The Prayer of Azariah, also known as the Song of the Three Holy Children, is an apocryphal/deuterocanonical passage found in the Book of Daniel in Catholic and Orthodox Christian Bibles. It consists of a lengthy prayer attributed to Azariah (Abednego) while he and his companions Shadrach (Hananiah) and Meshach (Mishael) were in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:23).
The passage describes how Azariah stood up and prayed aloud to God while in the fiery furnace. He praised God for his power and mercy, and for delivering the Israelites out of Egypt. Azariah acknowledged Israel’s sin and God’s punishment, but asked for mercy due to God’s promises. He asked God to receive their prayer and their lives as an evening sacrifice, as God did with the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Azariah asked God to rescue them in order to show his power and convince the king and people that God is the one true God.
The prayer ends with an exhortation for all creation – including sun, moon, stars, rain, dew, winds, mountains, hills, seas, rivers, fountains, beasts, birds, and people – to bless and praise the Lord. Azariah concludes by blessing and praising God along with his companions, encouraging all Israel to do the same forever.
The Prayer of Azariah demonstrates deep faith and trust in God in the midst of trial. It shows belief that God can rescue from any situation, no matter how dire. It is an impassioned plea for God to act mightily to reveal his glory and bring people to true worship. The psalm-like qualities reveal a desire to call all creation into joyful adoration of Yahweh.
There is debate about whether the Prayer of Azariah was originally part of the Book of Daniel or added later. It is not included in the Jewish Tanakh or Protestant Bibles, but is found in the Septuagint Greek translation, Vulgate Latin translation, and in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles. Its canonicity and authenticity are disputed, but the prayer remains meaningful for many believers.
The passage is located after Daniel 3:23 “And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.” The prayer and song then follow in verses 24-90 before the story resumes in Daniel 3:91 (or Daniel 3:24 in some Bibles).
The Prayer of Azariah reads as follows (Daniel 3:24-50 ESV):
24 And they walked around in the midst of the flames, singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord. 25 Then Azariah stood and offered this prayer; in the midst of the fire he opened his mouth and said:
26 “Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, and highly to be praised and exalted above all for all ages.
27 Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, and exceedingly glorious above all forever.
28 Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, and exceedingly to be praised and exalted above all for all ages.
29 Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne on the cherubim, and exceedingly to be praised and exalted above all for all ages.
30 “Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, and sung of and glorified forever.
31 “Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
32 Bless the Lord, you heavens, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
33 Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
34 Bless the Lord, all waters above the heavens, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
35 Bless the Lord, all powers of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
36 Bless the Lord, sun and moon, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
37 Bless the Lord, stars of heaven, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
38 “Bless the Lord, all rain and dew, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
39 Bless the Lord, all winds, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
40 Bless the Lord, fire and heat, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
41 Bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
42 Bless the Lord, dews and falling snow, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
43 Bless the Lord, nights and days, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
44 Bless the Lord, light and darkness, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
45 Bless the Lord, ice and cold, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
46 Bless the Lord, frosts and snows, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
47 Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
48 “Let the earth bless the Lord; let it sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
49 Bless the Lord, mountains and hills, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
50 Bless the Lord, all that grows on earth, sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
The song continues in a similar vein, calling for all living creatures, fountains, seas, floods, beasts, birds, Israel, priests, servants of the Lord, spirits and souls of the righteous, holy and humble of heart, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, and finally all people, to bless, thank, and praise the Lord (Daniel 3:51-90).
Some key things to note about the Prayer of Azariah:
- It demonstrates strong faith in God’s power and divine providence despite the mortal danger Azariah and his friends faced.
- Azariah blesses God extensively, acknowledging his eternal glory and dominion over all creation.
- It has similarities to other praise psalms in the Old Testament.
- Azariah asks God to act for his own name’s sake and to show his power to the king and all people.
- He affirms God’s past faithfulness in redeeming Israel from Egypt.
- Azariah appeals to God’s promises and asks Him to accept their lives as an evening sacrifice.
