But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
But even if he doesn't rescue us, you should know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or bow down to the golden statue you have set up.
The three Hebrew men are telling King Nebuchadnezzar that even if God doesn't save them from death, they still refuse to worship anyone but God.
📚 Historical Context
In the Babylonian exile, King Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Judah and demanded that all people, including Jewish exiles, worship a massive golden statue he erected as a symbol of his authority. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were among these exiles, refused to bow down, declaring their unwavering loyalty to the God of Israel despite the king's decree. This act of defiance highlighted the cultural clash between Babylonian idolatry and Jewish monotheism, leading to their threatened execution in a fiery furnace.
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