{"id":21801,"date":"2022-09-24T09:11:37","date_gmt":"2022-09-24T14:11:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/exegetical-and-hermeneutical-commentary-of-daniel-232\/"},"modified":"2022-09-24T09:11:37","modified_gmt":"2022-09-24T14:11:37","slug":"exegetical-and-hermeneutical-commentary-of-daniel-232","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/exegetical-and-hermeneutical-commentary-of-daniel-232\/","title":{"rendered":"Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 2:32"},"content":{"rendered":"

This image’s head [was] of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, <\/i><\/b><\/h3>\n

32<\/strong>. This image’s head<\/em> was, &c.] more forcibly, and also in better agreement with the original, As for that<\/strong> image<\/em>, its<\/strong> head was<\/em>, &c.<\/p>\n

brass<\/em> ] i.e. copper<\/strong> (or bronze<\/strong>): see Wright’s Bible Word-book<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

32, 33<\/strong>. The head of the image was of gold; but its substance deteriorated more and more until the feet were reached, which were of mingled iron and clay.<\/p>\n

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

This images head was of fine gold – <\/B>Chaldee, good gold – <\/span> <\/span> d<\/I>e<\/I><\/SUP>hab<\/I> tab<\/I> – that is, fine, pure, unalloyed. The whole head of the figure, colossal as it was, appeared to be composed wholly of this. Had the whole image been made of gold, it would not have been so striking – for it was not uncommon to construct vast statues of this metal. Compare Dan 3:1<\/span>. But the remarkable peculiarity of this image was, that it was composed of different materials, some of which were seldom or never used in such a structure, and all of which had a peculiar significancy. On the significancy of this part of the figure, and the resemblance between this head of gold and Nebuchadnezzar himself, see the notes at Dan 2:37-38<\/span>.<\/P>

His breast and his arms of silver – <\/B>The word rendered breast (<\/span> chady<\/I>) is in the plural number, in accordance with common usage in the Hebrew, by which several members of the human body are often expressed in the plural; as <\/span> panym<\/I> – faces, etc. There is a foundation for such a usage in nature, in the two-fold form of many of the portions of the human body. The portion of the body which is here represented is obviously the upper portion of the front part – what is prominently visible when we look at the human frame. Next to the head it is the most important part, as it embraces most of the vital organs. Some degree of inferiority, as well as the idea of succession, would be naturally represented by this. The inferior value of silver as compared with gold will naturally suggest some degree of decline or degeneracy in the character of the subject represented by the metal; and so in other members, as we proceed downward, as the material becomes continually baser, we naturally infer that the subject deteriorates, in some sense, in the like manner. – Professor Bush, in loc<\/I>. On the kingdom represented by this, and the propriety of this representation, see the notes at Dan 2:39<\/span>.<\/P>

His belly and his thighs of brass – <\/B>Margin, sides. It is not necessary to enter minutely into an examination of the words here used. The word belly denotes, unquestionably, the regions of the abdomen as externally visible. The word rendered thighs in the text is rendered sides in the margin. It is, like the word breast in the previous verse, in the plural number and for the same reason. The Hebrew word (<\/span> yarek<\/I>) is commonly rendered thigh in the Scriptures (Gen 24:2<\/span>, Gen 24:9<\/span>; Gen 32:25<\/span> (26), 31, 32(32, 33), et al.), though it is also frequently rendered side, Exo 32:27<\/span>; Exo 40:22<\/span>, Exo 40:24<\/span>; Lev 1:11<\/span>; Num 3:29<\/span>, et al. According to Gesenius, it denotes the thick and double fleshy member which commences at the bottom of the spine, and extends to the lower legs. It is that part on which the sword was formerly worn, Exo 32:27<\/span>; Jdg 3:16<\/span>, Jdg 3:21<\/span>; Psa 45:3<\/span> (4). It is also that part which was smitten, as an expression of mourning or of indignation, Jer 31:19<\/span>; Eze 21:12<\/span> (17). Compare Hom. Iliad xii. 162, xv. 397; Odyssey xiii. 198; Cic. 150: Orat. 80; Quinc. xi. 3. It is not improperly here rendered thighs, and the portion of the figure that was of brass was that between the breast and the lower legs, or extended from the breast to the knees. The word is elsewhere employed to denote the shaft or main trunk of the golden candlestick of the tabernacle, Exo 25:31<\/span>; Exo 37:17<\/span>; Num 8:4<\/span>.<\/P>