- The prayer shifts to an extensive call for all parts of creation to join in blessing, praising and exalting God.
There are a few perspectives on the background and purpose of this prayer:
- It may have been added to encourage Jews undergoing persecution, affirming that God can deliver those who faithfully pray and praise him even in extreme circumstances.
- It emphasizes God’s sovereignty over all things, which encouraged Jews living under foreign rulers.
- The praise from all creation gives it a cosmic, universal dimension fitting the international setting in Daniel 3.
- As a later addition, it could expand on the brief testimony of God’s deliverance in Daniel 3:28.
The Prayer of Azariah has been inspiring and meaningful for many believers facing trials and persecution throughout history. It remains a testament to the deliverance God can bring when people pray and trust in Him alone, even in life’s fiery furnaces.
The Prayer of Azariah is part of the Book of Daniel found in the Old Testament. However, it is considered apocryphal/deuterocanonical, meaning its canonicity or authenticity as divinely inspired scripture is debated:
- It is not included within the Book of Daniel in the Jewish Tanakh or in Protestant Christian Bibles.
- It is included after Daniel 3:23 in the Septuagint (ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament).
- The Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Young Men are found in the Vulgate Latin translation after Daniel 3:23.
- These passages are considered part of the Book of Daniel in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christian Bibles.
- In Catholic Bibles the Prayer is labelled as Daniel 3:24-50 and the Song as Daniel 3:52-90.
There is scholarly debate about whether the Prayer of Azariah was originally composed in Hebrew or Greek. Arguments for a Hebrew original point to:
- The prayer’s similarities to other Hebrew texts and its resonance with the Hebrew Scriptures.
- Its distribution mainly in Greek and Latin texts rather than Syriac or Aramaic translations.
- The possibility it was originally appended to Daniel in Hebrew but later removed by the Masoretes.
However, arguments for an original Greek composition note:
- Lack of any evidence of a Hebrew original.
- Its absence from the Dead Sea scroll fragments of Daniel.
- Aramaic being the predominant language for additions to Daniel.
- Language, style and theology consistent with Hellenistic Greek influence.
There are also different perspectives on when the passages were added to Daniel:
- Some date them to the 2nd century BCE when the Septuagint was translated, to supplement the sparse account in Daniel 3 of the three men’s experience in the furnace.
- Others argue the Prayer dates to the Maccabean persecutions of the mid-2nd century BCE, due to its themes of persecution and martyrdom.
- Some conservatively date them to the 1st century BCE, while more liberal views date them to the late 1st century CE.
Ultimately, the canonicity and authorship remain uncertain. But the Prayer of Azariah continues to resonate as a beautiful outpouring of faith in God’s power and divine providence in the midst of trial.
The Prayer of Azariah offers rich theological truths, including:
- God’s eternal glory, dominion, and providence over all things
- His past faithfulness toward Israel in delivering them from Egypt
- His power to save those who faithfully pray and praise Him, even from mortal danger
- The call for all creation to praise and exalt Yahweh
- God’s sovereignty over all earthly rulers and nations
- The value of unceasing prayer and praise, especially in times of trial
- Confidence in God’s promises and abiding presence with His people
This passage has provided inspiration and encouragement throughout history when people face persecution or trials. Key lessons and applications include:
- God is able to deliver believers from even intense trials and mortal dangers if they faithfully pray and praise Him.
- Calling on creation to praise God is a powerful form of prayer.
- As people bless and praise God, it releases His power and shifts focus away from the trial onto God’s eternal glory.
- Unceasing prayer is important, especially during difficult circumstances.
- Believers can trust God will hear their prayers because of His promises and past faithfulness.
- God is worthy of praise at all times, regardless of life’s fiery furnaces.
- Standing strong in faith brings glory and witness to God, even in dire situations.
The stirring example of Azariah’s prayer of faith in the fiery furnace has encouraged many believers facing persecution. It testifies to the deliverance God brings when His people trust in Him through prayer and praise alone.
