Daniel 3:4 — Word Study
WLCוְכָרוֹזָ֖א קָרֵ֣א בְחָ֑יִל לְכ֤וֹן אָֽמְרִין֙ עַֽמְמַיָּ֔א אֻמַּיָּ֖א וְלִשָּׁנַיָּֽא׃
BSAThen the heraldkârôwz△ [proclaimer, messenger] loudlychayil proclaimedqᵉrâʼ O peopleʻam [nations, communities] of [every] nationʼummâh [tribe, ethnic group] and languagelishshân [tongue, dialect] [this is what] you are commandedʼămar [instructed, ordered to do]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְכָרוֹזָ֖א | and herald the | Conjunction, noun common both singular determined, particle |
| קָרֵ֣א | [was] proclaiming | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| בְחָ֑יִל | with power | Preposition, noun common both singular absolute |
| לְכ֤וֹן | to you | Preposition, suffix |
| אָֽמְרִין֙ | [they are] saying | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine plural |
| עַֽמְמַיָּ֔א | peoples O | Noun common masculine plural determined, particle |
| אֻמַּיָּ֖א | nations | Noun common masculine plural determined, particle |
| וְלִשָּׁנַיָּֽא׃ | and languages | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural determined, particle |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded: |
| KJV | Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, |
| ASV | Then the herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, |
| YLT | And a crier is calling mightily: 'To you they are saying: O peoples, nations, and languages! |
| WEB | Then the herald cried aloud, “To you it is commanded, peoples, nations, and languages, |
| BBE | Then one of the king's criers said in a loud voice, To you the order is given, O peoples, nations, and languages, |
Where they part company is in the rendering of כָּרוֹז — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause introduces the herald's proclamation, with subordinate phrases elaborating on the audience and the content of the command.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbקְרָא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 8 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Daniel 3:4
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Proclamation of the Heraldgenerated
Daniel 3:4 describes a herald who loudly proclaims a command to all people of various nations and languages, reflecting the authority of King Nebuchadnezzar. This proclamation occurs during the dedication of a statue, emphasizing the king's desire for unity and obedience among his subjects. The context highlights the importance of this decree in the narrative, as it sets the stage for the subsequent events involving Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel 4:14 | He called out in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its branches. |
| 2 | Proverbs 9:13–15 | The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing. |
| 3 | Isaiah 40:9 | Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news. Raise your voice loudly, O Jerusalem, herald of good news. Lift it up, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” |
| 4 | Isaiah 58:1 | “Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins. |
| 5 | Hosea 5:11 | Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — כָּרוֹז, karowzgenerated
The word כָּרוֹז (karowz) means 'herald' or 'proclaimer' and is derived from a related Aramaic root. It signifies a person who announces important messages, often in a formal context, such as a royal proclamation.
In this verse, the herald's role is crucial as he conveys the king's command to a diverse audience, highlighting the significance of the message being delivered.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree here, all rendering the term for 'herald' consistently.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb is קָרֵ֣א (ka.re'), meaning 'was proclaiming', which governs the structure of the sentence. The herald's proclamation is the focal action, with several noun phrases providing details about the audience and the command.
The sentence is structured to emphasize the authority and urgency of the herald's message, with prepositional phrases clarifying to whom the command is directed.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates כָּרוֹז as κῆρυχ (kēryx), which also means 'herald'. This choice maintains the formal role of the proclaimer in the context of a royal command.
The use of ἐκήρυχε for 'was proclaiming' reflects a similar emphasis on the act of announcing, aligning with the Hebrew intent.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Daniel 3:4 tells us that a herald loudly proclaimed a command to all people from every nation and language, instructing them on what they must do. This proclamation is part of a larger scene where King Nebuchadnezzar is establishing his authority through a royal decree.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The herald's proclamation serves to unify the diverse audience under a single command from the king, emphasizing the authority of Nebuchadnezzar.
Addressing all nations and languages indicates the king's desire for widespread obedience and the importance of the decree in a multicultural empire.
Similar to modern announcements, a herald serves as an official messenger, conveying important information and commands to the public.
This verse illustrates King Nebuchadnezzar's authority and power, as he commands attention from all people, reinforcing his position as a ruler.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does this proclamation teach us about the importance of authority in communication?
- How can we apply the concept of a herald in sharing important messages in our own lives?
- In what ways do we see commands or messages being communicated in our communities today?
- How does understanding the role of a herald enhance our reading of this passage?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early church fathers referenced this verse to discuss themes of authority and proclamation, with insights drawn from their writings.
And we know that once we have been persuaded by Jesus to abandon idols and the atheism of worshiping many gods, the enemy cannot persuade us to commit idolatry, though he tries to force us.Early Church Fathers on Daniel 3 →
Verses 4, 5. "And a herald proclaimed with mighty voice: 'To us the order is given, both peoples and tribes and languages,Early Church Fathers on Daniel 3 →
See how the struggles are so difficult, how irresistible is the snare, how deep the valley, and a precipice on either hand. But be not afraid.Early Church Fathers on Daniel 3 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Daniel 3:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThen an herald cried aloud,.... That his voice might be heard all over the plain; or if it should be thought that one was not sufficient to be heard throughout, which probably was the case, and
Read John Gill on Daniel 3 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThen an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, The arguments of the persecutor are in brief, Turn or burn.
