Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 3:27

"And the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, and the king`s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power upon their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed, neither were their hosen changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them." — Daniel 3:27 (ASV)

And the princes, governors, and captains - See notes on Daniel 3:3.

And the king’s counselors - See notes on Daniel 3:24.

Being gathered together, saw these men - There could be no mistake about the reality of the miracle. They came out as they were cast in. There could have been no trick, no art, no legerdemain, by which they could have been preserved and restored. If the facts occurred as they are stated here, then there can be no doubt that this was a real miracle.

Upon whose bodies the fire had no power - That is, the usual power of fire on the human body was prevented.

Nor was a hair of their head singed - This would be the part most likely to have burned. The design is to show that the fire had produced absolutely no effect on them.

Neither were their coats changed - Regarding the word “coats,” see the notes on Daniel 3:21. The word “changed” means that there was no change caused by the fire in either their color or their texture.

Nor the smell of fire had passed on them - Not the slightest effect had been produced by the fire; not even enough to cause the smell that fire produces when cloth is singed or burned. Perhaps, however, sulfur or pitch had been used in heating the furnace; and the idea may be that their preservation had been so complete that not even the smell of the smoke caused by those combustibles could be perceived.