Daniel 2 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Daniel 2 meaning explained in AI Summary

The Dream: Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, has a disturbing dream that he can't remember. He demands his wise men tell him both the dream and its interpretation, threatening them with death if they fail.

Daniel Steps In: The king's wise men are baffled and admit they can't do what he asks. Daniel and his three friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego), who are also part of the king's court, ask for time and pray to God for help.

God Reveals the Dream: God reveals the dream and its interpretation to Daniel in a vision. Daniel thanks God for his mercy and wisdom.

Daniel Before the King: Daniel approaches the king, not only revealing that he knows the dream but also confidently declaring that God has given him the interpretation.

The Dream's Content: Daniel describes a giant statue with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of iron mixed with clay. A rock, not cut by human hands, strikes the statue's feet, shattering it completely. The rock then grows into a mountain that fills the whole earth.

The Interpretation: Daniel explains that the statue represents a succession of kingdoms:

Gold Head: Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar's own kingdom, the head of gold, represents the first and greatest of these kingdoms.
Silver Chest & Arms: A second kingdom, inferior to Babylon, will rise after it.
Bronze Belly & Thighs: A third kingdom, represented by bronze, will rule over the earth.
Iron Legs: A fourth kingdom, strong like iron, will crush and subdue all others.
Iron & Clay Feet: The fourth kingdom will be divided, strong in parts but fragile in others, unable to hold together permanently.
The Rock: The rock represents the kingdom of God, which will destroy all other kingdoms and establish an eternal kingdom that will never be destroyed.

The Aftermath: Nebuchadnezzar is astonished by Daniel's accuracy and acknowledges the power of Daniel's God. He elevates Daniel to a high position in his kingdom, showering him with gifts and making him ruler over the province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men. Daniel's three friends are also promoted to positions of authority.

Key Themes:

God's Sovereignty: God is in control of history and the rise and fall of nations.
Human Pride vs. God's Power: Human kingdoms, no matter how powerful, will eventually crumble, while God's kingdom will last forever.
Faithfulness and Trust in God: Daniel and his friends demonstrate unwavering faith in God, even in the face of danger, and are rewarded for their trust.

Daniel 2 bible study ai commentary

Daniel 2 reveals God's ultimate sovereignty over the course of human history. Through the dream of a pagan king and the divine wisdom given to a faithful exile, the chapter maps out the rise and fall of successive world empires, culminating in the establishment of God's eternal, unbreakable kingdom. It serves as a foundational prophecy for understanding the "Times of the Gentiles," demonstrating that earthly power is temporary and all history moves toward a divinely ordained conclusion.

Daniel 2 Context

The chapter is set around 603 BC, early in Nebuchadnezzar II's reign, the zenith of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Babylon was the world center for astrology, divination, and dream interpretation. The "Chaldeans" were a class of priests renowned for this wisdom. The chapter's central section (2:4b-7:28) is written in Aramaic, the lingua franca of the Persian empire and the diplomatic language of the age. This linguistic shift signifies a thematic change from God's dealings primarily with Israel to His sovereign control over Gentile world powers. The narrative directly challenges the supposed wisdom of Babylon by showing it is utterly powerless before the God of Heaven.

Daniel 2:1-3

In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. ... The king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.”

In-depth-analysis

A Troubled Spirit: The king’s spirit was "troubled" (pā‘am in Hebrew/Aramaic). This same word describes Pharaoh's reaction to his dreams in Genesis 41:8, linking the two events as divinely sent messages to pagan rulers revealed through a Hebrew servant.
The Impossible Request: The king doesn't just want an interpretation; he demands the wise men first tell him the dream's content. This was a divine safeguard to prevent fraudulent interpretations and prove the true source of the revelation.
Four Groups of Wise Men: Magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans represent the full spectrum of Babylonian occultic and intellectual wisdom. Their eventual failure highlights the bankruptcy of human wisdom in discerning divine secrets.