Read Robert Jamieson on Daniel 3 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAn herald: it is likely there were many heralds at the head of that great concourse, else they could not all hear. People, nations, and languages: proclamation was made therefore in several languages, to some of several nations assembled there, and to the representatives of all.
Read Matthew Poole on Daniel 3 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsDaniel 3:4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,Ver. 4. To you it is commanded.] Chald., They command; i.e., the king and his council. But what said the heathen? Obediemus Atridis honesta mandantibus, we will obey rulers if they command things honest, but not else. The Bishop of Norwich asked Roger Coo, martyr in Queen Mary’ s days, whether he would not obey the queen’ s laws? He answered, As far as they agree with the Word of God I will obey them. The bishop replied, Whether they agree with the Word of God or not we are bound to obey them, if the queen were an infidel. Coo answered, If Shadrach, Meshaeh, and Abednego had done so…
Read John Trapp on Daniel 3 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4) People, nations.—In Biblical language the latter word is used (Genesis 25:16) of the tribes of Ishmael, each of which had its own head, or of the Midianites (Numbers 25:15). The former is applied to Israel in Psalms 111:6, where occurs the phrase, “people of Jehovah.” The word “languages” is applied (Genesis 10:5; Genesis 10:20, &c.) to tribes as represented by their languages. Hence these three expressions denote all nations subject to the empire, of whatever description of language, government, or federation. (Comp. Daniel 3:29, and Daniel 4:1; Daniel 7:14.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Daniel 3 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 4. Then a herald cried aloud] כרוזא קרא בחיל caroza kara bechayil, "a crier called with might." A bedel cried mightili. - Old MS. Bible.
Read AdamClarke on Daniel 3 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges4. And the herald cried aloud] lit. with might: Son 4:14; Son 5:7; and in Heb. (though the substantive is a different one) Jonah 3:8. peoples, nations, and languages] the same pleonastic combination, Daniel 3:7; Daniel 3:29, Daniel 4:1, Daniel 5:19, Daniel 6:25, Daniel 7:14; cf. also Isaiah 66:18. Similarly Revelation 5:9; Revelation 7:9; Revelation 10:11; Revelation 11:9; Revelation 13:7; Revelation 14:6; Revelation 17:16. Here the combination is no doubt used under the idea that strangers from different countries ruled by Nebuchadnezzar, as well as from other parts (such as were always to be found in Babylon: Isaiah 13:14 b, Isaiah 47:15; Jeremiah 50:16), would be present on such an…
Read Cambridge on Daniel 3 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThen an herald cried aloud - Margin, as in Chaldee, “with might.” He made a loud proclamation. A “herald” here means a public crier.
Read Albert Barnes on Daniel 3 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded:
Then the herald cried aloud, “To you it is commanded, peoples, nations, and languages,
Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded:
Then the herald made a loud proclamation: “To you, O peoples, nations, and language groups, the following command is given:
Tyndale line
Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
Then the herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,
Then the herald cried aloud, to you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,
Then a herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
Then an herald cried aloude, Be it knowen to you, O people, nations, and languages,
Strictly literal
And the herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, [O] peoples, nations, and languages,
And a crier is calling mightily: 'To you they are saying: O peoples, nations, and languages!
And a crier is calling mightily: “They are saying to you: O peoples, nations, and languages!
Then a herald called out with a loud voice, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
Then a herald loudly shouted, “You are commanded, peoples, nations, and languages,
From the Latin
Then a herald cried with a strong voice: To you it is commanded, O nations, tribes, and languages:
Simplified
Then a herald announced in a loud voice, “People of all nations and languages, pay attention to the king's command!
Then one of the king's criers said in a loud voice, To you the order is given, O peoples, nations, and languages,
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text of Daniel 3:4 reads, "וְכָרוֹזָ֖א קָרֵ֣א בְחָ֑יִל לְכ֤וֹן אָֽמְרִין֙ עַֽמְמַיָּ֔א אֻמַּיָּ֖א וְלִשָּׁנַיָּֽא׃" The Septuagint, while not providing a complete translation, shows that 7 of the 8 words correspond closely to the Hebrew text, indicating a strong agreement in content, though the word order and articles differ as per the Septuagint's style. No significant variations are noted in the Samaritan Pentateuch or the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse, suggesting a consensus across these ancient witnesses regarding the core message of the proclamation to the people of every nation and language.
וְכָרוֹזָ֖א קָרֵ֣א בְחָ֑יִל לְכ֤וֹן אָֽמְרִין֙ עַֽמְמַיָּ֔א אֻמַּיָּ֖א וְלִשָּׁנַיָּֽא׃
7 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Daniel 3:4
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
כָּרוֹז (karowz) means 'herald' or 'proclaimer' and is derived from a related Aramaic root. It appears in the context of a proclaimer, particularly emphasized in Daniel 3:4.
