Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

DANIEL 2:35KJV
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Daniel 2:35 (KJV)

What does Daniel 2:35 mean?

Daniel 2:35 describes how the materials making up the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream—iron, clay, brass, silver, and gold—were all shattered at once and blown away like chaff by the wind, leaving no trace. The stone that struck the statue then grew into a great mountain that filled the whole earth.

In this part of Daniel, Daniel is explaining King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The king saw a statue made of different metals, which a stone struck and destroyed. Daniel describes the complete destruction of the statue’s materials, emphasizing that nothing remained of them, while the stone became a mountain covering the earth. This sets up the meaning of the dream, which Daniel will explain as showing the end of earthly kingdoms and the rise of something enduring.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 2:35

  • "Chaff" (נְפָת / n’pat): This word means the husks separated from grain during threshing. It highlights how the statue’s remains are not just destroyed but made worthless and easily swept away.
  • "Wind" (רוּחַ / ruach): This word can mean wind or spirit. Here, it emphasizes how completely the remains are removed—nothing substantial is left.
  • "Stone" (אֶבֶן / eben): The stone is not just a rock but becomes a "great mountain" (טוּר רַב / tur rav), showing a dramatic transformation from something small to something vast and permanent.

Why Daniel 2:35 matters

  • Daniel 2:35 makes clear that the destruction of the statue is total—none of the old kingdoms remain, not even a trace, which is stronger than just saying they were defeated.
  • The verse sets up a contrast between the temporary, fragile nature of human kingdoms (blown away like chaff) and the permanence of what the stone represents.
  • This moment is key to understanding the rest of Daniel 2, as it prepares the reader for Daniel’s explanation that God’s kingdom will replace all others and endure forever.