Charles Ellicott Commentary Daniel 3:16

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter." — Daniel 3:16 (ASV)

O Nebuchadnezzar. They mention the king by name, so that their address would correspond with his (Daniel 3:14). His attention would in this way be directed to the strong antithesis between his statement (Daniel 3:15) and theirs (Daniel 3:17). Though the distinction between king and subject was great in a country like Babylon, yet that distinction was lost whenever a conflict occurred between duty to Jehovah and obedience to a royal edict.

We are not careful. More correctly, as translated by Theodotion, We have no need — i.e., it is unnecessary for us to give any reply.