Daniel 2:42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle.

◄ Daniel 2:42 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle.

English Standard Version
And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle.

New American Standard Bible
"As the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle.

King James Bible
And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and that the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly fired clay--part of the kingdom will be strong, and part will be brittle.

International Standard Version
Just as their toes and feet are part iron and part clay, so will the kingdom be both strong and brittle.

American Standard Version
And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

Darby Bible Translation
And as the toes of the feet were part of iron and part of clay, the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.

Young's Literal Translation
As to the toes of the feet, part of them iron, and part of them clay: some part of the kingdom is strong, and some part of it is brittle.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

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.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

41-43. feet … toes … part … clay … iron—explained presently, "the kingdom shall be partly strong, partly broken" (rather, "brittle," as earthenware); and Da 2:43, "they shall mingle … with the seed of men," that is, there will be power (in its deteriorated form, iron) mixed up with that which is wholly of man, and therefore brittle; power in the hands of the people having no internal stability, though something is left of the strength of the iron [Tregelles]. Newton, who understands the Roman empire to be parted into the ten kingdoms already (whereas Tregelles makes them future), explains the "clay" mixture as the blending of barbarous nations with Rome by intermarriages and alliances, in which there was no stable amalgamation, though the ten kingdoms retained much of Rome's strength. The "mingling with the seed of men" (Da 2:44) seems to refer to Ge 6:2, where the marriages of the seed of godly Seth with the daughters of ungodly Cain are described in similar words. The reference, therefore, seems to be to the blending of the Christianized Roman empire with the pagan nations, a deterioration being the result. Efforts have been often made to reunite the parts into one great empire, as by Charlemagne and Napoleon, but in vain. Christ alone shall effect that.