Bible references

Genesis 41:8: "In the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt..." (A direct parallel of a pagan king disturbed by a divine dream).
Esther 6:1: "On that night the king could not sleep..." (Another instance where a sleepless pagan king leads to a turning point for God's people).
Job 33:14-16: "For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night... he opens the ears of men". (Explains God's method of communicating through dreams).

Cross references

Gen 40:8 (dreams needing divine interpretation), Job 4:13-17 (disturbing night visions), Matt 2:12 (God communicating through dreams).

Daniel 2:4-13

Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” The king answered... “If you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb...” The wise men answered the king, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand...” Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.

In-depth-analysis

Language Shift: Verse 4 marks the switch from Hebrew to Aramaic, which continues through chapter 7. This reflects the book's focus shifting to the Gentile kingdoms that will dominate the political landscape until the Messiah's coming.
Utter Failure: The wise men admit their complete inability. Their statement, "There is not a man on earth who can do this," is ironically true. It sets the stage for the revelation that what is impossible for man is possible for God.
Collective Punishment: The death decree for all wise men, including Daniel and his friends, demonstrates the tyrannical nature of the regime and creates the crisis that necessitates Daniel's divine intervention.
Polemics: This section is a direct polemic against the supposed power and knowledge of Babylonian religion and wisdom. The most esteemed intellectuals of the world's greatest empire are exposed as frauds when faced with a real divine mystery.

Bible references

Isaiah 47:13: "You are wearied with your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you." (A prophecy mocking the failure of Babylonian astrologers).
1 Corinthians 1:20: "Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" (The ultimate failure of human wisdom before divine revelation).
Exodus 8:18-19: "The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not... And the magicians said to Pharaoh, 'This is the finger of God.'" (An earlier example of pagan magicians admitting the limits of their power compared to God's).

Cross references

Isa 44:25 (God frustrates false omens), 1 Cor 2:14 (the natural person does not understand spiritual things), Acts 16:16-19 (human divination vs. divine power).

Daniel 2:14-23

Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion... He went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation... Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery... Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

In-depth-analysis

Daniel’s Response: Unlike the panicked wise men, Daniel responds with "prudence (‘eṭā’) and discretion (ṭe‘ēm)" - wisdom and good judgment. He acts with faith, not fear.
Corporate Prayer: Daniel immediately involves his three friends. Their strength lies in their unified appeal to the "God of heaven," a title used frequently in the Aramaic section to emphasize God's transcendence over earthly kings.
The Mystery Revealed: The Aramaic word for mystery is rāz. This concept is crucial, later used by Paul as mystērion to describe gospel truths hidden in the past but now revealed by God (Eph 3:3-5, Col 1:26).
Daniel's Praise: Before going to the king, Daniel's first response is worship. His prayer (v. 20-23) is a powerful declaration of God's attributes: His sovereignty over time and history ("He changes times and seasons"), His control over politics ("He removes kings and sets up kings"), and His role as the sole source of true wisdom.

Bible references

James 1:5: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (The principle behind Daniel's action).
Matthew 18:19: "...if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven." (The power of unified prayer).
Romans 13:1: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Affirms the truth Daniel declares that God sets up and removes kings).

Cross references

1 Sam 2:7-8 (God raises and brings low), Job 12:18-22 (God's sovereignty over rulers), Prov 2:6 (the LORD gives wisdom), Amos 3:7 (God reveals his secrets to his servants), Phil 4:6 (prayer instead of anxiety).

Daniel 2:24-35

...Daniel went to Arioch...and said to him: “Do not destroy the wise men...take me before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.” ...Daniel answered... “no wise men...can show the king the mystery, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries... you saw, O king, and behold, a great image... The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.”

