And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

DANIEL 3:27KJV
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Daniel 3:27 (KJV)

What does Daniel 3:27 mean?

Daniel 3:27 describes how the highest officials of Babylon saw that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were completely unharmed after being thrown into a blazing furnace—there was no effect on their bodies, not even a singed hair, damaged clothing, or the smell of fire. The verse emphasizes the total lack of harm, despite the intense danger they faced.

The scene takes place after King Nebuchadnezzar ordered these three men into the fire for refusing to worship his golden image. The verse lists the various officials—princes, governors, captains, and counselors—who witnessed this event, highlighting the public and undeniable nature of the miracle. The language stresses that not a single aspect of the men was touched by the fire, underlining the extraordinary protection they received.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 3:27

  • The word for "fire" is נוּר (nur), which appears twice in the verse. This word is used to stress the dangerous reality of the furnace and the miraculous nature of the men's survival.
  • The phrase "had no power" uses the Aramaic שָׁלֵט (shalet), meaning "to have power or dominion." This highlights that the fire was completely powerless over the men, not just that they survived, but that the fire had no effect at all.
  • The word for "smell" is רֵיחַ (reach), which means "odor" or "scent." The detail that not even the smell of fire was on them shows the completeness of their deliverance—there was no trace of the ordeal left on them.

Why Daniel 3:27 matters

  • Daniel 3:27 clarifies that the miracle was witnessed by all the top officials, making it a public event that could not be denied or dismissed as a rumor.
  • The verse emphasizes the totality of the protection—every possible sign of fire damage is specifically ruled out, showing the extent of the deliverance.
  • This verse connects to the broader story by setting up the king’s response in the following verses, where Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges the power of the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Where else these words appear

“coats” Hebrew H5622 · used in 2 verses

  • Daniel 3:21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

“together” Hebrew H3673 · used in 3 verses

  • Daniel 3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
  • Daniel 3:3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

“hair” Hebrew H8177 · used in 3 verses

  • Daniel 4:33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
  • Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

“counsellors” Hebrew H1907 · used in 4 verses

  • Daniel 3:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
  • Daniel 4:36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
  • Daniel 6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.