And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these.
English Standard Version (ESV)
While iron is known for its strength in crushing, the text emphasizes that this fourth kingdom, like iron, will not only crush but also bruise everything it encounters. This suggests a particularly brutal and destructive force, going beyond mere subjugation to inflict lasting damage and subjugation on all it conquers. The repetition of "break and crush" serves to highlight the overwhelming and relentless nature of this power.
And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Daniel is continuing to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great statue, moving from the legs of the statue to the feet. This fourth kingdom is described as overwhelmingly powerful, crushing all others, but the following verses will reveal its inherent weakness and division.
Have you ever felt the sheer force of something unyielding? This fourth kingdom is described with a material known for its raw power.
The imagery of iron in Daniel 2:40 is meant to convey a kingdom with unparalleled strength and destructive capability.
Ruthless Dominion
Unlike the gold, silver, and bronze of the previous kingdoms, iron is depicted as something that doesn't just conquer, but 'breaks to pieces and shatters all things.' This speaks to a dominion that is absolute, crushing any opposition and leaving no trace of what came before it.
A Historical Parallel
Commentators widely identify this fourth kingdom with the Roman Empire. Its military might, legal system, and administrative power were indeed formidable, capable of breaking the resistance of numerous nations and fundamentally reshaping the ancient world. This kingdom was characterized by its relentless expansion and its ability to subjugate diverse peoples.
Even the strongest material has a hidden weakness. What could possibly compromise a kingdom described as 'iron'?
While Daniel 2:40 vividly portrays the immense strength of the fourth kingdom, later verses (and scholarly interpretation) reveal an inherent flaw in its composition.
Mixed Strength and Weakness
Daniel 2:41-43 introduce the image of the feet and toes being made of iron mixed with clay. This signifies that while the empire possesses the strength of iron, it is fundamentally unstable and divided. The iron represents its enduring power, but the clay signifies weakness, brittleness, and a lack of true cohesion.
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A Divided Legacy
This mixture points to a kingdom that, despite its outward might, would be internally fractured. It would struggle with division, internal strife, and an inability to remain unified. This contrasts sharply with the pure metals of the earlier kingdoms, suggesting a decline in the quality and stability of these successive world powers.
Understand the original words
parzel · Aramaic Noun
A metal symbolizing unrelenting power and the capacity to crush or destroy, often representing kingdoms that exert total control through force.
This verse describes the fourth great empire in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, consistently identified by scholars as the Roman Empire. Its immense strength, symbolized by iron, is contrasted with the later fragmentation seen in the feet and toes of clay and iron, pointing to a long-lasting empire that would eventually divide.
336–323 BC
Alexander the Great's Conquests
Alexander the Great rapidly built a vast empire stretching from Greece to northwestern India, establishing a new Hellenistic world order.
323 BC
Death of Alexander the Great
Alexander died without a clear heir, leading to a power struggle among his generals, the Diadochi, who carved up the empire.
c. 27 BC— this verse
Establishment of the Roman Empire
Following decades of civil war, Octavian (Augustus) consolidated power, marking the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire.
c. AD 1st-2nd centuries
Pax Romana
The Roman Empire entered a period of relative peace and prosperity, characterized by strong centralized rule and vast territorial control.
c. AD 4th-5th centuries
Division and Decline of the Western Roman Empire
Internal strife, economic problems, and invasions by various tribes led to the fragmentation and eventual collapse of the Western Roman Empire.
This verse parallels Daniel's commission to prophesy against nations and kingdoms with the imagery of uprooting, tearing down, and destroying, mirroring the destructive power of the iron kingdom.
Isaiah 10:15This passage describes a powerful, destructive tool ('axe,' 'saw') used by God against His people, much like the iron kingdom is depicted as crushing and breaking all in its path.
Psalm 2:9This verse speaks of crushing rebellious nations with an 'iron scepter,' echoing the unyielding and shattering force attributed to the fourth kingdom's dominance.
Revelation 13:7This New Testament passage describes a beast given authority to make war against the saints and conquer them, reflecting the pervasive and overwhelming power of the iron kingdom described in Daniel.
Daniel 7:7This verse describes the fourth beast in Daniel's vision as having great iron teeth, further reinforcing the imagery of crushing power and destruction associated with this empire.
barnesDaniel 2:40: "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."
And the fourth kingdom - Represented in the image by the legs of iron, and the feet "part of iron, and part of clay," Daniel 2:33 . The first question which arises here is, what kingdom is referred to by this? In regard to this, there have been two leading opinions: one, that it refers to the Roman…
pulpitDaniel 2:40: "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."
Verse 40. - 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. The version of the LXX. differs considerably here, "The fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, as iron…
While iron is known for its strength in crushing, the text emphasizes that this fourth kingdom, like iron, will not only crush but also bruise everything it encounters. This suggests a particularly brutal and destructive force, going beyond mere subjugation to inflict lasting damage and subjugation on all it conquers. The repetition of "break and crush" serves to highlight the overwhelming and relentless nature of this power.
Daniel is continuing to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great statue, moving from the legs of the statue to the feet. This fourth kingdom is described as overwhelmingly powerful, crushing all others, but the following verses will reveal its inherent weakness and division.
Daniel is continuing to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great statue, moving from the legs of the statue to the feet. This fourth kingdom is described as overwhelmingly powerful, crushing all others, but the following verses will reveal its inherent weakness and division.
"And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these." — While iron is known for its strength in crushing, the text emphasizes that this fourth kingdom, like iron, will not only crush but also bruise everything it encounters. This suggests a particularly…
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Last reviewed October 2026