Daniel 2 45

Daniel 2:45 kjv

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.

Daniel 2:45 nkjv

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."

Daniel 2:45 niv

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."

Daniel 2:45 esv

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."

Daniel 2:45 nlt

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."

Daniel 2 verses

Daniel 2 45 Meaning

Daniel 2:45 concludes the interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, explaining the final element: the stone. This verse declares that a kingdom established by God Himself, not by human effort, will utterly destroy and replace all earthly empires represented by the statue. It emphasizes God's supreme sovereignty over all history, revealing future events with absolute certainty and providing a trustworthy interpretation of the divine revelation.

Daniel 2 45 Context

Daniel 2:45 is the conclusive statement of Daniel's interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's prophetic dream. In this chapter, the Babylonian king has a disturbing dream, which he demands his "wise men" to reveal and interpret. Their failure highlights the inadequacy of human wisdom and false deities. Daniel, through direct revelation from the God of Israel, unveils the dream: a great image composed of different metals representing a succession of world empires – Babylonian (gold), Medo-Persian (silver), Greek (bronze), and Roman (iron, with its later fragmented iron and clay toes). The climax of the dream is the "stone cut without hands" which strikes the image's feet, shattering the entire structure and growing to fill the earth. Verse 45 explains that this stone represents God's eternal kingdom, established by divine power, which will overcome and eternally replace all human kingdoms. Historically, this account is set during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar in the Babylonian Empire (early 6th century BC), when Daniel was in exile. The narrative implicitly serves as a polemic against the supposed power and wisdom of pagan gods and their interpreters, unequivocally demonstrating the supremacy of the God of Israel and His unmatched prophetic insight into future historical events.

Daniel 2 45 Word analysis

• Because you saw (דִּי־אֲזַחַתּוּן - dî-'aḥazattūn): Aramaic for "that you saw" or "as you saw." Emphasizes that the king himself witnessed this profound image in his dream, validating the reality of what Daniel is about to explain. It points to a direct divine revelation received by the king, affirming the certainty of the prophecy.
• the stone (אֶבְנָא - ’eḇnā’): Aramaic for "the stone." This seemingly unassuming object holds immense symbolic weight. It contrasts sharply with the vast, gleaming image built of metals, highlighting humility as the vehicle for divine power, and prefiguring the unpretentious earthly origins of God's eternal kingdom.
• was cut out (הִתְגְּזֶרֶת - hiṯgəzeret): Aramaic for "was cut" or "was severed." Implies a precise, deliberate action. The stone was not fashioned by human effort; it was "cut out" by a power independent of and superior to all human means.
• of the mountain (מִטּוּרָא - miṭṭûrâ): Aramaic for "from the mountain." In biblical prophecy, mountains often symbolize kingdoms, powers, or the dwelling place of God (e.g., Zion). Here, it signifies the divine origin and solid, unyielding nature from which this kingdom arises.
• without hands (לָא בִּידַיִן - lā’ biḏayyin): Aramaic for "not by hands." This is a crucial phrase. It profoundly stresses the supernatural origin and establishment of this kingdom. It's not a human political movement, military conquest, or philosophical construct. Its formation is purely a work of God. This divine action sets it apart from all human-established empires.
• and that it broke in pieces (וְהַדֶּקֶת - wəhaddĕqet): Aramaic for "and it broke in pieces" or "it crushed." Signifies total and complete destruction, leaving nothing remaining of the former kingdoms. This is not a partial conquest but a complete and final annihilation of opposing earthly powers.
• the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold: Listed in reverse order of the statue's composition. This rhetorical device emphasizes the effect of the stone's impact, working its way back through all the preceding human kingdoms. It underscores their complete undoing and replacement by the stone kingdom.
• the great God (אֱלָהָא רַבָּא - ’elāhā’ rabbā’): Aramaic for "the great God." This title exalts the God of Israel above all other deities and earthly rulers. He is the ultimate, sovereign authority who orchestrates history and reveals the future. His greatness assures the prophecy's fulfillment.
• has made known (הוֹדַע - hōwḏa‘): Aramaic for "has made known," "revealed." This points to God as the sole source of true knowledge regarding future events, challenging any false claims by pagan soothsayers.
• to the king (לְמַלְכָּא - ləmalkā’): Aramaic for "to the king." God's message is delivered directly to the supreme earthly ruler of the time, highlighting His universal authority that extends even over powerful emperors.
• what will come to pass after this (דִּי תֶהֱוֵה אֲחַרֵי דְנָה - dî teḥĕwēh ’aḥarê ḏenāh): Aramaic for "that which will happen after this." Explicitly points to future historical events. God is revealing the eschatological trajectory of human history, culminating in His eternal reign.
• The dream is certain (יַצִּיב - yaṣṣîḇ): Aramaic for "true," "sure," "established." Emphasizes the unquestionable truth and reliability of the prophetic vision itself.
• and its interpretation sure (וּפִשְׁרֵהּ מְהֵימַן - ûpishrēh mehêman): Aramaic for "and its interpretation is faithful/trustworthy." Assures Nebuchadnezzar, and subsequent readers, of the accuracy and absolute dependability of Daniel's explanation. What is declared will undoubtedly come to pass.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands": This core phrase emphasizes the divine, miraculous origin of God's kingdom. It signifies that this kingdom does not arise from human geopolitical machinations, military might, or cultural evolution. Instead, it is initiated and established solely by God's sovereign power, contrasting directly with all earthly kingdoms built through human effort. This foreshadows the unique nature of Christ's kingdom, which begins with divine power, not human force.
• "and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold": This sequence of destruction, listing the metals in reverse order of their appearance on the statue, underlines the absolute and comprehensive victory of the divine kingdom over all human world powers. It denotes not just conquest but the utter dissolution and replacement of all earthly authority and glory by the singular, everlasting reign of God.
• "the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this": This segment underscores God's unique attribute as the only one who knows and controls future events. It asserts His unparalleled wisdom and authority, setting Him apart from false gods or human diviners. The revelation to a Gentile king further demonstrates God's universal sovereignty.
• "The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure": This closing statement functions as a divine seal of authentication on the prophecy. It dispels any doubt regarding the truthfulness of the dream and the accuracy of its interpretation. It assures that God's plan for history is unchangeable and will be perfectly executed according to His sovereign will.

