Daniel 2:42

KJV

And [as] the toes of the feet [were] part of iron, and part of clay, [so] the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

KJV (with Strong's)

And as the toes {H677} of the feet {H7271} were part {H4481} of iron {H6523}, and part {H4481} of clay {H2635}, so the kingdom {H4437} shall be {H1934} partly {H4481}{H7118} strong {H8624}, and partly {H4481}{H7118} broken {H8406}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Just as the toes of the feet were part iron and part clay, this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle.

Berean Standard Bible

And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle.

American Standard Version

And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Daniel 2:42 provides a crucial interpretive key to King Nebuchadnezzar's prophetic dream, revealing the inherent nature of the final earthly kingdom before the establishment of God's eternal dominion. This verse describes the feet and toes of the colossal statue as a mixture of iron and clay, signifying a kingdom that, despite possessing elements of strength, will be fundamentally unstable, fractured, and ultimately fragile due to its internal divisions and inability to cohere.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Daniel 2:42 is situated within Daniel's interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, a pivotal narrative in the book of Daniel. Following the king's inability to recall or interpret his unsettling dream, Daniel, empowered by divine revelation, not only recounts the dream but also provides its profound meaning. The dream depicts a grand statue composed of various metals, each representing a successive world empire: the head of gold (Babylon), the breast and arms of silver (Medo-Persia), the belly and thighs of bronze (Greece), and the legs of iron (Rome). Verse 42 specifically details the composition of the feet and toes, which are a mixture of iron and clay, representing the final, fragmented phase of human gentile dominion. This description immediately precedes the dramatic depiction of a stone, cut without human hands, that strikes the statue's feet, shattering it completely and growing into a great mountain that fills the whole earth, symbolizing the establishment of God's eternal kingdom (see [Daniel 2:44-45](/daniel/2-44 "Daniel 2:44-45 - The Eternal Kingdom of God")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Daniel is set during the Babylonian exile, a period of immense upheaval for the Jewish people. They were subjects of a powerful pagan empire, and the dream's prophecy offered both a grand sweep of future history and a message of divine sovereignty amidst human empires. The use of different metals to represent empires was a common motif in ancient Near Eastern literature, often signifying a decline in quality from gold to baser metals, culminating in a mixture. Iron, known for its strength and ability to break other materials, was characteristic of the Roman Empire's military might and dominance. Clay, on the other hand, is brittle and weak, especially when mixed with iron, highlighting an incompatibility. This imagery would have resonated with an ancient audience familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of various materials and the political realities of empires rising and falling. The concept of a kingdom that is "partly strong, and partly broken" speaks to inherent instability, perhaps reflecting a coalition of disparate entities or internal divisions that prevent true unity.
* **Key Themes:** Daniel 2:42 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Daniel and biblical prophecy. Firstly, it underscores the **Sovereignty of God over Human History**. The detailed prophetic outline of successive empires, culminating in the iron and clay kingdom, demonstrates God's foreknowledge and control over the rise and fall of nations, even when His people are in exile. Secondly, the verse highlights the **Inherent Imperfection and Transience of Human Rule**. Unlike the unified, albeit temporary, empires represented by solid metals, the final earthly kingdom is depicted as fractured and unstable, emphasizing the ultimate inadequacy and impermanence of all human governments. This theme is further developed as the human kingdoms are ultimately supplanted by God's eternal kingdom, as seen in [Daniel 2:44](/daniel/2-44 "Daniel 2:44 - God's Everlasting Kingdom"). Thirdly, it introduces the theme of **Mixture and Division**, powerfully illustrating a kingdom that possesses elements of great power (iron) but is simultaneously vulnerable due to internal divisions or an inability to truly integrate its components (clay). This inherent fragility makes it "partly strong, and partly broken," setting the stage for its ultimate demise at the hands of a divine, non-human power.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Kingdom (Aramaic, _malkûw'_):** This term refers to dominion, either abstractly (the concept of ruling) or concretely (a realm or reign). In Daniel 2:42, it specifically denotes the final earthly empire represented by the feet and toes of Nebuchadnezzar's statue. Its inclusion here emphasizes that the mixed composition directly pertains to the nature of this political entity, highlighting its governmental structure and authority.
* **Partly (Aramaic, _qᵉtsâth'_):** This word signifies a portion or a termination, and when used adverbially, it means "partly." In this context, it underscores the divided nature of the kingdom, indicating that its strength and weakness are not uniformly distributed but exist in distinct, unmixable components. This "partly" nature is crucial to understanding the inherent instability.
* **Broken (Aramaic, _tᵉbar'_):** Corresponding to the Hebrew word for "to break" or "to be fragile," this term describes the brittle and easily fractured nature of the clay component, and by extension, the kingdom itself. It contrasts sharply with "strong" (Aramaic, _taqqîyph_), emphasizing the kingdom's susceptibility to internal division and ultimate collapse, despite any outward appearance of might.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay,"**: This clause establishes the visual metaphor from Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The "toes of the feet" represent the final, fragmented stage of the gentile world empires. The composition of "part of iron, and part of clay" highlights an unnatural and unstable mixture of materials that cannot truly bond, symbolizing disparate elements within this final kingdom.
* **"so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken."**: This clause provides the direct divine interpretation of the metaphor. The "kingdom" (referring to the final earthly empire) will exhibit both great power ("partly strong," like iron) and significant weakness or fragility ("partly broken," like clay). This duality signifies a lack of internal cohesion, making it susceptible to division and ultimate collapse, unlike the more unified empires that preceded it.