Of brass – <\/B>An inferior metal, and denoting a kingdom of inferior power or excellence. On the kingdom represented by this, see the notes at Dan 2:39<\/span>.<\/P><\/p>\n

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Verse 32. Head<\/B><\/I> was <\/B>of fine gold<\/B><\/I>] The Babylonish empire<\/I>, the first and greatest.<\/P>

<\/P>

Breast and his arms of silver<\/B><\/I>] The Medo-Persian empire<\/I>, under Cyrus, &c.<\/P>

<\/P>

His belly and his thighs of brass<\/B><\/I>] The Macedonian empire<\/I>, under Alexander the Great, and his successors.<\/P> <\/p>\n

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

32.<\/B> On ancient coins states areoften represented by human figures. The head and higher parts signifythe earlier times; the lower, the later times. The metals becomesuccessively baser and baser, implying the growing degeneracy fromworse to worse. HESIOD,two hundred years before Daniel, had compared the four ages to thefour metals in the same order; the idea is sanctioned here by HolyWrit. It was perhaps one of those fragments of revelation among theheathen derived from the tradition as to the fall of man. The metalslessen in specific gravity,<\/I> as they downwards; silver is notso heavy as gold, brass not so heavy as silver, and iron not so heavyas brass, the weight<\/I> thus being arranged in the reverse ofstability [TREGELLES].Nebuchadnezzar derived his authority from God, not from man, nor asresponsible to man. But the Persian king was so far dependent onothers that he could not deliver Daniel from the princes (Dan 6:14<\/span>;Dan 6:15<\/span>); contrast Dan 5:18<\/span>;Dan 5:19<\/span>, as to Nebuchadnezzar’spower from God, “whom he would he slew, and whom he would hekept alive” (compare Ezr 7:14<\/span>;Est 1:13-16<\/span>).Grco-Macedonia betrays its deterioration in its divisions, notunited as Babylon and Persia. Iron is stronger than brass, butinferior in other respects; so Rome hardy and strong to tread downthe nations, but less kingly and showing its chief deterioration inits last state. Each successive kingdom incorporates its predecessor(compare Da 5:28<\/span>). Power thatin Nebuchadnezzar’s hands was a God-derived (Dan 2:37<\/span>;Dan 2:38<\/span>) autocracy, in thePersian king’s was a rule resting on his nobility of person andbirth, the nobles being his equals in rank, but not in office; inGreece, an aristocracy not of birth, but individual influence, inRome, lowest of all, dependent entirely on popular choice, theemperor being appointed by popular military election.<\/P><\/p>\n

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

This image’s head was of fine gold<\/strong>,…. The prophet begins with the superior part of this image, and descends to the lower, because of the order and condition of the monarchies it represents: this signifies the Babylonian monarchy, as afterwards explained; called the “head”, being the first and chief of the monarchies; and compared to “fine gold”, because of the glory, excellency, and duration of it:<\/p>\n

his breast and his arms of silver<\/strong>; its two arms, including its hands and its breast, to which they were joined, were of silver, a metal of less value than gold; designing the monarchy of the Medes and Persians, which are the two arms, and which centred in Cyrus, who was by his father a Persian, by his mother a Mede; and upon whom, after his uncle’s death, the whole monarchy devolved:<\/p>\n

his belly and his thighs of brass<\/strong>; a baser metal still; this points at the Macedonian or Grecian monarchy, set up by Alexander, signified by the “belly”, for intemperance and luxury; as the two “thighs” denote his principal successors, the Selucidae and Lagidae, the Syrian and Egyptian kings; and these of brass, because of the sounding fame of them, as Jerom.<\/p>\n

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

(32) Breast<\/strong> . . .It should be remarked that though many different parts of the body of the image are mentioned, Daniel regards the whole thing as made up of only four parts, each corresponding to one of the four metals. Similarly he shows the history of the world in its relation to Gods people, complicated though it may be and varied in its aspect, consists of no more than four principal parts. It will be noticed that by the additional matter mentioned Dan. 2:41-42<\/span>, certain minor complications of history are intended, which, however, do not interfere with the fourfold division of which the outline is here given.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

