלְחִין וּלְצֶלֶם דַּהֲבָא דִּי הֲקֵימְתָּ לָא סָגְדִין׃

Dani. 3:12   “There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the

province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These men are not reliable concerning

you, O king.  They do not minister to the decree regarding your gods or worship the idol of gold

that you set up.”

בֵּאדַיִן נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר בִּרְגַז וַחֲמָה אֲמַר לְהַיְתָיָה לְשַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד נְגֹו בֵּאדַיִן גֻּבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ הֵיתָיוּ   3:13

  קֳדָם מַלְכָּא׃

Dani. 3:13   Thereupon Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger commanded to Shadrach, Meshach,

and Abed-nego to bring themselves, whereupon these men brought themselves before the king.

עָנֵה נְבֻכַדְנֶצַּר וְאָמַר לְהֹון הַצְדָּא שַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד נְגֹו לֵאלָהַי לָא אִיתֵיכֹון פָּלְחִין וּלְצֶלֶם דַּהֲבָא   3:14

דִּי הֲקֵימֶת לָא סָגְדִין׃

Dani. 3:14   Nebuchadnezzar responded, and he said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and

Abed-nego, you are not serving my gods or worshipping the idol of gold that I set up?”

כְּעַן הֵן אִיתֵיכֹון עֲתִידִין דִּי בְעִדָּנָא דִּי־תִשְׁמְעוּן קָל קַרְנָא מַשְׁרֹוקִיתָא (קִיתָרֹס) [קַתְרֹוס] שַׂבְּכָא   3:15

פְּסַנְתֵּרִין וְסוּמְפֹּנְיָה וְכֹל זְנֵי זְמָרָא תִּפְּלוּן וְתִסְגְּדוּן לְצַלְמָא דִי־עַבְדֵת וְהֵן לָא תִסְגְּדוּן בַּהּ־שַׁעֲתָה

תִתְרְמֹון לְגֹוא־אַתּוּן נוּרָא יָקִדְתָּא וּמַן־הוּא אֱלָהּ דֵּי יְשֵׁיזְבִנְכֹון מִן־יְדָי׃

Dani. 3:15   “Now if you are prepared, then at the time that you will hear the sound of the horn, the

pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, and the bagpipe, and all kinds of instrumental music, you shall fall

down and worship the idol that I made.  But if you will not worship, at that moment you shall be

cast into the midst of a fiery burning furnace, and who will be he, the god who might deliver you

from my hands?”

עֲנֹו שַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד נְגֹו וְאָמְרִין לְמַלְכָּא נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר לָא־חַשְׁחִין אֲנַחְנָה עַל־דְּנָה פִּתְגָם   3:16

 לַהֲתָבוּתָךְ׃

Dani. 3:16   Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered, and they said to king

Nebuchadnezzar, “We are having no need to be answering you concerning this command.”

הֵן אִיתַי אֱלָהַנָא דִּי־אֲנַחְנָא פָלְחִין יָכִל לְשֵׁיזָבוּתַנָא מִן־אַתּוּן נוּרָא יָקִדְתָּא וּמִן־יְדָךְ מַלְכָּא יְשֵׁיזִב׃   3:17

Dani. 3:17   “If our God Whom we are serving is able to deliver us from the fiery burning furnace

and from your hand, O king, He will deliver.”

וְהֵן לָא יְדִיעַ לֶהֱוֵא־לָךְ מַלְכָּא דִּי לֵאלָהָיִךְ לָא־ (אִיתַיְנָא) [אִיתַנָא] פָלְחִין וּלְצֶלֶם דַּהֲבָא דִּי הֲקֵימְתָּ   3:18

 לָא נִסְגֻּד׃

Dani. 3:18   “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not be serving your gods and we

will not worship the idol of gold that you set up.”

