Daniel 2:39 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.

NIV: "After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth.

NASB: And after you another kingdom will arise inferior to you, then another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.

CSB: "After you, there will arise another kingdom, inferior to yours, and then another, a third kingdom, of bronze, which will rule the whole earth.

NLT: But after your kingdom comes to an end, another kingdom, inferior to yours, will rise to take your place. After that kingdom has fallen, yet a third kingdom, represented by bronze, will rise to rule the world.

KJV: And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

NKJV: But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.

King Nebuchadnezzar was bothered by a dream (Daniel 2:1–3), and Daniel was given special revelation from God to interpret it (Daniel 2:27–28). The king saw a massive statue, made of various materials, which was struck by a rock and destroyed. From top to bottom, the figure's components become less valuable but harder, until the base where the toes are an unstable mixture of iron and clay (Daniel 2:31–35). In the prior verse, Daniel explained that the statue's golden head symbolized what was then the current Babylonian Empire, ruled by Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:38).

The kingdoms which would rule over the middle east after Babylon are depicted by a chest and arms of silver, followed by a stomach and thighs of bronze. Silver is less valuable than gold, lighter, yet tougher. So, too, bronze is stronger and less dense than silver, while of less value. The statue's head is singular, but the torso has two separate arms. The midsection begins as one but separates just as it transitions into the legs.

In hindsight, we can see which nations fit the description given by Daniel. The second kingdom (Daniel 2:32) fits the Medo-Persian Empire. This was "inferior" to Babylon in terms of being less of an absolute monarchy. The two arms express the joined-but-separate nature of the Median and Persian cultures who never fully cohered as one. The third nation, Greece, endowed still less supreme authority in its ruler. Alexander the Great united Greece, but after his death, it was split by his generals.

Daniel 2:31–45 provides both the content and the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's troubling dream (Daniel 2:1–3). The dream describes what is sometimes called "the latter days" or "the times of the Gentiles." This is part of a section of the book of Daniel recorded in Aramaic (Daniel 2:4—7:28), the common language of Babylon at the time. The image seen in the dream includes a progression of shapes and materials, representing a sequence of kingdoms, their characteristics, and their eventual fates.

King Nebuchadnezzar tests his magicians, demanding they tell him what he has dreamed, rather than merely inventing an interpretation. When they fail, he prepares to execute the entire department of wise men. Daniel promises he can meet the king's request and is given a special vision from God. The king dreamed of a massive statue shattered into powder by a supernatural rock. Daniel accurately describes this and interprets it as a prophecy about kingdoms which would come after Babylon. The king appoints Daniel and his friends to positions of power and influence over Babylon.

Chapter 1 introduced King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Daniel—a captive youth from Jerusalem—and three other Jewish boys. After three years of education, the four Hebrew captives outperformed all the other trainees, even surpassing the wise men in Babylon. In chapter 2, Daniel describes and interprets Nebuchadnezzar's disturbing dream, though the court magicians could not. As a result, the king promotes Daniel and his three friends to high positions over the provinces of Babylon. This sets the stage for a severe test of faith in chapter 3.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.