Daniel 2:41

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And whereas thou sawest {H2370} the feet {H7271} and toes {H677}, part {H4481} of potters {H6353}' clay {H2635}, and part {H4481} of iron {H6523}, the kingdom {H4437} shall be {H1934} divided {H6386}; but {H4481} there shall be {H1934} in it of {H4481} the strength {H5326} of the iron {H6523}, forasmuch as {H3606}{H6903} thou sawest {H2370} the iron {H6523} mixed {H6151} with miry {H2917} clay {H2635}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Finally, you saw the feet and toes made partly of pottery clay and partly of iron; this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the firmness of iron, since you saw the iron mixed with clay from the ground.

Berean Standard Bible

And just as you saw that the feet and toes were made partly of fired clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom, yet some of the strength of iron will be in it—just as you saw the iron mixed with clay.

American Standard Version

And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Daniel 2:41 elaborates on the nature of the final kingdom represented by the feet and toes of Nebuchadnezzar's dream statue, revealing it to be a divided entity composed of both strong, iron-like elements and weak, brittle clay-like components. This inherent mixture signifies a kingdom that, despite possessing formidable power, will ultimately be unstable and fragmented, unable to cohere into a unified, enduring force, thus setting the stage for its eventual destruction by divine intervention.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Daniel 2:41 is an integral part of Daniel's divinely inspired interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's prophetic dream, detailed in [Daniel 2:31-33](/daniel/2-31 "Daniel 2:31-33 - Nebuchadnezzar's Dream Statue"). The dream depicts a colossal statue, each material symbolizing a successive world empire: gold (Babylon), silver (Medo-Persia), bronze (Greece), and iron (Rome). Verse 41 specifically focuses on the final phase of the fourth kingdom, represented by the statue's feet and toes, which transition from solid iron legs ([Daniel 2:40](/daniel/2-40 "Daniel 2:40 - The Iron Kingdom")) to a mixture of iron and clay. This transition highlights a crucial shift from a unified, albeit brutal, empire to a fragmented, internally unstable entity, leading directly into the prophecy of God's eternal kingdom in [Daniel 2:44](/daniel/2-44 "Daniel 2:44 - God's Eternal Kingdom").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Daniel received this revelation during the Babylonian exile, a period when God's people were subject to powerful gentile empires. The dream's imagery would have resonated deeply with ancient Near Eastern understanding of imperial power, where the strength and durability of materials like gold, silver, and iron directly correlated with the perceived might and longevity of kingdoms. The concept of a kingdom being "divided" or unstable due to an incompatible mixture would have been readily understood as a fatal flaw in imperial design. Potters' clay was a common, easily breakable material, contrasting sharply with the formidable strength of iron, a metal known for its military and architectural applications. The prophet's ability to interpret such a dream, especially one concerning the future of world powers, underscored the sovereignty of Israel's God over all earthly rulers and nations, a message of profound significance to the exiled Jewish community.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the book of Daniel. Firstly, it emphasizes **God's Sovereignty over History**, demonstrating His foreknowledge and control over the rise and fall of human empires, even those seemingly invincible. Secondly, it highlights the **Transience of Human Kingdoms**, illustrating that even the most formidable earthly powers are temporary and subject to inherent weaknesses, ultimately destined to give way to God's eternal reign. The "divided" nature of the final kingdom underscores the theme of **Inherent Instability and Fragmentation**, contrasting sharply with the unified, unbreakable nature of God's coming kingdom. The mixture of "iron" and "clay" vividly portrays the theme of **Strength and Weakness in Coalition**, where disparate elements attempt to combine but cannot truly integrate, leading to fundamental fragility, a point further elaborated in [Daniel 2:43](/daniel/2-43 "Daniel 2:43 - The Incompatibility of Iron and Clay").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **kingdom (Aramaic, _malkûw'_):** This term refers to dominion, either abstractly (reign) or concretely (a realm or empire). In Daniel 2:41, it specifically denotes the final earthly power structure that emerges from the iron kingdom, emphasizing its political and territorial authority.
* **divided (Aramaic, _pᵉlag'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to split," this word signifies a state of fragmentation or separation. Its use here is crucial, indicating that unlike the preceding unified empires, this final kingdom will lack internal cohesion, being inherently split or disunited.
* **mixed (Aramaic, _ʻărab'_):** This term means "to commingle" or "to mingle oneself." While it implies a combination, the context of iron and clay emphasizes that this is a superficial mixture, not a true fusion or integration, highlighting the incompatibility of the components.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron":** This clause describes the composition of the statue's lowest extremities. The transition from solid iron legs to feet and toes made of a mixture of "potters' clay" (baked clay, indicating fragility) and "iron" (symbolizing strength and hardness) introduces the central paradox of this final kingdom. It suggests a composite nature, where elements of strength are undermined by inherent weakness.
* **"the kingdom shall be divided":** This is a direct prophetic declaration about the nature of the kingdom represented by the feet and toes. Unlike the monolithic empires before it, this kingdom will not be a unified entity but will suffer from internal divisions, fragmentation, and lack of cohesion. This division is not merely political but fundamental to its very composition.
* **"but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay":** This final clause clarifies that despite its divided nature, the kingdom will still possess some of the formidable strength characteristic of iron. However, this strength is inherently compromised because the iron is "mixed with miry clay," a soft, unstable, and incompatible material. The phrase "miry clay" (ṭîyn chăçaph) emphasizes the common, easily broken, and non-adhering nature of the clay, underscoring that the two materials cannot truly bond, ensuring the kingdom's ultimate instability and inability to hold together.