בֵּאדַיִן נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר הִתְמְלִי חֱמָא וּצְלֵם אַנְפֹּוהִי (אֶשְׁתַּנּוּ) [אֶשְׁתַּנִּי] עַל־שַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד נְגֹו עָנֵה   3:19

וְאָמַר לְמֵזֵא לְאַתּוּנָא חַד־שִׁבְעָה עַל דִּי חֲזֵה לְמֵזְיֵהּ׃

Dani. 3:19   Thereupon Nebuchadnezzar became so full of anger that the image of his face

changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.  He responded and said to heat up the

furnace seven times beyond which it was customarily heated,

וּלְגֻבְרִין גִּבָּרֵי־חַיִל דִּי בְחַיְלֵהּ אֲמַר לְכַפָּתָה לְשַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד נְגֹו לְמִרְמֵא לְאַתּוּן נוּרָא יָקִדְתָּא׃   3:20

Dani. 3:20   and he said to certain mighty ones of power who were in his army to bind Shadrach,

Meshach, and Abed-nego, to cast into the fiery burning furnace.

בֵּאדַיִן גֻּבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ כְּפִתוּ בְּסַרְבָּלֵיהֹון (פַּטִּישֵׁיהֹון) [פַּטְּשֵׁיהֹון] וְכַרְבְּלָתְהֹון וּלְבֻשֵׁיהֹון וּרְמִיו   3:21

 לְגֹוא־אַתּוּן נוּרָא יָקִדְתָּא׃

Dani. 3:21   Whereupon they bound these men in their coats, their tunics, and their robes, and

their garments, and cast into the midst of the fiery burning furnace.

כָּל־קֳבֵל דְּנָה מִן־דִּי מִלַּת מַלְכָּא מַחְצְפָה וְאַתּוּנָא אֵזֵה יַתִּירָא גֻּבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ דִּי הַסִּקוּ לְשַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ   3:22

וַעֲבֵד נְגֹו קַטִּל הִמֹּון שְׁבִיבָא דִּי נוּרָא׃

Dani. 3:22   In view of the fact that the command of the king had been so urgent and the furnace

was exceptionally hot, those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, the

incandescence of the fire killed them

וְגֻבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ תְּלָתֵּהֹון שַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד נְגֹו נְפַלוּ לְגֹוא־אַתּוּן־נוּרָא יָקִדְתָּא מְכַפְּתִין׃   3:23

Dani. 3:23   as these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell bound into the midst of

the fiery burning furnace.

אֱדַיִן נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מַלְכָּא תְּוַהּ וְקָם בְּהִתְבְּהָלָה עָנֵה וְאָמַר לְהַדָּבְרֹוהִי הֲלָא גֻבְרִין תְּלָתָא רְמֵינָא   3:24

לְגֹוא־נוּרָא מְכַפְּתִין עָנַיִן וְאָמְרִין לְמַלְכָּא יַצִּיבָא מַלְכָּא׃

Dani. 3:24   Then Nebuchadnezzar, the king, became alarmed, and he rose speaking quickly and

said to his ministers, “Were not the three men we cast into the midst of the fire bound?” They

answered and said to the king, “It is true, O king.”

עָנֵה וְאָמַר הָא־אֲנָה חָזֵה גֻּבְרִין אַרְבְּעָה שְׁרַיִן מַהְלְכִין בְּגֹוא־נוּרָא וַחֲבָל לָא־אִיתַי בְּהֹון וְרֵוֵהּ   3:25

דִּי (רְבִיעָיָא) [רְבִיעָאָה] דָּמֵה לְבַר־אֱלָהִין׃

Dani. 3:25   He responded and said, “Behold, I am seeing four men walking loose in the midst of

the fire and there is no injury on them, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

בֵּאדַיִן קְרֵב נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר לִתְרַע אַתּוּן נוּרָא יָקִדְתָּא עָנֵה וְאָמַר שַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד־נְגֹו עַבְדֹוהִי   3:26

דִּי־אֱלָהָא (עִלָּיָא) [עִלָּאָה] פֻּקוּ וֶאֱתֹו בֵּאדַיִן נָפְקִין שַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד נְגֹו מִן־גֹּוא נוּרָא׃

Dani. 3:26   Thereupon Nebuchadnezzar drew near to the mouth of the fiery burning furnace,

answered and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, servants of the most high God, get out

and come.” Thereupon Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came forth from the midst of the fire.

I Presume that Nebuchadnezzar didn’t come as close to the furnace as did the men who cast Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego into it.