[כָּרוֹז] n.m. herald;—emph. Dn 3:4.
ref
H3744 כָּרוֹז
3744 karowz kaw-roze'
(Aramaic) from 3745; a herald:--herald.
see HEBREW for 03745
כָּרוֹז (ka.roz) — proclaimer.
a herald
Adj | N-ms | Art — Conjunction · noun common both singular determined · particleAC/Ncbsd/Ta
her'-ald: The word occurs once (Da 3:4) as the translation of the Aramaic word karoz (compare kerux): "Then the herald cried aloud."
See also GAMES.
one who makes public proclamation. The only notice of this officer in the Old Testament occurs in (Daniel 3:4) The term "herald" might be substituted for "preacher" in (1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:11; 2 Peter 2:5)
קְרָא (qra') is a Hebrew verb meaning to call, read aloud, or shout. It encompasses actions like proclaiming and being summoned. The entries indicate its use in both active and reflexive forms, with no significant disagreements among the lexicons.
[קְרָא] vb. call, read out, aloud
Pe.
call, proclaim
read out, aloud
Pe‛îl it was read
Hithpe. be summoned
base
H7123 קְרָא
7123 qra' ker-aw'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 7121:--call, cry, read.
see HEBREW for 07121
קְרָא (qe.ra) — to read.
1) to call, read aloud, read out, shout
1a) (P'al)
1a1) to call, proclaim
1a2) to read aloud, read out
1b)(Ithp'el) to be summoned, be called
Adj — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularAVqrmsa
חַ֫יִל (chayil) refers to strength, power, or an army. The word encompasses meanings related to force and might, often used in contexts involving military strength. It is linked to the concept of power, as noted in various lexicons.
חַ֫יִל n.m. power, strength, army
base
H2429 חַ֫יִל
2429 chayil khah'-yil
(Aramaic) corresponding to 2428; an army, or
strength:--aloud, army, X most (mighty), power.
see HEBREW for 02428
חַ֫יִל (cha.yil) — strength.
1) strength, army, power
1a) power
1b) force, army
Adj | N-ms — Preposition · noun common both singular absoluteAR/Ncbsa
pou'-er: This word, indicative of might, strength, force, is used in the Old Testament to render very many Hebrew terms, the translation in numerous instances being varied in the Revised Version (British and American) to words like "valor," "rule," "strength," "might," "dominion." The principal words for "power" in the New Testament are dunamis, and exousia. In the latter case the Revised Version (British and American) frequently changes to "authority" (Mr 3:15; 6:7; Eph 1:21, etc.) or "right" (Ro 9:21; 1Co 9:6; 2Th 3:9, etc.). Power is attributed preeminently to God (1Ch…
For the use of this word in 1Co 11:10, see VEIL.
כֶם (khem) — you.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person masculine plural
AR/Sp2mp — Preposition · suffixAR/Sp2mp
אֲמַר (amar) means to say, tell, command, or speak. It is used in various contexts to express communication or declaration. The word is related to the Aramaic form and is linked to another Hebrew root, אָמַר (H0559). The entries consistently emphasize its verbal nature without significant disagreement.
אֲמַר 71 vb. say, tell, command
base
H560 אֲמַר say, tell, command
560 'amar am-ar'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 559:--command, declare, say,
speak, tell.
see HEBREW for 0559
אֲמַר (a.mar) — to say.
(P'al) to say, to speak, to command, to tell, to relate
Aramaic of a.mar (אָמַר "to say" H0559)
Adj — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine pluralAVqrmpa
עַם (am) means 'people' in Hebrew and is also noted in Aramaic. It corresponds to the related word עַם (am) in Strong's H5971. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to groups of people.
H5972 עַם
5972 `am am
(Aramaic) corresponding to 5971:--people.
see HEBREW for 05971
עַם (am) — people.
people
Aramaic of am (עַם ": people" H5971A)
Adj | Art — Noun common masculine plural determined · particleANcmpd/Ta
אֻמָּה (ummah) refers to a nation or people, and is derived from an Aramaic root that corresponds to another Hebrew term for nation. The entries consistently define it as relating to a group of people or tribe.
אֻמָּה n.f. nation
base
H524 אֻמָּה
524 'ummah oom-maw'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 523:--nation.
see HEBREW for 0523
אֻמָּה (um.mah) — people.
people, tribe, nation
Aramaic of um.mah (אֻמָּה "people" H0523)
Adj | Art — Noun common masculine plural determined · particleANcmpd/Ta
na'-shunz.
See GENTILES; GOIIM; HEATHEN; TABLE OF NATIONS.
לִשָּׁן (lishshan) refers to 'tongue' or 'language' in Hebrew, and can also figuratively denote 'people.' The word is built from the concept of speech, linking it to communication and identity. It appears in contexts related to nations and their languages.
לִשָּׁן n.m. tongue
base
H3961 לִשָּׁן
3961 lishshan lish-shawn'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 3956; speech, i.e. a
nation:--language.
see HEBREW for 03956
לִשָּׁן (lish.shan) — tongue.
1) tongue, language
1a) tongue, language
1b) people (fig.)
Adj | N-mp | Art — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural determined · particleAC/Ncmpd/Ta