Daniel 2:40-4:2 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 2:31-45

Daniel here gives full satisfaction to Nebuchadnezzar concerning his dream and the interpretation of it. That great prince had been kind to this poor prophet in his maintenance and education; he had been brought up at the king's cost, preferred at court, and the land of his captivity had hereby been made much easier to him than to others of his brethren. And now the king is abundantly repaid for all the expense he had been at upon him; and for receiving this prophet, though not in the name of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:40

And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron ,.... This is not the kingdom of the Lagidae and Seleucidae, the successors of Alexander, as some have thought; for these are designed by the thighs in the third kingdom; and, besides, the kingdom of Christ was to arise in the time of this fourth kingdom, which it did not in that; nor the kingdom of Gog, or the empire of the Turks, as Saadiah, Aben Ezra, and Jarchi; but the Roman empire, which is compared to iron for its strength, firmness, and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:40

Verse 40 Here the Fourth Empire is described, which agrees only with the Roman, for we know that the four successors of Alexander were at length subdued. Philip was the first king of Macedon, and Antiochus the second; but yet Philip lost nothing from his own kingdom; he only yielded it to the free cities of Greece. It was, therefore, hitherto, entire, except as it paid tribute to the Romans for some years on account of the expenses of the war. Antiochus, also, when compelled to adopt the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:1-49

EXPOSITION DANIEL FIRST BECOMES DISTINGUISHED . 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 2:34-45

The everlasting kingdom. "And the stone that smote the image," etc. ( Daniel 2:35 ). We shall assume, what is certain, that the "stone' is the image of the kingdom of the Son of God. I. ITS CHARACTERISTICS . 1 . The mediatorial action of the Son of God is of the nature of kingly rule. (See and weigh the meaning well of Ephesians 1:22 , Ephesians 1:23 .) 2 . The kingdom was supernatural in its origin. Here may well be discussed the now present doctrine that the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:36-43

Human sovereignty. In a proper sense of the words, every dream is prophetic. Else on what ground are we to conclude that the dreams of Joseph, Pharaoh, Abimeloch, Pilate's wife, were prophetic; and others not prophetic? Dreams are revelations of dominant ideas and habitudes of mind: they disclose features of moral character; they are reminders of an unslumbering Judge; they serve in some measure to forecast the future. The powers of heaven and of hell lie close about us in our sleep. I. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:40

And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. The version of the LXX . differs considerably here, "The fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, as iron which subdueth all things, even as iron cutteth down every tree." It is evident that the translator has read אִילָן ( 'illan ), "a tree," instead of אִלֵּין ( 'illeen ), "these . " ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 2:40

And the fourth kingdom - Represented in the image by the legs of iron, and the feet “part of iron, and part of clay,” Daniel 2:33. The first question which arises here is, what kingdom is referred to by this? In regard to this, there have been two leading opinions: one, that it refers to the Roman empire; the other, that it refers to the kingdoms or dynasties that immediately succeeded the reign of Alexander the Great; embracing the kingdoms of the Seleucidae and Lagidae, Syria, and Egypt - in... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 2:31-45

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:40

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:40

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:1-49

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:31-43

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:31-45

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:34-45

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:36-43

The Pulpit Commentary - Daniel 2:40

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 2:40

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