וּמִתְכַּנְּשִׁין אֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנַיָּא סִגְנַיָּא וּפַחֲוָתָא וְהַדָּבְרֵי מַלְכָּא חָזַיִן לְגֻבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ דִּי לָא־שְׁלֵט נוּרָא   3:27

בְּגֶשְׁמְהֹון וּשְׂעַר רֵאשְׁהֹון לָא הִתְחָרַךְ וְסָרְבָּלֵיהֹון לָא שְׁנֹו וְרֵיחַ נוּר לָא עֲדָת בְּהֹון׃

Dani. 3:27   And gathering together, the satraps, prefects and governors and ministers of the king,

saw these men, that the fire had no effect on their bodies, as the hair of their heads was not

singed and their coats were not changed and the odor of the fire had not passed to them.

עָנֵה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר וְאָמַר בְּרִיךְ אֱלָהֲהֹון דִּי־שַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד נְגֹו דִּי־שְׁלַח מַלְאֲכֵהּ וְשֵׁיזִב לְעַבְדֹוהִי   3:28

דִּי הִתְרְחִצוּ עֲלֹוהִי וּמִלַּת מַלְכָּא שַׁנִּיו וִיהַבוּ (גֶשְׁמֵיהֹון) [גֶשְׁמְהֹון] דִּי לָא־יִפְלְחוּן וְלָא־יִסְגְּדוּן לְכָל־אֱלָהּ

לָהֵן לֵאלָהֲהֹון׃

Dani. 3:28   Nebuchadnezzar spoke and he said, “Blessed be their God, of Shadrach, Meshach,

and Abed-nego, Who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him that they

frustrated the word of the king, and they gave their bodies because they would not serve or

worship any god but their God.

וּמִנִּי שִׂים טְעֵם דִּי כָל־עַם אֻמָּה וְלִשָּׁן דִּי־יֵאמַר (שֵׁלָה) [שָׁלוּ] עַל אֱלָהֲהֹון דִּי־שַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד   3:29

נְגֹוא הַדָּמִין יִתְעֲבֵד וּבַיְתֵהּ נְוָלִי יִשְׁתַּוֵּה כָּל־קֳבֵל דִּי לָא אִיתַי אֱלָה אָחֳרָן דִּי־יִכֻּל לְהַצָּלָה כִּדְנָה׃

Dani. 3:29   So set a decree from me that any people, nation, or language that will speak wrong

against their God, that of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut to pieces, and its house shall be made a dunghill, because there is no other god who is able to rescue like this.

בֵּאדַיִן מַלְכָּא הַצְלַח לְשַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד נְגֹו בִּמְדִינַת בָּבֶל׃   3:30

Dani. 3:30   Thereupon the king made Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego prosper in the province

of Babylon.

נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר מַלְכָּא לְכָל־עַמְמַיָּא אֻמַיָּא וְלִשָּׁנַיָּא דִּי־ (דָאֲרִין) [דָיְרִין] בְּכָל־אַרְעָא שְׁלָמְכֹון יִשְׂגֵּא׃   3:31

Dani. 3:31   Of Nebuchadnezzar, the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages who are

dwelling throughout all the earth:  “May your peace be great.”

אָתַיָּא וְתִמְהַיָּא דִּי עֲבַד עִמִּי אֱלָהָא (עִלָּיָא) [עִלָּאָה] שְׁפַר קָדָמַי לְהַחֲוָיָה׃   3:32

Dani. 3:32   “It seems good to me to declare the signs and wonders that God, most high, has

wrought with me.”

אָתֹוהִי כְּמָה רַבְרְבִין וְתִמְהֹוהִי כְּמָה תַקִּיפִין מַלְכוּתֵהּ מַלְכוּת עָלַם וְשָׁלְטָנֵהּ עִם־דָּר וְדָר׃   3:33

Dani. 3:33   “How great are His signs!

                                And how mighty are His wonders!

                       His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

                                and His dominion is from one generation to another.”

Once more, Nebuchadezzar shows his awe of and respect for the power of the Lord, but he doesn’t change his

ways.  To me, this is a bit peculiar and feels unreal.

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