In-depth-analysis

Credit to God: Daniel's first words to the king (v. 27-28) give all glory to God. He starkly contrasts the inability of the Chaldeans with the power of the "God in heaven who reveals mysteries." This is a model of humble servanthood.
The Statue's Composition:
- Metals: The sequence of metals (gold, silver, bronze, iron) shows a decline in value and purity but an increase in hardness and strength, representing the character of the successive empires.
- Human Form: The image is a tselem (image/idol), shaped like a man. This symbolizes human-centered government and rebellion against God, a man-made system destined for destruction.
The Stone:
- Divine Origin: "Cut out by no human hand" signifies that this final kingdom is not a human political creation but a direct, supernatural intervention by God.
- Destructive Power: It strikes the feet, the foundation of the entire system, causing a total and catastrophic collapse of all human kingdoms represented by the statue. The empires are ground to powder, leaving no trace.

Bible references

Genesis 41:16: "Joseph answered Pharaoh, 'It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.'" (A direct parallel to Daniel giving God all the credit).
Isaiah 28:16: "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, 'Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation...'" (The Messiah prophesied as a cornerstone).
1 Peter 2:4-6: "As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious... for it stands in Scripture: 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone...'" (Directly applies the "stone" imagery to Jesus Christ).
Matthew 21:44: "And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him." (Jesus quoting from Isaiah and Psalm 118, applying the stone's destructive power to Himself).

Cross references

Ps 118:22 (the stone the builders rejected), Zech 4:6 ('Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit'), Acts 4:11 (Jesus as the stone), Eph 2:20 (Christ as the cornerstone of the church).

Daniel 2:36-45

“...you, O king, the king of kings...you are the head of gold. Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze... And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron... and as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle... And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed... It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever.”

In-depth-analysis

The Kingdoms Identified:
- Gold: Babylon (v. 38 - explicitly named as Nebuchadnezzar).
- Silver: Medo-Persia (Inferior in glory, but vast). It conquered Babylon in 539 BC.
- Bronze: Greece (v. 39 - "rule over all the earth"). Alexander the Great's conquests were swift and extensive.
- Iron: Rome (v. 40 - "breaks in pieces and shatters everything"). Known for its military might, brute force, and crushing power.
- Iron and Clay Feet: The final form of the fourth kingdom. A mixture representing a fragile coalition of strength (iron-like totalitarianism/power) and weakness (clay-like democracy/human fragility). The inability to "mix" (lā’ mit‘ārᵉbîn) highlights its inherent instability and internal division.
God's Eternal Kingdom:
- Timing: Set up "in the days of those kings" (the Roman era). This has a dual fulfillment: it was inaugurated spiritually at Christ's first coming (the church) and will be consummated physically and politically at His second coming.
- Nature: It is divine ("God of heaven will set up"), eternal ("never be destroyed"), and supreme ("break in pieces all these kingdoms"). This is the kingdom of the Messiah.

Bible references

Luke 1:32-33: "...the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David... and of his kingdom there will be no end." (The angel's promise to Mary about Jesus' eternal kingdom).
Revelation 11:15: "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.'" (The ultimate fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy).
Hebrews 12:28: "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken..." (Believers are part of this unshakeable, eternal kingdom now).

Cross references

Isa 9:7 (the increase of his government will have no end), Mic 4:7 (the LORD will reign over them), Dan 7:14, 27 (parallel prophecy of the eternal kingdom), Luke 20:18 (Christ as the crushing stone), Eph 1:20-22 (Christ's authority over all rule and authority).

Daniel 2:46-49

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered to him. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries...” Then the king gave Daniel high honors...and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men... Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court.

In-depth-analysis

A King's Homage: Nebuchadnezzar's reaction is astonishing. He, the most powerful man in the world, prostrates himself. However, he worships Daniel as a vessel of deity, a common pagan practice. His confession in v. 47 is profound but may not represent a full conversion, as later chapters (3 and 4) show his pride must be broken further.
Exaltation of God's Servant: Daniel's faithfulness and wisdom result in his promotion to the highest levels of government. God places his man in a position of immense influence.
Remembering His Friends: Daniel immediately uses his new power to elevate his friends who prayed with him. This demonstrates loyalty and a desire to build a community of godly influence within the pagan system.

