Daniel 2:43
New International Version
And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.

New Living Translation
This mixture of iron and clay also shows that these kingdoms will try to strengthen themselves by forming alliances with each other through intermarriage. But they will not hold together, just as iron and clay do not mix.

English Standard Version
As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.

Berean Standard Bible
As you saw the iron mixed with clay, so the peoples will mix with one another, but will not hold together any more than iron mixes with clay.

King James Bible
And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

New King James Version
As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.

New American Standard Bible
In that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in their descendants; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not combine with pottery.

NASB 1995
“And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery.

NASB 1977
“And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery.

Legacy Standard Bible
And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay; they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not cling to one another, even as iron does not combine with clay.

Amplified Bible
And as you saw the iron mixed with common clay, so they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not merge [for such diverse things or ideologies cannot unite], even as iron does not mix with clay.

Christian Standard Bible
You saw the iron mixed with clay—the peoples will mix with one another but will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with fired clay.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You saw the iron mixed with clay—the peoples will mix with one another but will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with fired clay.”

American Standard Version
And whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron doth not mingle with clay.

Contemporary English Version
This kingdom will be the result of a marriage between kingdoms, but it will crumble, just as iron and clay don't stick together.

English Revised Version
And whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron doth not mingle with clay.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As you saw, iron was mixed with clay. So the two parts of the kingdom will mix by intermarrying, but they will not hold together any more than iron can mix with clay.

Good News Translation
You also saw that the iron was mixed with the clay. This means that the rulers of that empire will try to unite their families by intermarriage, but they will not be able to, any more than iron can mix with clay.

International Standard Version
Just as you saw iron mixed with clay, so they will mix themselves with human offspring. Furthermore, they won't remain together, just as iron doesn't mix with clay.

Majority Standard Bible
As you saw the iron mixed with clay, so the peoples will mix with one another, but will not hold together any more than iron mixes with clay.

NET Bible
And in that you saw iron mixed with wet clay, so people will be mixed with one another without adhering to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.

New Heart English Bible
And whereas you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mix with one another but they shall not hold together, even as iron does not mix with clay.

Webster's Bible Translation
And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

World English Bible
Whereas you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, they will mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they won’t cling to one another, even as iron does not mix with clay.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Because you have seen iron mixed with miry clay, they are mixing themselves with the seed of men: and they are not adhering with one another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

Young's Literal Translation
Because thou hast seen iron mixed with miry clay, they are mixing themselves with the seed of men: and they are not adhering one with another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

Smith's Literal Translation
That thou sawest the iron mingled with the earthen-ware, mingling for themselves with the seed of men: and not cleaving to them this with this, so as iron not mingling with burnt clay.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall be mingled indeed together with the seed of man, but they shall not stick fast one to another, as iron cannot be mixed with clay.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Yet, because you saw the iron mingled with pottery from the earth, they will indeed be combined together with the offspring of man, but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron cannot be mixed with earthenware.

New American Bible
The iron mixed with clay means that they shall seal their alliances by intermarriage, but they shall not stay united, any more than iron mixes with clay.

New Revised Standard Version
As you saw the iron mixed with clay, so will they mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And whereas you saw iron mixed with miry clay, so they shall mix themselves with one another in marriage; but they shall not cleave one to another, just as iron does not mix with clay.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And because you saw iron that was mixed with earth of clay, in this way they will be mixed with the seed of man, and they shall not be joined to one another, as iron does not mix with clay
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves by the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron doth not mingle with clay.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with earthenware, they shall be mingled with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave together, as the iron does not mix itself with earthenware.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Daniel Interprets the Dream
42And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43As you saw the iron mixed with clay, so the peoples will mix with one another, but will not hold together any more than iron mixes with clay. 44In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever.…

Cross References
Revelation 17:12-13
The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings along with the beast. / These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.

Revelation 17:16-17
And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. / For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

Revelation 13:1-2
Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. / The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

Revelation 19:19-21
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army. / But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. / And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

Revelation 2:26-27
And to the one who overcomes and continues in My work until the end, I will give authority over the nations. / He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery—just as I have received authority from My Father.

Revelation 12:3
Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads.

Revelation 17:10
There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. But when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.

Revelation 17:18
And the woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

Revelation 18:2-3
And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast. / All the nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her immorality. The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury.”

Revelation 18:9-10
Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. / In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

Revelation 18:23
The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bride and bridegroom will never call out in you again. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.”

Revelation 19:15
And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Revelation 20:4
Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Jeremiah 31:27-28
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and of beast. / Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, to demolish, destroy, and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 31:31-32
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. / It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.


Treasury of Scripture

And whereas you saw iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not join one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

one to another.