32, 33<\/strong>. <\/strong> The dreamer dreams through the ages though he knows it not. In that sleep a thousand years were but as a watch in the night. “In the Parsee tradition Zoroaster was shown four trees, one of gold, another of silver, another of steel, and the fourth of iron, and he was told that these four trees represented four ages of the world ( Bahman Yesht<\/em>). Ovid sings of the ages of gold, silver, bronze, and iron ( Metamorphoses<\/em>); and though Hesiod ( Works and Days<\/em>) mentions five ages, he has for them only four metallic names gold, silver, brass, and iron” (Terry). Compare also Dante, Inferno, <\/em> 14:94, and Goethe, Das Mahrchen.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Dan 2:32<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. <\/strong>This image’s head was of fine gold<\/em><\/strong><\/strong> This Daniel interprets thus, Dan 2:38<\/span>. Thou art this head of gold; <\/em>thou, and thy family, and thy representatives. The Babylonian therefore was the first of these kingdoms, and it was fitly represented by the head of fine gold, <\/em>on account of its great riches; and Babylon, for the same reason, was called the golden city <\/em>by Isaiah, chap. Isa 14:4<\/span>. The Assyrian is usually said to be the first of the four great empires, and the name may be allowed to pass, if it be not taken too strictly: for the Assyrian empire, properly so called, was dissolved before this time, and the Babylonian was erected in its stead: but the Babylonians are sometimes called Assyrians in the best classic authors, as well as in the Holy Scriptures. The next clause, His breasts and arms of silver, <\/em>Daniel interprets, Dan 2:39<\/span>. After thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee. <\/em>It is very well known, that the kingdom which arose after the Babylonian was the Medo-Persian. The two hands and the shoulders, signify that the empire of the Babylonians should be destroyed by two kings. The two kings were the kings of the Medes and Persians, whose powers were united under Cyrus, who was son of one of the kings, and son-in-law of the other, and who besieged and took Babylon, put an end to that empire, and on its ruin erected the Medo-Persian, or the Persian, as it is more usually called, the Persians having soon gained the ascendant over the Medes. The empire is said to be inferior, <\/em>as being less <\/em>than the former, according to the Vulgate translation, because neither Cyrus, nor any of his successors, ever carried their arms into Africa or Spain so far as Nebuchadnezzar is reported to have done; or rather as being worse, according to Castalio; for indeed it may be very truly asserted, that the kings of Persia in general were the worst race of men that ever governed an empire. This empire, from its first establishment by Cyrus, to the death of Darius Codomannus, lasted not much above two hundred years. Of the third kingdom, <\/em>specified by the belly and thighs of brass, <\/em>we are told, Dan 2:39<\/span>. That it should bear rule over all the earth. <\/em>It is universally known, that Alexander the Great subverted the Persian empire. The kingdom therefore which succeeded to the Persian was the Macedonian or Grecian, and this kingdom was fitly represented by brass; <\/em>for the Greeks were famous for their brazen armour, their usual epithet being “The brazen-coated Greeks.” The third <\/em>kingdom is said to bear rule over all the earth, <\/em>by a figure usual almost in all authors. Alexander himself commands, that he should be called the king of all the world, <\/em>not that he really conquered the whole world, but that he had considerable dominions in Europe, Asia, and Africa; that is, in all the three parts of the world then known. Diodorus Siculus, and other writers, give an account of ambassadors coming from almost all the world to congratulate him upon his success; and then especially, as Arrian remarks, did Alexander himself appear to himself, and to those about him, to be master of both all the earth and all the sea: <\/em>so that the third <\/em>kingdom must comprehend not only Alexander, but likewise the Macedonian princes who succeeded him. This will appear the more probable, because the former kingdoms comprehended all the succeeding princes of the same house and nation, even till the ruin of their empire, and its translation to the different prince and nation which succeeded to the sovereign power and dominion. See Bishop Newton as above, and Dr. Chandler’s Vindication of Daniel, p. 98. <\/p>\n

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Dan 2:32 This image’s head [was] of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,<\/p>\n

Ver. 32. The image’s head was of fine gold.] This is the first, and till now, altogether unheard of prophecy concerning the four monarchies of the world. Res plane digna quae memoriae tota commendetur,<\/em> saith one; a<\/em> a scripture worthy to be well remembered, because it briefly comprehendeth the history of all ages to the world’s end. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