Bible references

Genesis 41:39-41: "So Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Since God has shown you all this... you shall be over my house...'" (The pattern of God exalting his faithful servant in a foreign court).
Acts 14:11-13: "And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, 'The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!'" (An example of pagans trying to worship God's servants, which Paul and Barnabas reject).
1 Peter 5:6: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you." (The principle of humility leading to exaltation, perfectly exemplified by Daniel).

Cross references

Acts 10:25-26 (Peter refuses worship), Rev 19:10 (angel refuses worship), Esther 2:21-23, 6:1-11 (God positioning His people for influence).

Daniel chapter 2 analysis

The Times of the Gentiles: The statue represents the "Times of the Gentiles" (Luke 21:24), the historical period from Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem (c. 586 BC) until Christ's final return, during which Jerusalem is trodden down and world power rests in Gentile hands.
God of Heaven vs. Gods of Earth: A central theme is the contest between the transcendent "God of Heaven" (ʼĕlāh šemayyāʼ) and the limited, powerless deities and "wisdom" of earth. Daniel uses this title for God 14 times in this chapter alone.
Aramaic Section's Purpose: The shift to Aramaic (2:4b-7:28) signifies that the message of this section—God's sovereignty over world empires—is a message for the entire world, not just for Israel.
Two Visions, One Message: This vision of the statue in chapter 2 is parallel to the vision of the four beasts in chapter 7. The statue shows the outward, human political perspective of these empires, while the beasts show their inner, voracious character from God's perspective.
The Humility of Prophecy: Daniel's handling of this incredible revelation is a study in humility. Unlike the boastful wise men, his consistent message is, "There is a God in heaven who reveals..." and "this secret has not been revealed to me for any wisdom that I have."

Daniel 2 summary

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, has a disturbing dream which his wise men cannot recall or interpret. Facing a death sentence, Daniel and his friends pray, and God reveals the dream and its meaning. The dream is of a great statue with a head of gold, chest of silver, waist of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of iron mixed with clay, representing four successive world empires (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome). A stone cut without hands then strikes the statue, destroying it completely and growing into a mountain that fills the earth. This stone represents God’s eternal kingdom, which will triumph over all human kingdoms. The king acknowledges the power of Daniel's God and promotes Daniel and his friends to high office.

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Daniel chapter 2 kjv

¹ And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
² Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
³ And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
⁴ Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
⁵ The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
⁶ But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
⁷ They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
⁸ The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
⁹ But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
¹⁰ The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
¹¹ And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
¹² For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
¹³ And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
¹⁴ Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
¹⁵ He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
¹⁶ Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
¹⁷ Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
¹⁸ That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
¹⁹ Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
²⁰ Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
²¹ And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
²² He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
²³ I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.
²⁴ Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.
²⁵ Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.
²⁶ The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
²⁷ Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
²⁸ But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
²⁹ As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.
³⁰ But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
³¹ Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.
³² This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
³³ His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
³⁴ Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
³⁵ Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
³⁶ This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
³⁷ Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
³⁸ And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
³⁹ And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
⁴⁰ And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
⁴¹ And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
⁴² And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
⁴³ And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
⁴⁴ And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
⁴⁵ Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
⁴⁶ Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.
⁴⁷ The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
⁴⁸ Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.
⁴⁹ Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

Daniel chapter 2 nkjv

¹ Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him.
² Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
³ And the king said to them, "I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream."
⁴ Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation."
⁵ The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, "My decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap.
⁶ However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation."
⁷ They answered again and said, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation."
⁸ The king answered and said, "I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm:
⁹ if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation."
¹⁰ The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, "There is not a man on earth who can tell the king's matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean.
¹¹ It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."
¹² For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
¹³ So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.
¹⁴ Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon;
¹⁵ he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, "Why is the decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel.
¹⁶ So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation.
¹⁷ Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,
¹⁸ that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
¹⁹ Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
²⁰ Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His.
²¹ And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.
²² He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.
²³ "I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the king's demand."
²⁴ Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation."
²⁵ Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, "I have found a man of the captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation."
²⁶ The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, "Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?"
²⁷ Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, "The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king.
²⁸ But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:
²⁹ As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be.
³⁰ But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.
³¹ "You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome.
³² This image's head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze,
³³ its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
³⁴ You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
³⁵ Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
³⁶ "This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king.
³⁷ You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory;
³⁸ and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all? you are this head of gold.
³⁹ But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.
⁴⁰ And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.
⁴¹ Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay.
⁴² And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.
⁴³ As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.
⁴⁴ And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
⁴⁵ Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold?the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure."
⁴⁶ Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him.
⁴⁷ The king answered Daniel, and said, "Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret."
⁴⁸ Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.
⁴⁹ Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

