Daniel 2:31-33 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:31

Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. The Greek versions do not require notice, as they do not imply any difference in reading from the Massoretic text. The Peshitta is shorter, "Thou, O king, wert seeing, and, lo! a great image of beauty exceeding excellent, and it stood before thee." The opening clause of the next verse may be regarded as taking up the last clause of the verse... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:31-43

The universal world-powers. "Thou, O king, sawest, and behold an image, one and grand" ( Daniel 2:31 ). Seize first the imagery of the dream. 1 . A grand unity loomed before Nebuchadnezzar. "Behold an image, one and grand" (Chaldee, Daniel 2:31 ). Four empires represented, not by four figures, but one. Symbol of human power at its highest, that of universal empire, but separate from God. Same spirit and genius in all four. A common thing to represent empire by the human figure; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:31-45

The image and the stone. The king's dream as interpreted by Daniel shadows forth the history of successive monarchies, and the final overthrow of them by a greater unearthly kingdom. On the face of it it teaches the broad lesson that history is made by higher destinies than the will of kings; that it is determined beforehand according to a Divine scheme. The character of the successive monarchies, and the part they take in the general order of events, is expressed by the appearance of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:32-33

This image's head was of fine gold, his breasts and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. The versions present no occasion of r,-mark, save that Theodotion has a doublet, αἱ χεῖρες , translating, "the hands, the breast, and the arms." The word rendered "fine" is really "good" ( טָב , ṭab ) . Naturally, there have not been preserved to us any composite images of this kind; gold and silver would certainly... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 2:31

Thou, O king, sawest - Margin, “wast seeing.” The margin is in accordance with the Chaldee. The language is properly what denotes a prolonged or attentive observation. He was in an attitude favorable to vision, or was looking with intensity, and there appeared before him this remarkable image. Compare Daniel 7:1-2, Daniel 7:4, Daniel 7:6. It was not a thing which appeared for a moment, and then vanished, but which remained so long that he could contemplate it with accuracy.And, behold, a great... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 2:32

This image’s head was of fine gold - Chaldee, “good gold” - טב דהב dehab ṭâb - that is, fine, pure, unalloyed. The whole head of the figure, colossal as it was, appeared to be composed wholly of this. Had the “whole” image been made of gold, it would not have been so striking - for it was not uncommon to construct vast statues of this metal. Compare Daniel 3:1. But the remarkable peculiarity of this image was, that it was composed of different materials, some of which were seldom or never... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 2:33

His legs of iron - The portion of the lower limbs from the knees to the ankles. This is undoubtedly the usual meaning of the English word “legs,” and it as clearly appears to be the sense of the original word here. Iron was regarded as inferior to either of the other metals specified, and yet was well adapted to denote a kingdom of a particular kind - less noble in some respects, and yet hardy, powerful, and adapted to tread down the world by conquest. On the application of this, see the notes... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 2:31

Daniel 2:31. Thou, O king, sawest, and behold, a great image “It appears, from ancient coins and medals, that cities and people were often represented by figures of men and women. A great, terrible human figure was therefore a proper emblem of human power and dominion; and the various metals of which it was composed not unfitly typified the various kingdoms which should arise. It consisted of four different metals, gold, and silver, and brass, and iron, mixed with clay; and these four... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 2:32-33

Daniel 2:32-33. This image’s head was of fine gold The Babylonian monarchy had arrived to the height of glory under Nebuchadnezzar, (see Daniel 2:37-38,) who likewise improved and adorned the city of Babylon to such a degree as to make it one of the wonders of the world; so that this empire might justly be compared to a head of gold. His breast and his arms of silver The second monarchy, of Medes and Persians, would be inferior to the first: see note on Daniel 2:39. His belly and his... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:24-49

Click image for full-size versionThe meaning of the dream (2:24-49).Daniel had no thought of taking the opportunity to exalt himself above his unfortunate fellow officials. Rather he first of all ensured that they would not be executed (24) and even supported their statement that no person could be expected to meet the king’s demand (25-27). Certainly, Daniel would tell the king the dream and its meaning, but the revelation was due entirely to God, not to any special skill that Daniel possessed... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:31

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:31-43

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:31-45

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:32-33

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 2:31

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 2:32

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 2:33

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 2:31

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 2:32-33

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:24-49

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