36 "This was the dream ; now we will tell its interpretation before the king . 37 "You, O king , are the king of kings , to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom , the power , the strength and the glory ; 38 and wherever e the sons of men dwell , or the beasts of the field , or the birds of the sky , He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all . You are the head of gold . 39 "After you there will arise another kingdom inferior to you, then another third kingdom of bronze , which will rule over all the earth . 40 "Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron ; inasmuch e e as iron crushes and shatters all things , so, like iron that breaks in pieces , it will crush and break all these in pieces . 41 "In that you saw the feet and toes , partly of potter's clay and partly of iron , it will be a divided kingdom ; but it will have in it the toughness of iron , inasmuch e e as you saw the iron mixed with common clay . 42 "As the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery , so some e of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle . 43 "And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay , they will combine with one another in the seed of men ; but they will not adhere to one e another e , even as iron does not combine with pottery .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Daniel 2:36-43
Commentary on Daniel 2:31-45
(Read Daniel 2:31-45)
This image represented the kingdoms of the earth, that should successively rule the nations, and influence the affairs of the Jewish church. 1. The head of gold signified the Chaldean empire, then in being. 2. The breast and arms of silver signified the empire of the Medes and Persians. 3. The belly and thighs of brass signified the Grecian empire, founded by Alexander. 4. The legs and feet of iron signified the Roman empire. The Roman empire branched into ten kingdoms, as the toes of these feet. Some were weak as clay, others strong as iron. Endeavours have often been used to unite them, for strengthening the empire, but in vain. The stone cut out without hands, represented the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, which should be set up in the kingdoms of the world, upon the ruins of Satan's kingdom in them. This was the Stone which the builders refused, because it was not cut out by their hands, but it is become the head stone of the corner. Of the increase of Christ's government and peace there shall be no end. The Lord shall reign, not only to the end of time, but when time and days shall be no more. As far as events have gone, the fulfilling this prophetic vision has been most exact and undeniable; future ages shall witness this Stone destroying the image, and filling the whole earth.