His breast and his arms of silver.<\/strong> ] The elder they are the baser; so is Rome papal, of which one of her sons, b<\/em> over two hundred years since, complained, not without good cause, that she was become of gold, silver; of silver, iron; of iron, earth; superesse ut in stercus abiret,<\/em> and that she would turn next into dung. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

a<\/em> Sleid. Deu 4:1-49 Monarch.<\/em> <\/p>\n

b<\/em> Theodoric Urias, A.D. 1414.<\/p>\n

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

head. Note the five parts: (1) the head; (2) the breast and arms; (3) the belly and the thighs; (4) the legs; (5) the feet. These five are preserved distinct throughout. Compare: Dan 2:34-35, and Dan 2:38-44, and Dan 2:45. <\/p>\n

gold . . . clay (Dan 2:33). Note that the most precious metal, and the highest specific gravity was at the top, decreasing with its descent: (1) gold = Dan 19:3; (2) silver = Dan 10:51; (3) brass = Dan 8:5; (4) iron = Dan 7:6; (5) clay = Dan 1:9, so that it was top-heavy from the first. <\/p>\n

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

head: Dan 2:37, Dan 2:38, Dan 4:22, Dan 4:30, Dan 7:4, Isa 14:4, Jer 51:7, Rev 17:4 <\/p>\n

breast: Dan 2:39, Dan 7:5, Dan 8:3, Dan 8:4, Dan 11:2 <\/p>\n

belly: Dan 2:39, Dan 7:6, Dan 8:5-8, Dan 11:3-20 <\/p>\n

thighs: or, sides <\/p>\n

Reciprocal: Son 7:1 – the joints Dan 3:1 – made Dan 7:3 – four<\/p>\n

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Dan 2:32. Three of the world empires are represented in this verse, using the image down as far as the thighs, which will be shown when Daniel comes with his interpretation of the whole vision.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Dan 2:32-33. This images head was of fine gold The Babylonian monarchy had arrived to the height of glory under Nebuchadnezzar, (see Dan 2:37-38,) who likewise improved and adorned the city of Babylon to such a degree as to make it one of the wonders of the world; so that this empire might justly be compared to a head of gold. His breast and his arms of silver The second monarchy, of Medes and Persians, would be inferior to the first: see note on Dan 2:39. His belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron These emblems denoted the strength of the third and fourth monarchies, and the irresistible force with which they should subdue their adversaries. Iron and brass are the emblems of strength in the prophetical writings; and they were in other respects emblematical of these empires, as we shall see by and by. His feet part of iron and part of clay By this was signified the Roman empire in its declining state, as will be shown presently.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

2:32 This image’s head [was] of fine {q} gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,<\/p>\n

(q) By gold, silver, brass, and iron are meant the Chaldean, Persian, Macedonian, and Roman kingdoms, which would successively rule all the world until Christ (who is here called the stone) himself comes, and destroys the last. And this was to assure the Jews that their affliction would not end with the empire of the Chaldeans, but that they should patiently await the coming of the Messiah, who would be at the end of this fourth monarchy.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

The head was of fine gold. Its chest and arms were silver. Its abdomen and thighs were bronze. Its lower legs were iron, and its feet were a combination of iron and clay. Archaeologists have discovered similar images made of several types of precious metals in Babylonia. [Note: See Baldwin, pp. 96-98.] <\/span><\/p>\n

Several features are noteworthy. First, the head is the only member of the body made of only one metal. All the other parts had more than one substance with the exception of the arms. For example, the upper torso was silver but bronze lower down. The same was true of the legs and feet. Second, there is a consistently decreasing value to the substances beginning at the top and proceeding to the bottom of the image. Third, the image was top-heavy. The specific gravity of gold is about 19, silver about 11, brass about 8.5, and iron 7.8. [Note: Walvoord, p. 63.] <\/span> Fourth, the substances progress from the softest to the hardest, top to bottom. The feet are a non-adhering combination of very hard and hard but fragile materials. The clay in view may have been baked clay that the Babylonians used as tiles in construction projects.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n
\n

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Statue<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Head<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Gold<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Valuable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Soft<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Self-contained unit<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Heavy<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Smallest<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Chest & arms<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Silver<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Less valuable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Harder<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 unit & 2 parts<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Lighter<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Larger<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Abdomen& thighs<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Bronze<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Even less valuable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Even harder<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1 unit & 2 different parts<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Even lighter<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Even larger<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Lower legs<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Iron<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Still less valuable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Still harder<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2 parts<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Still lighter<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Still larger<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Feet & toes<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Iron & clay<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Least valuable<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Very hard and very soft<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2 parts & 10 segments<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Lightest<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Largest<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This image’s head [was] of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 32. This image’s head was, &c.] more forcibly, and also in better agreement with the original, As for that image, its head was, &c. brass ] i.e. copper (or bronze): see Wright’s Bible Word-book. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 2:32”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21801","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21801"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21801\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}