Daniel chapter 2 niv

¹ In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep.
² So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king,
³ he said to them, "I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means."
⁴ Then the astrologers answered the king, "May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
⁵ The king replied to the astrologers, "This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble.
⁶ But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me."
⁷ Once more they replied, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
⁸ Then the king answered, "I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided:
⁹ If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me."
¹⁰ The astrologers answered the king, "There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer.
¹¹ What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans."
¹² This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon.
¹³ So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.
¹⁴ When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact.
¹⁵ He asked the king's officer, "Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.
¹⁶ At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
¹⁷ Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
¹⁸ He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
¹⁹ During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven
²⁰ and said: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.
²¹ He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
²² He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
²³ I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king."
²⁴ Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, "Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him."
²⁵ Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, "I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means."
²⁶ The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), "Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?"
²⁷ Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about,
²⁸ but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these:
²⁹ "As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen.
³⁰ As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.
³¹ "Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue?an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance.
³² The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze,
³³ its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay.
³⁴ While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them.
³⁵ Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
³⁶ "This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king.
³⁷ Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory;
³⁸ in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
³⁹ "After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth.
⁴⁰ Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron?for iron breaks and smashes everything?and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.
⁴¹ Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay.
⁴² As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle.
⁴³ And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
⁴⁴ "In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.
⁴⁵ This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands?a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. "The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy."
⁴⁶ Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him.
⁴⁷ The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery."
⁴⁸ Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.
⁴⁹ Moreover, at Daniel's request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.

Daniel chapter 2 esv

¹ In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him.
² Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
³ And the king said to them, "I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream."
⁴ Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation."
⁵ The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, "The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins.
⁶ But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation."
⁷ They answered a second time and said, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation."
⁸ The king answered and said, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm ?
⁹ if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation."
¹⁰ The Chaldeans answered the king and said, "There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean.
¹¹ The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."
¹² Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.
¹³ So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.
¹⁴ Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.
¹⁵ He declared to Arioch, the king's captain, "Why is the decree of the king so urgent?" Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel.
¹⁶ And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.
¹⁷ Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,
¹⁸ and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
¹⁹ Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
²⁰ Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.
²¹ He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
²² he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
²³ To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter."
²⁴ Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation."
²⁵ Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: "I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation."
²⁶ The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, "Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?"
²⁷ Daniel answered the king and said, "No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked,
²⁸ but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:
²⁹ To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be.
³⁰ But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.
³¹ "You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening.
³² The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze,
³³ its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
³⁴ As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
³⁵ Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
³⁶ "This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation.
³⁷ You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory,
³⁸ and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all ? you are the head of gold.
³⁹ Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.
⁴⁰ And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these.
⁴¹ And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay.
⁴² And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle.
⁴³ As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.
⁴⁴ And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,
⁴⁵ just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure."
⁴⁶ Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him.
⁴⁷ The king answered and said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery."
⁴⁸ Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.
⁴⁹ Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court.

