Daniel 2:40

Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; for iron shatters and crushes all things, and like iron that crushes all things, it will shatter and crush all the others.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Daniel continues his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream sequence, moving from the third bronze kingdom to the final stage of earthly empires. The explanation occurs during the dream’s structural breakdown, establishing the chronological order of successive rulers.

The words — תַקִּיפָ֖ה (ta.ki.Fah) translates literally as “strong,” while פַרְזְלָ/א֙ (far.ze.La/) means “iron.” These terms anchor the fourth kingdom’s defining characteristic in its capacity to break and dominate.

The thread — The fourth kingdom reappears in Daniel 7:7 as a terrifying beast and in Daniel 7:19 as a distinct, dreadful entity. It resurfaces in Daniel 11:36 as a king who acts autonomously and exalts himself.

Why it lands — The text states the fourth kingdom will shatter and crush all remaining powers, mirroring iron’s destructive nature. A reader must acknowledge the historical succession of empires and the specific, unyielding force assigned to this final stage.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וּמַלְכוּ֙u./mal.Khuand/ a kingdom רְבִ֣יעָאָ֔הre.vi.'a.yahfourth תֶּהֱוֵ֥אte.he.Ve'it will be תַקִּיפָ֖הta.ki.Fahstrong כְּפַרְזְלָ֑אke./far.ze.La/'like/ <the>/ ironכָּל־ko/l-as/ toקֳבֵ֗לko.Velbecause דִּ֤יdithat פַרְזְלָא֙far.ze.La/'iron/ the מְהַדֵּ֤קme.ha.Dek[is] shattering וְחָשֵׁל֙ve./cha.Sheland/ [is] crushing כֹּ֔לָּאKo.la/'<the>/ everything וּֽכְפַרְזְלָ֛אu./khe./far.ze.La/'and/ like/ <the>/ iron דִּֽי־di-which מְרָעַ֥עme.ra.'A'[is] crushing כָּל־kol-all אִלֵּ֖ין'i.Leinthese תַּדִּ֥קta.Dikit will shatter וְתֵרֹֽעַ׃ve./te.Ro.a'so/ it may crush

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Daniel 7:7 After this, as I watched in my vision in the night, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, and it was terrifying—dreadful and extremely strong—with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed; then it trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns.
Daniel 7:19 Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others—extremely terrifying—devouring and crushing with iron teeth and bronze claws, then trampling underfoot whatever was left.
Daniel 11:36 Then the king will do as he pleases and will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must be accomplished.
Jeremiah 15:12 Can anyone smash iron—iron from the north—or bronze?
Daniel 2:33 its legs were iron, and its feet were part iron and part clay.
Daniel 8:24 His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause terrible destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men along with the holy people.
Daniel 9:26 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed.
Amos 1:3 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they threshed Gilead with sledges of iron.
John 11:48 If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”