Daniel 2:40 (KJV)

What does Daniel 2:40 mean?

Daniel 2:40 describes a fourth kingdom that will be as strong as iron, able to crush and break everything else, just as iron is known for its strength and ability to shatter other materials. The verse uses the image of iron to show how this kingdom will overpower and bruise all others before it.

In this part of the book of Daniel, Daniel is explaining King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about a statue made of different materials, each representing a different kingdom. Daniel is speaking to the king, revealing that after three earlier kingdoms, a fourth one will rise, unmatched in its power to conquer and destroy. The focus is on the overwhelming strength and harshness of this coming empire, compared to the toughness and destructive force of iron.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 2:40

• "iron" (פַּרְזֶל, parzel): This word is repeated several times to stress the quality of the fourth kingdom. Iron was the hardest known metal in Daniel’s time, so its use highlights the kingdom’s ability to crush and dominate.
• "breaketh in pieces" (דְּקוּ, deqū): This verb means to shatter or smash. It emphasizes not just strength, but a violent, destructive power that leaves nothing whole.
• "subdueth" (חַשֵּׁל, ḥashel): This word means to bring under control or to trample. It adds the idea that the fourth kingdom doesn’t just break things, but also forces them into submission.
• "bruise" (רְעַע, re‘a‘): This verb can mean to crush or to cause injury. It shows that the fourth kingdom’s power is not just about conquering, but also about causing lasting harm.

Why Daniel 2:40 matters

• Daniel 2:40 helps the reader see that the fourth kingdom is not just powerful, but uniquely harsh and destructive, more so than the kingdoms before it.
• The repeated use of "iron" and related words makes clear that the focus is on overwhelming force, not just political control.
• This verse connects to the larger vision in Daniel 2, where each part of the statue represents a different era or empire, helping the reader understand the flow of history as seen through Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.