Daniel chapter 2 nlt

¹ One night during the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams that he couldn't sleep.
² He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, and he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed. As they stood before the king,
³ he said, "I have had a dream that deeply troubles me, and I must know what it means."
⁴ Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "Long live the king! Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means."
⁵ But the king said to the astrologers, "I am serious about this. If you don't tell me what my dream was and what it means, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be turned into heaps of rubble!
⁶ But if you tell me what I dreamed and what the dream means, I will give you many wonderful gifts and honors. Just tell me the dream and what it means!"
⁷ They said again, "Please, Your Majesty. Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means."
⁸ The king replied, "I know what you are doing! You're stalling for time because you know I am serious when I say,
⁹ 'If you don't tell me the dream, you are doomed.' So you have conspired to tell me lies, hoping I will change my mind. But tell me the dream, and then I'll know that you can tell me what it means."
¹⁰ The astrologers replied to the king, "No one on earth can tell the king his dream! And no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer!
¹¹ The king's demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people."
¹² The king was furious when he heard this, and he ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be executed.
¹³ And because of the king's decree, men were sent to find and kill Daniel and his friends.
¹⁴ When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, came to kill them, Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion.
¹⁵ He asked Arioch, "Why has the king issued such a harsh decree?" So Arioch told him all that had happened.
¹⁶ Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant.
¹⁷ Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened.
¹⁸ He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon.
¹⁹ That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven.
²⁰ He said, "Praise the name of God forever and ever,
for he has all wisdom and power.
²¹ He controls the course of world events;
he removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the scholars.
²² He reveals deep and mysterious things
and knows what lies hidden in darkness,
though he is surrounded by light.
²³ I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors,
for you have given me wisdom and strength.
You have told me what we asked of you
and revealed to us what the king demanded."
²⁴ Then Daniel went in to see Arioch, whom the king had ordered to execute the wise men of Babylon. Daniel said to him, "Don't kill the wise men. Take me to the king, and I will tell him the meaning of his dream."
²⁵ Arioch quickly took Daniel to the king and said, "I have found one of the captives from Judah who will tell the king the meaning of his dream!"
²⁶ The king said to Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar), "Is this true? Can you tell me what my dream was and what it means?"
²⁷ Daniel replied, "There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king's secret.
²⁸ But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.
²⁹ "While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about coming events. He who reveals secrets has shown you what is going to happen.
³⁰ And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart.
³¹ "In your vision, Your Majesty, you saw standing before you a huge, shining statue of a man. It was a frightening sight.
³² The head of the statue was made of fine gold. Its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze,
³³ its legs were iron, and its feet were a combination of iron and baked clay.
³⁴ As you watched, a rock was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands. It struck the feet of iron and clay, smashing them to bits.
³⁵ The whole statue was crushed into small pieces of iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold. Then the wind blew them away without a trace, like chaff on a threshing floor. But the rock that knocked the statue down became a great mountain that covered the whole earth.
³⁶ "That was the dream. Now we will tell the king what it means.
³⁷ Your Majesty, you are the greatest of kings. The God of heaven has given you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor.
³⁸ He has made you the ruler over all the inhabited world and has put even the wild animals and birds under your control. You are the head of gold.
³⁹ "But after your kingdom comes to an end, another kingdom, inferior to yours, will rise to take your place. After that kingdom has fallen, yet a third kingdom, represented by bronze, will rise to rule the world.
⁴⁰ Following that kingdom, there will be a fourth one, as strong as iron. That kingdom will smash and crush all previous empires, just as iron smashes and crushes everything it strikes.
⁴¹ The feet and toes you saw were a combination of iron and baked clay, showing that this kingdom will be divided. Like iron mixed with clay, it will have some of the strength of iron.
⁴² But while some parts of it will be as strong as iron, other parts will be as weak as clay.
⁴³ This mixture of iron and clay also shows that these kingdoms will try to strengthen themselves by forming alliances with each other through intermarriage. But they will not hold together, just as iron and clay do not mix.
⁴⁴ "During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever.
⁴⁵ That is the meaning of the rock cut from the mountain, though not by human hands, that crushed to pieces the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God was showing the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its meaning is certain."
⁴⁶ Then King Nebuchadnezzar threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him.
⁴⁷ The king said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret."
⁴⁸ Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men.
⁴⁹ At Daniel's request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king's court.