Daniel 2:40-45

2:40 Then there will be a fourth kingdom, one strong like iron. Just like iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything, and as iron breaks in pieces ¹  all of these metals, ²  so it will break in pieces and crush the others. ³  2:41 In that you were seeing feet and toes ⁴  partly of wet clay ⁵  and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom. Some of the strength of iron will be in it, for you saw iron mixed with wet clay. ⁶  2:42 In that the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, the latter stages of this kingdom will be partly strong and partly fragile. 2:43 And ⁷  in that you saw iron mixed with wet clay, so people will be mixed ⁸  with one another ⁹  without adhering to one another, just as ¹⁰  iron does not mix with clay. 2:44 In the days of those kings the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed and a kingdom that will not be left to another people. It will break in pieces and bring about the demise of all these kingdoms. But it will stand forever. 2:45 You saw that a stone was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands; it smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold into pieces. The great God has made known to the king what will occur in the future. ¹¹  The dream is certain, and its interpretation is reliable.”

Daniel 7:7

7:7 “After these things, as I was watching in the night visions ¹²  a fourth beast appeared – one dreadful, terrible, and very strong. ¹³  It had two large rows ¹⁴  of iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and anything that was left it trampled with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had ten horns.

Daniel 7:12-14

7:12 As for the rest of the beasts, their ruling authority had already been removed, though they were permitted to go on living ¹⁵  for a time and a season. 7:13 I was watching in the night visions,

“And with ¹⁶  the clouds of the sky ¹⁷ 

one like a son of man ¹⁸  was approaching.

He went up to the Ancient of Days

and was escorted ¹⁹  before him.

7:14 To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty.

All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving ²⁰  him.

His authority is eternal and will not pass away. ²¹ 

His kingdom will not be destroyed. ²² 

Daniel 7:19-21

7:19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning ²³  of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others. It was very dreadful, with two rows of iron teeth and bronze claws, and it devoured, crushed, and trampled anything that was left with its feet. 7:20 I also wanted to know ²⁴  the meaning of the ten horns on its head, and of that other horn which came up and before which three others fell. This was the horn that had eyes ²⁵  and a mouth speaking arrogant things, whose appearance was more formidable than the others. ²⁶  7:21 While I was watching, that horn began to wage war against the holy ones and was defeating ²⁷  them,

Daniel 7:23

7:23 “This is what he told me: ²⁸ 

‘The fourth beast means that there will be a fourth kingdom on earth

that will differ from all the other kingdoms.

It will devour all the earth

and will trample and crush it.

[2:40]  ¹ tc Theodotion and the Vulgate lack the phrase “and as iron breaks in pieces.”

[2:40]  ² tn The Aramaic text does not have this word, but it has been added in the translation for clarity.

[2:40]  ³ tn The words “the others” are supplied from the context.

[2:41]  ⁴ tc The LXX lacks “and toes.”

[2:41]  ⁵ tn Aram “potter’s clay.”

[2:41]  ⁶ tn Aram “clay of clay” (also in v. 43).

[2:43]  ⁷ tc The present translation reads the conjunction, with most medieval Hebrew MSS, LXX, Vulgate, and the Qere. The Kethib lacks the conjunction.

[2:43]  ⁸ sn The reference to people being mixed is usually understood to refer to intermarriage.

[2:43]  ⁹ tn Aram “with the seed of men.”

[2:43]  ¹⁰ tc The present translation reads הֵיךְ דִּי (hekh diy) rather than the MT הֵא־כְדִי (he’-khÿdi). It is a case of wrong word division.

[2:45]  ¹¹ tn Aram “after this.”

[7:7]  ¹² tn The Aramaic text has also “and behold.” So also in vv. 8, 13.

[7:7]  ¹³ sn The fourth animal differs from the others in that it is nondescript. Apparently it was so fearsome that Daniel could find nothing with which to compare it. Attempts to identify this animal as an elephant or other known creature are conjectural.

[7:7]  ¹⁴ tn The Aramaic word for “teeth” is dual rather than plural, suggesting two rows of teeth.

[7:12]  ¹⁵ tn Aram “a prolonging of life was granted to them.”

[7:13]  ¹⁶ tc The LXX has ἐπί (epi, “upon”) here (cf. Matt 24:30; 26:64). Theodotion has μετά (meta, “with”) here (cf. Mark 14:62; Rev 1:7).

[7:13]  ¹⁷ tn Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.

[7:13]  ¹⁸ sn This text is probably the main OT background for Jesus’ use of the term “son of man.” In both Jewish and Christian circles the reference in the book of Daniel has traditionally been understood to refer to an individual, usually in a messianic sense. Many modern scholars, however, understand the reference to have a corporate identity. In this view, the “son of man” is to be equated with the “holy ones” (vv. 18, 21, 22, 25) or the “people of the holy ones” (v. 27) and understood as a reference to the Jewish people. Others understand Daniel’s reference to be to the angel Michael.

[7:13]  ¹⁹ tn Aram “they brought him near.”

[7:14]  ²⁰ tn Some take “serving” here in the sense of “worshiping.”

[7:14]  ²¹ tn Aram “is an eternal authority which will not pass away.”

[7:14]  ²² tn Aram “is one which will not be destroyed.”

[7:19]  ²³ tn Aram “to make certain.”

[7:20]  ²⁴ tn The words “I also wanted to know” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[7:20]  ²⁵ tc The conjunction in the MT before “eyes” is odd. The ancient versions do not seem to presuppose it.

[7:20]  ²⁶ tn Aram “greater than its companions.”

[7:21]  ²⁷ tn Aram “prevailing against” (KJV and ASV both similar); NASB “overpowering them”; TEV “conquered them.”

[7:23]  ²⁸ tn Aram “thus he said.”