Bible Strands

Daniel 2:43

As you saw the iron mixed with clay, so the peoples will mix with one another but will not hold together any more than iron mixes with clay.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Daniel addresses King Nebuchadnezzar while interpreting the dream of a statue with feet of iron and clay. He explains the vision at the moment the king's dream concludes and his counselors are brought forward.

The words — The Aramaic מְעָרַב (me.'a.Rav) and מִתְעָרְבִין (mit.'a.re.Vin) both mean "mixed" or "mixing," describing the failed union of iron and clay. The term חֲסַף (cha.Saf) denotes "clay," highlighting the brittle material that cannot bond with metal.

The thread — The imagery of iron and clay appears in the immediate context of Daniel 2:42 and 2:44 to frame the sequence of kingdoms. The contrast between human political fragmentation and God's unshakable kingdom runs through these adjacent verses.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human alliances are inherently unstable and cannot sustain lasting unity. It directs the reader to look beyond temporary political powers to the eternal kingdom God will establish.

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The Hebrew words

וְדִ֣יve./diand/ thatחֲזַ֗יְתָcha.Zay.tayou sawפַּרְזְלָא֙par.ze.La/'iron/ theמְעָרַב֙me.'a.Ravmixedבַּחֲסַ֣ףba./cha.Safwith/ [the] clay ofטִינָ֔אti.Na/'clay/ theמִתְעָרְבִ֤יןmit.'a.re.Vinmixingלֶהֱוֹן֙le.he.Vonthey will beבִּזְרַ֣עbi/z.Ra'with/ [the] offspring ofאֲנָשָׁ֔א'a.na.Sha/'<the>/ humankindוְלָֽא־ve./la'-and/ notלֶהֱוֹ֥ןle.he.Vonthey will beדָּבְקִ֖יןda.ve.Kinclingingדְּנָ֣הde.Nahthisעִם־'im-withדְּנָ֑הde.Nahthisהֵֽא־he'-here!כְדִ֣יkhe./Dilike/ thatפַרְזְלָ֔אfar.ze.La/'<the>/ ironלָ֥אla'notמִתְעָרַ֖בmit.'a.Rav[is] mixingעִם־'im-withחַסְפָּֽא׃chas.Pa/'<the>/ clay

King James Version

And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.