Daniel 2:34

32 ^aThis image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and¹ thighs of bronze,

33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of¹ clay.

34 You watched while a stone was cut out ^awithout hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.

35 ^aThen the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became ^blike chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that ^cno trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image ^dbecame a great mountain ^eand filled the whole earth.

36 “This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king.

37 ^aYou, O king, are a king of kings. ^bFor the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory;

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
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Daniel 2:35 >>

What Does Daniel 2:34 Mean?

Daniel 2:32-35

Several important details surface immediately. First, it is an image. The second commandment (Exodus 20:4-6) describes God's revulsion of images of any kind used in worship. Although no one is seen worshipping this image, the idea that what this image represents is contrary to God is definitely present.

Second, the image's body parts are formed from different materials in descending value (Daniel 2:39). Gold is more valuable than silver, which is more valuable than bronze, etc. Finally, it ends in iron mixed with clay, an amalgam that is practically worthless and useless. However, the order of these materials increases in hardness with the exception of the iron-clay mixture (verses 40-43). This symbolizes two aspects of the same idea: While the spiritual, moral, or cultural qualities of these empires decline, their military or political power increases as one empire overthrows another.

Third, the progression from head to toes conveys the movement of time. Though these empires overlap to a small degree as one rises and another falls, their dominance in world affairs is successive. This is clearly shown in Daniel's explanation: "But after you shall arise another kingdom . . . then another" (verse 39). Thus, we should expect to be able to follow this prophecy on a historical time-line except where it continues into the future.

Fourth, the body parts themselves describe traits of the empires they symbolize. The head of the image shows a monolithic structure of government which determines the course of the body, just as in the symbolism of Christ being the Head of the body, the church (Colossians 1:18). The two arms and two legs indicate divisions of government or bases of power. Ten toes of inconsistent materials symbolize a weak-strong and possibly short confederation.

Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Nebuchadnezzar's Image (Part One): 'Head of Gold'

Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Daniel 2:34:

Daniel 7:4
Matthew 21:43-46
Mark 12:12
Luke 20:18-19

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Daniel 2:35 >>

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What Does Daniel 2:34 Mean?

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

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