The three young overcomers did not simply frustrate the king’s word — they changed it in nature and were not afraid to yield their bodies to be killed. Thus, they gained the victory over the seduction of idol worship. Because of their victory God could boast to Satan that even in his territory He had a people who worshipped Him.

This fourth one was the excellent Christ as the Son of Man, who had come to be with His three suffering, persecuted overcomers and to make the fire a pleasant place in which to walk about. The three overcomers did not need to ask God to deliver them from the furnace (cf. v. 17). Christ as the Son of Man — the One who is qualified and capable of sympathizing with God’s people in everything (Heb. 4:15) — came to be their Companion and take care of them in their suffering, by His presence making their place of suffering a pleasant situation.

Some MSS omit, bagpipe.

Since Daniel is not mentioned in this chapter, it is likely that he stayed away from the dedication of the image in order to pray for God’s victory in the situation.

Nebuchadnezzar might have been influenced to make such an image by the interpretation of his dream in Dan. 2:37-38.