THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
The Prophet did not express this as a form of flattery but utilized the common title, for all the leaders of the community referred to as kings were under the authority of the monarch.
Daniel 2:36Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
This is the dream: we will also tell the interpretation thereof before thee, O king.
דְּנָ֣ה חֶלְמָ֔א וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ נֵאמַ֥ר קֳדָם־מַלְכָּֽא׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Vissarion (Nechaev)
The subsequent verses (37-43), which are not part of the parimia, provide an account or understanding of the significance of the various components of the statue in the king's dream. The order in which these parts appear and their differing materials symbolize the sequential transformation of earthly kingdoms and their unique characteristics. The four sections of the statue represent the four kingdoms, which emerge in the chronological succession of their existence. According to Daniel's interpretation, the first kingdom is Babylon, represented by the golden head. Babylon radiated with might and riches, attracting treasures from all the nations that yielded to its power.
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The statue's chest and arms, crafted from silver, were interpreted by Daniel as symbolizing another kingdom, one that is inferior to Babylon just as silver is to gold. Although Daniel did not name this kingdom, it is widely understood to refer to the Medo-Persian empire, which succeeded Babylon. This kingdom is often considered the lower Babylonian, reflecting its state rather than its geographical location.
The brass components of the statue signify the third kingdom, destined to hold sway over the earth in its appointed time. This refers to the Greek empire established by Alexander the Great, which swiftly dismantled the Persian realm and initiated its domination over the world. During the lifetime of its founder, this empire was a singular entity, but following his successors, it fractured into several independent kingdoms. The most prominent among these were the Egyptian kingdom led by the Ptolemies and the Syrian kingdom governed by the Seleucids. These two divisions are vividly represented by the belly and thighs of the bronze segment of the statue.
The iron portion of the statue denotes the fourth kingdom, that of Rome. Initially marked by a robust and formidable presence, as shown by the iron legs, this kingdom later suffered significant decline due to internal strife and the hostile actions of subdued tribes, a deterioration reflected in the mixed (clay) elements of the statue’s construction. Regarding the stone that detached from the mountain without the assistance of human hands, shattering the statue and scattering its parts like chaff in the wind, Daniel provides an explanation for this symbol in the verses that follow.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Dan 2:23To thee, O God of our fathers, I give thanks, and I praise thee: because thou hast given me wisdom and strength: and now thou hast shewn me what we desired of thee, for thou hast made known to us the king's discourse.
- Dan 2:24After this Daniel went in to Arioch, to whom the king had given orders to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and he spoke thus to him: Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will tell the solution to the king.