#### Literary Devices
Daniel 2:42 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its prophetic message. The most prominent is **Symbolism**, where the statue's feet and toes, composed of iron and clay, symbolize the final earthly kingdom. Iron represents strength, military might, and unyielding power, while clay symbolizes weakness, brittleness, and the inability to cohere. The mixture itself is a **Metaphor** for the kingdom's internal divisions and inherent instability, as iron and clay do not naturally fuse. This imagery also functions as **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the ultimate demise of this kingdom and the subsequent establishment of a new, divine kingdom, which is introduced in the very next verses. The phrase "partly strong, and partly broken" uses **Antithesis** to highlight the paradoxical nature of this final empire, possessing both formidable power and debilitating fragility.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 2:42 is a profound theological statement on the nature of human power and divine sovereignty. It teaches that all human empires, regardless of their initial strength or grandeur, are ultimately temporary and flawed. The mixture of iron and clay signifies the inherent instability of the final human kingdom, a blend of disparate elements that cannot truly cohere. This divine revelation assures believers that no earthly power can ultimately withstand the plan of God. It underscores the theme of God's absolute control over history, demonstrating that He orchestrates the rise and fall of nations according to His sovereign will, ultimately paving the way for His own perfect and eternal dominion.

* [Daniel 2:44](/daniel/2-44 "Daniel 2:44 - God's Everlasting Kingdom")
* [Psalm 2:7-9](/psalms/2-7 "Psalm 2:7-9 - The Reign of God's Anointed King")
* [Revelation 11:15](/revelation/11-15 "Revelation 11:15 - The Kingdom of the World Becomes the Kingdom of Our Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Daniel 2:42 offers a powerful lens through which to view the world's geopolitical landscape and our place within it. It reminds us that no human government, no matter how formidable or seemingly enduring, possesses ultimate stability or permanence. The prophetic image of iron mixed with clay serves as a timeless warning against placing our ultimate hope or trust in transient earthly powers. Instead, it calls us to recognize the inherent fragility of all human systems and to fix our gaze on the eternal, unshakable kingdom of God. This perspective provides immense comfort and courage, knowing that even amidst global instability, division, and conflict, God remains sovereign, orchestrating history towards His ultimate, glorious purpose. It empowers us to live with an eternal perspective, investing our lives in that which truly lasts.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the instability of the "iron and clay" kingdom challenge our tendency to place ultimate trust in human political systems or leaders?**
* **In what ways do we see "iron and clay" dynamics (mixtures of strength and weakness, cohesion and division) at play in the world today, and how should this understanding shape our prayers and actions?**
* **Knowing that all earthly kingdoms are temporary, how does Daniel 2:42 encourage us to prioritize our allegiance and efforts towards the eternal Kingdom of God?**

### FAQ
**What does the "iron and clay" kingdom specifically represent in prophetic interpretation?**

Answer: While interpretations vary among scholars, the "iron and clay" kingdom described in [Daniel 2:42](/daniel/2-42 "Daniel 2:42 - The Iron and Clay Kingdom") is generally understood to represent the final phase of gentile world power before the return of Christ and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. Following the Roman Empire (the "legs of iron"), this final kingdom is characterized by a mixture of strength (iron) and inherent weakness or brittleness (clay). This suggests a fractured, internally divided entity—perhaps a collection of nations or a system that lacks true cohesion, making it "partly strong, and partly broken." It is not a unified empire like its predecessors but a composite that cannot truly bond, leading to its ultimate instability and susceptibility to divine judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel 2:42, with its depiction of a final, fragmented human kingdom, powerfully sets the stage for the ultimate and eternal reign of Jesus Christ. The "iron and clay" kingdom, inherently unstable and destined to be "partly strong, and partly broken," stands in stark contrast to the divine kingdom introduced immediately after in the prophecy. This "stone cut without hands" ([Daniel 2:34](/daniel/2-34 "The Stone Cut Without Hands")) that shatters all earthly empires is universally understood to be a prophetic symbol of Christ and His kingdom. While human empires are built on shifting sands of power, alliances, and internal divisions, Christ's kingdom is established by divine power, not human effort, and is characterized by righteousness, peace, and eternal stability ([Luke 1:33](/luke/1-33 "Luke 1:33 - His Kingdom Will Never End"); [Hebrews 12:28](/hebrews/12-28 "Hebrews 12:28 - An Unshakable Kingdom")). The fragility of the iron and clay kingdom underscores the absolute necessity and glory of Christ's triumph, demonstrating that all human attempts at ultimate dominion will fail, giving way to the sovereign rule of 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 kingdom will never be destroyed ([Daniel 7:14](/daniel/7-14 "Daniel 7:14 - The Everlasting Dominion of the Son of Man")).

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

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 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.