Jump to Previous
Adhere Baked Clay Cleave Cling Common Daughters Earth Hold Iron Marriage Mingle Miry Mix Mixed Mixes Mixture Pottery Sawest Seed Themselves Together United Whereas Wives
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Adhere Baked Clay Cleave Cling Common Daughters Earth Hold Iron Marriage Mingle Miry Mix Mixed Mixes Mixture Pottery Sawest Seed Themselves Together United Whereas Wives
Daniel 2
1. Nebuchadnezzar, forgetting his dream,
5. requires it of the Chaldeans, by promises and threats.
10. They acknowledging their inability are judged to die.
14. Daniel obtaining some respite finds the dream.
19. He blesses God.
24. He staying the decree is brought to the king.
31. The dream.
36. The interpretation.
46. Daniel's advancement.














As you saw
This phrase refers to the vision that Daniel is interpreting for King Nebuchadnezzar. The act of seeing in biblical terms often implies understanding or revelation. In the Hebrew context, visions were a common means through which God communicated His divine plans. Daniel, a prophet, is given the ability to see and interpret these divine mysteries, emphasizing the importance of spiritual insight and wisdom granted by God.

the iron mixed with clay
Iron and clay are materials with distinct properties; iron is strong and durable, while clay is fragile and malleable. In the context of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, these materials symbolize the composition of the kingdom. Historically, this has been interpreted as a representation of the Roman Empire, which was strong like iron but also divided and weakened by internal strife and the integration of various peoples and cultures, akin to clay. Theologically, this mixture signifies the inherent instability and impermanence of earthly kingdoms compared to the eternal kingdom of God.

so the peoples will mix with one another
This phrase suggests a mingling of different nations, cultures, or ethnic groups. Historically, the Roman Empire was known for its vast diversity, incorporating various peoples under its rule. Theologically, this mixing can be seen as a metaphor for the challenges of unity and cohesion in human societies. Despite attempts to unify, the differences in beliefs, values, and traditions often lead to division and conflict, highlighting the limitations of human efforts to achieve lasting peace and unity without divine intervention.

but will not hold together
This phrase underscores the inherent fragility and instability of human alliances and kingdoms. Despite the appearance of strength, the mixture of iron and clay is fundamentally weak. This serves as a reminder of the transient nature of worldly power and the futility of relying on human strength alone. From a conservative Christian perspective, it emphasizes the need for reliance on God's eternal kingdom, which alone offers true stability and unity.

just as iron does not mix with clay
The incompatibility of iron and clay serves as a powerful metaphor for the challenges faced by human governments and societies. This imagery illustrates the difficulty of achieving true unity and strength when foundational differences exist. In a broader spiritual context, it can be seen as a call to Christians to seek unity in Christ, who transcends earthly divisions and offers a foundation that cannot be shaken. The verse ultimately points to the sovereignty of God over human history and the assurance of His unshakeable kingdom.

(43) Seed of men.--The great obscurity of this verse is partially cleared by a reference to Jeremiah 31:27. Daniel appears to be contrasting what man is endeavouring to accomplish by his own efforts with that which the God of heaven (Daniel 2:44) will carry out. Man will form his plans for uniting the discordant parts of this empire, by encouraging marriages between the royal families that rule the various component kingdoms. (Comp. Daniel 11:6; Daniel 11:17, Notes.)



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
As you saw
חֲזַ֗יְתָ (ḥă·zay·ṯā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2370: To gaze upon, mentally to dream, be usual

the iron
פַּרְזְלָא֙ (par·zə·lā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 6523: Iron

mixed
מְעָרַב֙ (mə·‘ā·raḇ)
Verb - Piel - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 6151: To commingle

with clay,
בַּחֲסַ֣ף (ba·ḥă·sap̄)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2635: Clay, potsherd

so the peoples
בִּזְרַ֣ע (biz·ra‘)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2234: Posterity

will mix with one another,
מִתְעָרְבִ֤ין (miṯ·‘ā·rə·ḇîn)
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6151: To commingle

but will not
וְלָֽא־ (wə·lā-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3809: Not, no

hold together
דָּבְקִ֖ין (dā·ḇə·qîn)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1693: To stick to

any more than
וְדִ֣י (wə·ḏî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 1768: Who, which, that, because

iron
פַרְזְלָ֔א (p̄ar·zə·lā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 6523: Iron

mixes
מִתְעָרַ֖ב (miṯ·‘ā·raḇ)
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6151: To commingle

with
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5974: With, equally with

clay.
חַסְפָּֽא׃ (ḥas·pā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 2635: Clay, potsherd


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OT Prophets: Daniel 2:43 Whereas you saw the iron mixed (Dan. Da Dn)
Daniel 2:42
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