Daniel 2 34

Daniel 2:34 kjv

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.

Daniel 2:34 nkjv

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.

Daniel 2:34 niv

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.

Daniel 2:34 esv

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.

Daniel 2:34 nlt

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.

Daniel 2 verses

Daniel 2 34 Meaning

This verse describes the catastrophic and decisive impact of a stone, cut without human hands, on the feet of a great image. This action signifies the complete destruction and supersession of the earthly kingdoms represented by the image, replaced by an everlasting kingdom established by God.

Daniel 2 34 Context

This verse is the culmination of Nebuchadnezzar's dream described in Daniel chapter 2. The dream depicts a colossal statue with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet part iron and part clay. Daniel interprets these parts as successive Gentile empires that will rule the world, from Babylon (gold) to future kingdoms (silver, bronze, iron). The terrifying element for Nebuchadnezzar is the final stage, the feet and toes, which symbolize a divided and weakened empire, ultimately shattered. This verse introduces the supernatural intervention that will bring about the end of all earthly dominion and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. The immediate context is Daniel's explanation of the dream to Nebuchadnezzar, revealing the future geopolitical landscape as divinely ordained and ultimately superseded. Historically, the imagery of successive empires would have resonated with the audience's understanding of evolving world powers.

Daniel 2 34 Word Analysis

• And: Conjunction connecting the preceding description of the divided kingdom to its imminent destruction.
• smote: From Aramaic "maṭa" (מְטָא), meaning to strike, hit, or touch. It signifies a direct, decisive, and forceful impact.
• the image: Refers to the great statue seen by Nebuchadnezzar in his dream, representing successive earthly kingdoms.
• upon its feet: Specifically targeting the vulnerable, divisible, and final stage of the earthly kingdoms, symbolizing their ultimate weakness and division.
• that is to say: Introduces the explanation and identification of the material comprising the feet.
• iron and clay: Represents the mixed nature of the final kingdom(s), a combination of strength (iron) and weakness/instability (clay), a fusion that lacks true cohesion.
• so was it broken: From Aramaic "wethurrec" (ותֻּבַּר), meaning broken in pieces, crushed. This emphasizes the totality of the destruction.
• in the same moment: Indicates an instantaneous and complete overthrow, not a gradual decline.
• the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold: The verse lists the components of the statue in reverse order of their appearance in the dream’s material progression, reinforcing the thoroughness of the shattering – the entire structure is destroyed.
• together: Emphasizes the complete disintegration of all parts of the image, no segment is spared.
• and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors: A vivid simile for utter annihilation and dispersion. From Aramaic "mazōz" (מְזֹאז), referring to grain that has been threshed and separated from the husk.
• and the wind carried them away: Signifies that nothing remained of the former empires; they were utterly removed without a trace. From Aramaic "surēh" (שְׂרֵה), meaning to sweep away or carry off.
• and there was found no place for them: Highlights the complete obliteration and disappearance of these earthly powers from the world stage.

Word Group Analysis:

• "smote the image upon the feet thereof": This phrase signifies a precise, targeted destruction aimed at the weakest point of the represented kingdoms. It shows divine intervention acting at the critical juncture of earth's divided dominion.
• "iron and clay": This juxtaposition represents inherent instability and a failed union within the final world powers, a theme echoed in other biblical descriptions of compromised strength.
• "broken in pieces together": This describes total destruction. The combined action ensures that no part of the symbolized kingdoms escapes.
• "became like the chaff... and the wind carried them away": This powerful simile depicts absolute erasure and the complete absence of any lasting residue from these earthly kingdoms. It signifies divine judgment that leaves no trace.

Daniel 2 34 Bonus Section

The imagery of the stone cut "without hands" is a profound theological statement. It directly contrasts with the man-made image and its kingdoms, pointing to a supernatural origin for the kingdom that will replace them. This contrasts with all earthly governments which are the product of human ambition and power struggles. This detail is often seen as prefiguring the virgin birth of Christ and His divine nature. Furthermore, the stone's growth to fill the whole earth signifies the universal and eternal reign of Christ’s kingdom, a concept elaborated upon in New Testament theology, particularly in how the church, built upon Christ the Cornerstone, expands throughout the world. The contrasting materials of the image—gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay—symbolize not only temporal succession but also the moral and spiritual characteristics of each era, showing a progressive decline and deterioration in the quality of the earthly kingdoms leading to the unstable final phase.

Daniel 2 34 Commentary

Daniel 2:34 details the moment divine judgment is executed upon the great image representing Gentile world powers. A stone, divinely detached, strikes the feet, which are a mixture of iron and clay. This signifies that the final world powers, characterized by a brittle and unstable unity, will be the immediate target of God’s sovereign intervention. The immediate and total destruction of the entire image—iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold—shows that the establishment of God’s kingdom results in the utter annihilation of all preceding earthly empires and their power structures. They are scattered like worthless chaff, leaving no trace, emphasizing their transience and ultimate insignificance when compared to the eternal kingdom. The stone itself, having destroyed the image, grows to fill the earth, symbolizing the dominion of God's kingdom which will be all-encompassing and everlasting. This event is a foundational prophecy regarding the end times and the ultimate triumph of God's sovereignty over human empires.