Daniel 2:33

His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.

His legs {H8243} of iron {H6523}, his feet {H7271} part {H4481} of iron {H6523} and part {H4481} of clay {H2635}.

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

its legs were iron, and its feet were part iron and part clay.

its legs of iron, its feet part of iron, and part of clay.

Commentary

Daniel 2:33 is a pivotal part of Daniel's interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's prophetic dream of a great image, detailed beginning in Daniel 2:31. This specific verse describes the final, most complex sections of the statue: "His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay." These elements symbolize the nature and destiny of the world's great empires leading up to the establishment of God's eternal kingdom.

Context

In Nebuchadnezzar's dream, the statue represented a succession of world empires. The head of gold symbolized Babylon, the breast and arms of silver represented the Medo-Persian Empire, and the belly and thighs of brass depicted the Grecian Empire. Daniel 2:33 then introduces the next powerful kingdom, symbolized by the iron, and its subsequent, fragmented stage, represented by the iron and clay mixture. Daniel's interpretation, given by divine revelation, provides a sweeping overview of human history from his time until the end of the age.

Key Themes

  • Succession of Empires and Decline: The progression of materials from gold to silver, bronze, iron, and finally a mixture of iron and clay illustrates a decline in the *quality* and unity of the kingdoms, though not necessarily in their raw power. The "legs of iron" are widely interpreted to represent the mighty Roman Empire, known for its immense strength, military might, and ability to "break in pieces and subdue all things," as described in Daniel 2:40.
  • Fragility and Division in the Final Stages: The "feet part of iron and part of clay" symbolize a final, fragmented stage of earthly power. This mixture signifies a kingdom (or kingdoms) that will be partly strong (iron) but inherently unstable and divided (clay). Iron and clay do not naturally bond, indicating a lack of unity and internal weakness that prevents true cohesion, even amidst attempts to consolidate power.
  • Human Impermanence vs. Divine Sovereignty: This prophetic imagery underscores the temporary nature of all human empires. Despite their grandeur and strength, they are ultimately flawed and subject to divine decree. God reveals the future to demonstrate His sovereign control over the rise and fall of nations, as highlighted in Daniel 2:21.

Symbolic Interpretation

  • Iron: Represents immense strength, military might, and the ability to conquer and dominate. It signifies a powerful, unyielding empire.
  • Clay: Symbolizes fragility, brittleness, and the inability to withstand pressure or cohere with the iron. It points to inherent weakness, perhaps due to internal strife, disparate peoples, or democratic elements that prevent a unified autocratic rule.
  • The Mixture: The combination of iron and clay in the feet and toes highlights the instability and inherent weakness of this final earthly kingdom or confederacy. They will not "cleave one to another" (Daniel 2:43), leading to ultimate dissolution.

Practical Application

Daniel 2:33, within the broader dream interpretation, offers profound insights for believers today:

  • Trust in God's Unfolding Plan: The detailed prophecy assures us that God is actively involved in human history, orchestrating events according to His divine plan. No human empire or political system is beyond His control.
  • Place Hope in the Eternal Kingdom: The fleeting nature of earthly kingdoms, culminating in the divided and unstable feet of iron and clay, serves as a powerful reminder that our ultimate hope should not be placed in human governments or systems. Instead, our focus should be on the indestructible and eternal kingdom of God, symbolized by the stone cut without hands that crushes the entire image (Daniel 2:44). This divine kingdom will endure forever.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
Daniel: A Man of Uncompromising Integrity Daniel in the Court of Nebuchadnezzar An Introduction to Daniel: God's Sovereignty Over History Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of the Great Statue Lessons in Integrity from the Life of Daniel

Cross-References

  • Daniel 7:19

    Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth [were of] iron, and his nails [of] brass; [which] devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

  • Daniel 7:26

    But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end.

  • Daniel 7:7

    After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it [was] diverse from all the beasts that [were] before it; and it had ten horns.

  • Daniel 7:8

    I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn [were] eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

  • Daniel 2:40

    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.

  • Daniel 2:43

    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.
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