#### Literary Devices
Daniel 2:41 is rich in **Symbolism**, where the materials of the statue represent distinct qualities of the empires they symbolize. **Iron** consistently symbolizes formidable strength, military might, and an unbreakable will, as seen in the Roman Empire's historical dominance. In stark **Contrast**, **clay** symbolizes weakness, fragility, and commonness. The **feet and toes** represent the final, perhaps most vulnerable, stage of human gentile rule. The mixture itself functions as a powerful **Metaphor** for an alliance or political structure that attempts to combine disparate and incompatible elements (e.g., strong authoritarian rule with weak, democratic, or common elements), leading to inherent instability rather than unified strength. This imagery vividly communicates the internal discord and ultimate fragility of this final earthly kingdom.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 2:41 profoundly underscores the biblical theme of God's absolute sovereignty over human history and the transient nature of all earthly kingdoms. Even the most powerful and seemingly enduring empires are, in God's grand design, temporary and subject to inherent flaws that lead to their eventual decline or fragmentation. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that human attempts to build lasting power structures, especially those not founded on divine principles, are ultimately destined for division and instability. It points to a divine plan that transcends all human political endeavors, culminating in the establishment of an eternal kingdom that is not of human making. The inherent weakness of the iron and clay mixture foreshadows the ultimate triumph of God's unshakeable dominion over all temporal powers.

* [Psalm 2:1-4](/psalms/2-1 "Psalm 2:1-4 - The Futility of Human Rebellion")
* [Revelation 11:15](/revelation/11-15 "Revelation 11:15 - The Kingdom of the World Becomes God's Kingdom")
* [Hebrews 12:28](/hebrews/12-28 "Hebrews 12:28 - An Unshakable Kingdom")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Daniel 2:41 offers profound comfort and a powerful call to reorient our perspectives in a world often characterized by political upheaval and societal instability. It reminds us that while earthly powers may appear formidable, they are ultimately temporary and prone to internal division, just as iron and clay cannot truly cohere. This understanding frees us from placing our ultimate hope or trust in any human government or system, no matter how strong it may seem. Instead, it directs our gaze toward God's eternal and unshakable kingdom, encouraging us to invest our lives in spiritual realities that transcend the fleeting nature of this world. It fosters a posture of patient endurance, knowing that God remains sovereign over all history, orchestrating events toward His ultimate purpose. Our primary allegiance belongs to the King of Kings, whose reign is not divided and will never end.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the prophecy of the divided kingdom challenge our tendency to place ultimate trust in human political systems or leaders?**
* **In what ways might we observe "iron mixed with miry clay" in contemporary society or global politics, and what does this imply about their stability?**
* **How does focusing on the transient nature of earthly kingdoms strengthen our hope in God's eternal kingdom?**
* **What practical steps can we take to live as citizens of God's unshakable kingdom amidst the instability of the world?**

### FAQ

**What does the mixture of iron and clay in Daniel 2:41 symbolize?**

Answer: The mixture of iron and clay symbolizes the final form of gentile world power, which, unlike previous unified empires, will be inherently divided and unstable. Iron represents strength, military might, and authoritarian rule, while clay signifies weakness, fragility, and perhaps common or democratic elements. The inability of iron and clay to truly bond, as explicitly stated in [Daniel 2:43](/daniel/2-43 "Daniel 2:43 - The Incompatibility of Iron and Clay"), means that this kingdom, despite possessing some strength, will be fundamentally brittle and prone to internal discord, unable to cohere into a lasting, unified entity.

**Does Daniel 2:41 refer to a specific historical empire?**

Answer: While the preceding parts of Nebuchadnezzar's dream are widely interpreted as representing the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman Empires, the feet and toes of iron and clay are generally understood to represent a future, final manifestation of gentile world power that emerges from or succeeds the Roman Empire. Scholars hold various views on whether this refers to a fragmented post-Roman Europe, a future global confederation, or a combination of strong and weak nations in the end times. The key emphasis is on its divided and unstable nature, which contrasts with the more unified empires that preceded it, setting the stage for the establishment of God's eternal kingdom as described in [Daniel 2:44](/daniel/2-44 "Daniel 2:44 - God's Eternal Kingdom").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel 2:41, with its depiction of a divided and ultimately unstable human kingdom, serves as a powerful backdrop against which the eternal and unified reign of Jesus Christ shines even brighter. The "stone cut out without hands" that strikes the feet of the statue ([Daniel 2:34](/daniel/2-34 "Daniel 2:34 - The Stone Strikes the Statue")) is universally understood to be a prophecy of Christ and His kingdom. While earthly kingdoms, even those possessing immense "strength of the iron," are ultimately compromised by their "miry clay" components and destined for division and collapse, Christ's kingdom is not of this world ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom Not of This World")), established by divine power, not human effort. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords ([Revelation 19:16](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - King of Kings and Lord of Lords")), whose dominion is everlasting and whose kingdom "shall never be destroyed" ([Daniel 2:44](/daniel/2-44 "Daniel 2:44 - God's Eternal Kingdom")). The inherent instability of the iron and clay kingdom highlights the perfect cohesion and eternal stability found only in Christ, who holds all things together ([Colossians 1:17](/colossians/1-17 "Colossians 1:17 - Christ Holds All Things Together")) and whose reign will ultimately fill the whole earth ([Revelation 11:15](/revelation/11-15 "Revelation 11:15 - The Kingdom of the World Becomes God's Kingdom")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Revelation 17:12

And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

Daniel 7:24

And the ten horns out of this kingdom [are] ten kings [that] shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

Revelation 12:3

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

Daniel 2:33

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

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.

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.

Revelation 13:1

¶ And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.