Fall down: see verse 5.

Worship: this verb may require an object in many languages. If so, the object in the context is clearly the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected. It should be noted that this is the same verb translated “did homage” in 2.46 and it occurs ten times elsewhere in this chapter (see verses 5, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, and 28).

Be cast: the passive verb form will almost certainly have to be rendered actively in some languages as “they (indefinite) will cast…,” or “someone will throw…,” or something similar.

A burning fiery furnace: literally “into the inside of a furnace of burning fire.” This was probably a kind of box or room with an opening in the side (see verse 25) and another in the top (verses 21-23). Note that in verse 26 the furnace is said to have a “door” or rather some kind of opening. This indicates that it had the shape of a room or enclosure. Since furnaces are unknown in some cultures, this may be a difficult idea to translate. Some possibilities are “a room filled with very hot fire” or “a small house where things are burned up completely.” Other similar terms that people may be familiar with are “oven,” “kiln,” and “incinerator.”

Other possible models for the verse as a whole are “If any person refuses to worship the statue, then they (indefinite) will throw that person into a flaming furnace” or “My men will at once throw you into a hot fire room (or house) if you do not bow down and worship the statue.”

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René & Ellington, John. A Handbook on Daniel. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .