They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
Parallel translations
- WEB They answered Nebuchadnezzar the king, O king, live for ever.
- BSB saying to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, may you live forever!
- NKJV They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever!
- NASB They began to speak and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: “O king, live forever!
- NLT They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The accusers approach the king with the customary greeting, "O king, live for ever." The flattering address cloaks their hostile intent.
Overview
Court etiquette opens their denunciation, lending it an air of loyal concern for royal honor. Beneath the polite words lies a plot to ruin innocent men. The contrast between smooth speech and murderous purpose warns that flattery can mask malice.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Dan 6:6Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
- Dan 5:10Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:
- Dan 2:4Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
- Dan 6:21Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
- Rom 13:7Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
- Dan 3:4–5Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Daniel sees the stone cut without hands that shatters the kingdoms, and 'one like a son of man' given everlasting dominion — titles and visions Jesus claims as his own.
How Daniel 3:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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