Daniel 2 45 Bonus section

The "mountain" from which the stone is cut can be interpreted as God's eternal dominion or sovereignty from which His kingdom proceeds. The phrase "fills the whole earth" (from Daniel 2:35, the direct consequence of the stone striking the image) provides the expansionary scope of this kingdom, emphasizing its universal, global reach. The "without hands" motif is a consistent biblical idiom for something purely divine in origin and operation, such as the spiritual circumcision of the heart (Col 2:11) or the heavenly tabernacle not built by human design (Heb 9:11). This concept powerfully contrasts with all human-made structures, institutions, and governments, none of which can withstand or compare to God's eternal dominion. The fact that the stone strikes the image at its feet, where the iron and clay are mixed, often interpreted as the divided state of the final human empire (likely Rome and its successors), signifies God's intervention at a point of instability and weakness in human world dominion, ushering in His unstoppable, triumphant reign.

Daniel 2 45 Commentary

Daniel 2:45 climaxes King Nebuchadnezzar's prophetic dream by declaring the establishment of God's ultimate kingdom. The "stone cut out of the mountain without hands" fundamentally describes a kingdom that defies human creation or military conquest. It is a work of pure divine initiative and power, epitomized by the spiritual yet universal reign of Jesus Christ. This "stone" does not merge with or partially integrate into human systems; it utterly "breaks in pieces" all preceding human empires, signified by the crushing of the idol. This complete demolition underscores the fact that God's kingdom completely replaces, rather than merely succeeds, earthly powers. The assertion that "the great God has made known" the future serves as a profound statement on God's sovereignty over all human history, proving Him to be the only true revealer of mysteries. The final declaration, "The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure," leaves no room for doubt concerning the inevitability and trustworthiness of God's prophetic word and His plan for the ages, ultimately establishing His everlasting dominion over all creation.

Examples:

• The spread of Christianity in the early centuries, despite intense persecution by the Roman Empire, was not through military force but spiritual conviction, reflecting a kingdom "not made with hands."
• The enduring nature of the Church across millennia, while vast empires have risen and fallen, illustrates the permanence of the divine kingdom.
• Believers trusting God's overarching plan for the future, knowing that human chaos will ultimately give way to divine order and everlasting righteousness.