The Meaning of Daniel 2:39 Explained

Daniel 2:39

KJV: And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

YLT: And after thee doth rise up another kingdom lower than those, and another third kingdom of brass, that doth rule overall the earth.

Darby: And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee; then another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

ASV: And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee; and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And after  thee shall arise  another  kingdom  inferior  to thee,  and another  third  kingdom  of brass,  which shall bear rule  over all  the earth. 

What does Daniel 2:39 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The world kingdom that succeeded Medo-Persia was Greece-under Alexander the Great (cf. Daniel 8:20-21). Its territory was even larger than that of Medo-Persia. Greece dominated the ancient cradle of civilization from331to31 B.C, so it lasted longer than either Babylonia or Medo-Persia (i.e, 300 years). However, after Alexander the Great died in323 B.C, the empire split into four parts, and each of Alexander"s generals took one piece. Antipater ruled Macedon-Greece, Lysimachus governed Thrace-Asia Minor, Seleucus headed Asia, and Ptolemy reigned over Egypt, Cyrenaica, and Palestine. Thus, Greece lacked the unified strength of Medo-Persia and Babylonia. Its democratic form of government gave more power to the people and less to the rulers. The two legs of the statue evidently represented the two major divisions of the Greek Empire: its eastern and western sectors.

Context Summary

Daniel 2:36-49 - God's Kingdom Triumphant
Our Lord probably refers to these five empires when He speaks of "the times of the Gentiles." The empire of Babylon was followed by that of Medo-Persia under Cyrus; that by Greece under Alexander the Great; and that in turn by Rome led by the Caesars. Since the dissolution of the Roman Empire, the vast dominions of the East and the West have fallen, generally speaking, into some ten main divisions. There is, therefore, now nothing between us and the final setting up of the kingdom that is not made by human hands and shall never be destroyed. Note the striking anticipation of the outcome of Gentile dominion, in the prostration of supreme human power at the feet of a Jew. Evidently Daniel refused the king's homage, because we are told that Nebuchadnezzar "answered" him. Those who have shared our anxieties and prayers must not be forgotten in our hour of triumph, Daniel 2:49. The heart of man may not be able to recall its forgotten dreams of innocence and truth, but it will recognize them when presented by the servant of God. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Daniel 2:39 mean?

But after you shall arise kingdom another inferior to yours then a kingdom third third another of bronze which shall rule over all earth the
וּבָתְרָ֗ךְ תְּק֛וּם מַלְכ֥וּ אָחֳרִ֖י אֲרַ֣עא‪‬ מִנָּ֑ךְ וּמַלְכ֨וּ [תליתיא] (תְלִיתָאָ֤ה) אָחֳרִי֙ דִּ֣י נְחָשָׁ֔א דִּ֥י תִשְׁלַ֖ט בְּכָל־ אַרְעָֽא

וּבָתְרָ֗ךְ  But  after  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֲתַר 
Sense: track, place.
תְּק֛וּם  shall  arise 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: קוּם  
Sense: to arise, stand.
מַלְכ֥וּ  kingdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַלְכוּ  
Sense: royalty, reign, kingdom.
אָחֳרִ֖י  another 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: אָחֳרִי  
Sense: other, another.
אֲרַ֣עא‪‬  inferior 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲרַע  
Sense: earth, world, ground.
מִנָּ֑ךְ  to  yours 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: מִן  
Sense: from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than.
וּמַלְכ֨וּ  then  a  kingdom 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַלְכוּ  
Sense: royalty, reign, kingdom.
[תליתיא]  third 
Parse: Number, ordinal feminine singular
(תְלִיתָאָ֤ה)  third 
Parse: Number, ordinal feminine singular
Root: תְּלִיתָי  
Sense: third.
אָחֳרִי֙  another 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: אָחֳרִי  
Sense: other, another.
נְחָשָׁ֔א  bronze 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: נְחָשׁ  
Sense: copper, bronze.
תִשְׁלַ֖ט  shall  rule 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: שְׁלֵט  
Sense: to have power, rule, domineer, rule over.
בְּכָל־  over  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, whole, the whole.
אַרְעָֽא  earth  the 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular determinate
Root: אֲרַע  
Sense: earth, world, ground.