King James Version

What Does Daniel 2:35 Mean?

Daniel 2:35 in the King James Version says “Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff o...” — study this verse from Daniel chapter 2 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.”

Daniel 2:35 · King James Version

Context

33

His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.

34

Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. without: or, which was not in hands

35

Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

36

This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.

37

Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

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Commentaries3 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
The stone 'smote the image upon his feet' and caused total disintegration—'became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors.' The Aramaic detail that 'the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them' emphasizes complete obliteration. Human kingdoms don't merely fall; they vanish without trace, leaving no lasting legacy. In contrast, 'the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.' This stone, 'cut out without hands' (v. 34), represents God's kingdom established through divine action rather than human effort. The mountain filling the earth depicts God's kingdom's universal, eternal scope replacing all human authority.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Threshing floors were elevated open spaces where grain was separated from chaff using wind. Chaff blown away left no trace—a perfect metaphor for kingdoms' ultimate insignificance. Mountains in biblical imagery represent kingdoms and governmental authority (cf. Isaiah 2:2; Jeremiah 51:25). A mountain filling the earth depicts universal dominion. This vision was given during Babylonian dominance but predicted its replacement by successive empires and ultimately Christ's eternal kingdom.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the complete obliteration of human kingdoms as 'chaff' challenge our tendency to see earthly political structures as permanent or ultimate?
  2. What does the stone 'cut without hands' becoming a mountain teach about God's kingdom established by divine power rather than human effort?

Compare 3 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 31 words
בֵּאדַ֣יִן1 of 31

“Then”

H116

then (of time)

דָּ֣קוּ2 of 31

“broken to pieces”

H1855

to crumble or (transitive) crush

כַחֲדָ֡ה3 of 31

“together”

H2298

as card. one; as article single; as an ordinal, first; adverbially, at once

פַּרְזְלָא֩4 of 31

“was the iron”

H6523

iron

חַסְפָּ֨א5 of 31

“the clay”

H2635

a clod

נְחָשָׁ֜א6 of 31

“the brass”

H5174

copper

כַּסְפָּ֣א7 of 31

“the silver”

H3702

silver money

וְדַהֲבָ֗א8 of 31

“and the gold”

H1722

gold

הֲוָ֛ת9 of 31

“and became”

H1934

to exist; used in a great variety of applications (especially in connection with other words)

כְּע֣וּר10 of 31

“like the chaff”

H5784

chaff (as the naked husk)

מִן11 of 31

“threshingfloors”

H4481

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of

אִדְּרֵי12 of 31
H147

ample, i.e., a threshing-floor

קַ֔יִט13 of 31

“of the summer”

H7007

harvest

וּנְשָׂ֤א14 of 31

“away”

H5376

to carry away

הִמּוֹן֙15 of 31

“them”

H1994

they

רוּחָ֔א16 of 31

“and the wind”

H7308

mind, spirit

כָּל17 of 31

“that”

H3606

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אֲתַ֖ר18 of 31

“place”

H870

a place; (adverb) after

לָא19 of 31

“no”

H3809

no, not

הִשְׁתֲּכַ֣ח20 of 31

“was found”

H7912

to discover (literally or figuratively)

לְה֑וֹן21 of 31
H0
וְאַבְנָ֣א׀22 of 31

“for them and the stone”

H69

a stone

דִּֽי23 of 31
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

מְחָ֣ת24 of 31

“that smote”

H4223

to strike in pieces; also to arrest; specifically to impale

לְצַלְמָ֗א25 of 31

“the image”

H6755

an idolatrous figure

הֲוָ֛ת26 of 31

“and became”

H1934

to exist; used in a great variety of applications (especially in connection with other words)

לְט֥וּר27 of 31

“mountain”

H2906

a rock or hill

רַ֖ב28 of 31

“a great”

H7229

abundant

וּמְלָ֥את29 of 31

“and filled”

H4391

to fill

כָּל30 of 31

“that”

H3606

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אַרְעָֽא׃31 of 31

“earth”

H772

the earth; by implication (figuratively) low

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Daniel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Daniel 2:35 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Daniel 2:35 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 2:2-3Psalms 37:10Hosea 13:3Revelation 20:11Isaiah 11:9Job 6:17

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