Daniel 2:35

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.

Then {H116} was the iron {H6523}, the clay {H2635}, the brass {H5174}, the silver {H3702}, and the gold {H1722}, broken to pieces {H1855}{H1751} together {H2298}, and became {H1934} like the chaff {H5784} of {H4481} the summer {H7007} threshingfloors {H147}; and the wind {H7308} carried {H5376} them {H1994} away {H5376}, that {H3606} no {H3809} place {H870} was found {H7912} for them: and the stone {H69} that smote {H4223} the image {H6755} became {H1934} a great {H7229} mountain {H2906}, and filled {H4391} the whole {H3606} earth {H772}.

Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken into pieces which became like the chaff on a threshing-floor in summer; the wind blew them away without leaving a trace. But the stone which had struck the statue grew into a huge mountain that filled the whole earth.

Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

Commentary on Daniel 2:35 (KJV)

Daniel 2:35 marks the powerful climax of King Nebuchadnezzar's prophetic dream, interpreted by the prophet Daniel. This verse describes the dramatic and decisive conclusion of the dream, where a divinely appointed "stone" utterly demolishes the great image representing successive world empires, establishing an eternal kingdom in its place.

Context

In Nebuchadnezzar's dream, as detailed in Daniel 2:31-33, he saw a colossal image with a head of fine gold (Babylon), breast and arms of silver (Medo-Persia), belly and thighs of brass (Greece), legs of iron (Rome), and feet partly of iron and partly of clay (divided kingdoms). Verse 35 reveals the fate of these earthly powers: they are all simultaneously crushed and swept away by a stone cut without human hands, which then grows to fill the entire earth.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty Over Empires: The verse powerfully illustrates God's absolute control over human history and the rise and fall of nations. All worldly power, no matter how mighty, is temporary and ultimately subject to God's eternal plan. The destruction of the image signifies the complete and irreversible end of human-devised kingdoms.
  • The Establishment of God's Eternal Kingdom: The "stone cut without hands" is a central symbol. It represents a kingdom not built by human effort or power, but divinely established. This stone strikes the image at its feet, causing the entire structure to collapse into dust, swept away like "chaff of the summer threshingfloors." This imagery emphasizes the utter insignificance and impermanence of human empires in comparison to God's kingdom.
  • Messianic Prophecy: The "stone" is widely interpreted as a prophetic symbol of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God He establishes. His kingdom is destined to supersede all earthly kingdoms, not through military conquest in the traditional sense, but through divine power, as detailed in Daniel 2:44, which states this kingdom shall never be destroyed.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Stone cut without hands": This phrase emphasizes the supernatural origin and divine nature of the kingdom it represents. It is not a product of human ingenuity, strength, or political maneuvering, but solely of God's doing.
  • "Chaff of the summer threshingfloors": This vivid agricultural metaphor highlights the complete destruction and utter disappearance of the worldly empires. After grain is threshed, the worthless chaff is easily blown away by the wind, leaving no trace. This signifies the total annihilation of these kingdoms' power and influence.
  • "Became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth": The transformation of the stone into a vast mountain symbolizes the universal, enduring, and all-encompassing nature of God's kingdom. A mountain is a symbol of stability and permanence, and its filling the whole earth signifies its global dominion and influence. This echoes other prophetic visions of God's kingdom, such as in Isaiah 2:2, where the mountain of the Lord's house is established above all others.

Practical Application

Daniel 2:35 offers profound comfort and perspective for believers today. In a world often dominated by political turmoil, economic instability, and the rise and fall of powerful nations, this verse reminds us that ultimately, all human systems are transient. Our hope and allegiance should be placed in God's eternal kingdom, which will ultimately prevail and endure forever. It encourages us to live with an eternal perspective, investing our lives in the things of God's kingdom rather than in the fleeting pursuits of this world. This passage assures us that God's plan will unfold perfectly, culminating in the complete triumph of His righteous reign, a reign that shall have no end.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, 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. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 2:2

    And it shall come to pass in the last days, [that] the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

  • Isaiah 2:3

    And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

  • Psalms 37:10

    For yet a little while, and the wicked [shall] not [be]: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it [shall] not [be].

  • Revelation 20:11

    ¶ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

  • Hosea 13:3

    Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff [that] is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

  • Isaiah 11:9

    They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

  • Isaiah 41:15

    Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat [them] small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

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