Daniel 2:42

Daniel 2:42 is a pivotal verse in the interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, revealing the nature of the final earthly kingdom before the establishment of God's eternal dominion. This verse focuses on the feet and toes of the colossal statue, which Daniel interprets for the Babylonian king.

Context

In Daniel Chapter 2, King Nebuchadnezzar has a disturbing dream that none of his wise men can interpret. The prophet Daniel, empowered by God, reveals both the dream and its meaning. The dream depicts a magnificent image made of various metals: a head of gold (Babylon), breast and arms of silver (Medo-Persian Empire), belly and thighs of bronze (Greek Empire), and legs of iron (Roman Empire). Verse 42 specifically describes the feet and toes, which are a mixture of iron and clay.

This mixed composition signifies a kingdom that will be inherently unstable and divided. It represents the final phase of human rule, characterized by a blend of strength (iron) and weakness/brittleness (clay), indicating a lack of cohesion and unity, unlike the more solid empires preceding it. This imagery directly precedes the depiction of a stone cut without hands, which strikes the statue and establishes God's eternal, unshakeable kingdom.

Key Themes

• Prophetic Accuracy: Daniel's interpretation accurately foretells the nature of successive world powers, demonstrating God's sovereign control over human history and His ability to reveal future events.
• Mixture of Strength and Weakness: The "iron and clay" metaphor powerfully illustrates a kingdom that possesses elements of great power but is simultaneously vulnerable due to internal divisions or an inability to truly integrate its components. This inherent fragility makes it "partly strong, and partly broken."
• Imperfection of Human Rule: Unlike the unified, though temporary, empires represented by solid metals, the final earthly kingdom is depicted as fractured and unstable, highlighting the ultimate inadequacy and impermanence of all human governments.
• Divine Sovereignty and Ultimate Triumph: The progression from gold to iron and clay ultimately points to the arrival of God's kingdom, which will overcome all earthly powers and stand forever.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "partly strong, and partly broken" directly translates the Aramaic concept of a kingdom that is both robust and brittle. The mixing of iron (symbolizing strength, military might, and dominance, akin to the Roman Empire's characteristics) with clay (representing weakness, perhaps common humanity, or elements that cannot truly fuse) emphasizes an inherent lack of cohesion. This inability of iron to truly bond with clay means the kingdom, while appearing formidable, carries the seeds of its own division and ultimate fragility.

Practical Application

Daniel 2:42 offers profound reassurance and perspective. It reminds us that no matter how powerful or seemingly permanent human empires appear, they are all ultimately subject to God's plan and will eventually give way. This verse encourages believers to place their trust not in fleeting earthly powers, but in the enduring and eternal kingdom of God. It provides hope that despite the divisions and weaknesses seen in human governance, God is always in control, orchestrating history toward His ultimate purpose and the establishment of His perfect rule.