Symbolism of Iron and Brass in Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
In Nebuchadnezzar's dream recorded in the Book of Daniel, the king saw a great image composed of different metals, which Daniel interpreted as representing a succession of world empires [8]. The image's head was of gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze (often translated as brass), and its legs of iron, with feet partly of iron and partly of clay [5, 7]. The metals decrease in value and specific gravity, symbolizing a progression of empires that become successively "baser and baser" [7].
The bronze (or brass) section of the image, specifically the belly and thighs, is consistently interpreted as representing the Greek Empire [6]. Josephus notes that Daniel's interpretation indicated that "another king that shall come from the west, armed with brass, shall destroy that government" [1]. This refers to the Macedonian (Greek) empire, which is explicitly described as a "kingdom of brass" in Daniel 2:39 [2]. Abraham Ibn Ezra, a Jewish rationalist, also identifies the brass sections with the Greek and Roman empires, viewing them as a single kingdom in this context [4]. Historically, the Greeks, beginning with Alexander of Macedon, held supremacy for approximately 300 years, following the Persian (silver) empire [6]. The term "brass" in scripture often refers to copper, an alloy of copper and zinc not known until the thirteenth century [2]. It was used for armor and is a symbol of strength [2].
Following the bronze kingdom, the legs of the image were made of iron, signifying an empire of even greater strength and dominion [1]. This iron kingdom is widely understood to represent the Roman Empire [6]. Josephus states that "another government, that shall be like unto iron, shall put an end to the power of the former, and shall have dominion over all the earth, on account of the nature of iron, which is stronger than that of gold, of silver, and of brass" [1]. The strength of iron is emphasized, indicating its capacity to break and crush other materials [3]. The final stage of the image, the feet and toes, are a mixture of iron and clay, symbolizing a divided kingdom that possesses some of the strength of iron but is also brittle and unstable [3]. This mixed kingdom ultimately gives way to a stone "cut out of the mountain without hands," which strikes the image and shatters all the metals, representing God's eternal kingdom [3].
Sources
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 10, section 5: The head of gold denotes thee, and the kings of Babylon that have been before thee; but the two hands and arms signify this, that your government shall be dissolved by two kings; but another king that shall come from the west, armed with brass, shall destroy that government; and another government, that shall be like unto iron, shall put an end to the power of the former, and shall have dominion over all the earth, on account of the nature of iron, which is stronger than that of gold, of silver, and of brass." Daniel did also de”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Brass — Which is an alloy of copper and zinc, was not known till the thirteenth century. What is designated by this word in Scripture is properly copper (Deut. 8:9). It was used for fetters (Judg. 16:21; 2 Kings 25:7), for pieces of armour (1 Sam. 17:5, 6), for musical instruments (1 Chr. 15:19; 1 Cor. 13:1), and for money (Matt. 10:9). It is a symbol of insensibility and obstinacy in sin (Isa. 48:4; Jer. 6:28; Ezek. 22:18), and of strength (Ps. 107:16; Micah 4:13). The Macedonian empire is described as a kingdom of brass (Dan. 2:39). The "mountains of brass" Zechari”
- Daniel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Daniel 2:45: Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands,.... See Gill on Dan 2:34. and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; of which the image was made he had seen in his dream; and which represented the several monarchies of the world in succession, and described their nature, condition, and circumstances, and the ruin of them; See Gill on Dan 2:35. the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter; after his own death, and in his own monarchy; and what will be the fat”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Genesis 10:4: KITTIM. Kittim is the name of one of Javan’s sons. 1 Even though it is in the plural. I therefore explain in my comments on the Book of Daniel that Greeks and Romans 2 I.E. maintains that the brass sections of the giant statue dreamed of by Nebuchadnezzar allude to the Greek and Roman empires. See Daniel, Chap. 2 and Ibn Ezra’s comment there on verse 39. I.E. identifies the Kittim with the Romans. (See his comments on Gen. 27:40). Since Kittim (the Romans) was the son of Javan (the Greeks) one symbol stands for both of them. constitute one kingdom. 3 Nebuchadn”
- Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Shemot Rabbah 35:5: Another matter, “You shall craft the boards.” What is written above? “This is the gift that you shall collect from them: Gold and silver and bronze” (Exodus 25:3). Gold, this is Babylon, as it is stated: “That image, its head was of fine gold” (Daniel 2:32). 12 The context of this verse is Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, in which Nebuchadnezzar saw an image made of different metals. Daniel interpreted it as representing his kingdom and those that would rise afterward (see Daniel 2:38–40). The head of gold represented Babylon (see Daniel 2:”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — CHAP. II. 3. "I have dreamed a dream." The dream, then, which was seen by the king was not an earthly dream, so that it might be interpreted by the wise of the world; but it was a heavenly dream, fulf (part 2): the Babylonians were sovereign over all, and these were the golden head of the image. And then, after them, the Persians held the supremacy for 245 years, and they were represented by the silver. Then the Greeks had the supremacy, beginning with Alexander of Macedon, for 300 years, so that they were the brass. After them came the Romans,”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 2:32: On ancient coins states are often represented by human figures. The head and higher parts signify the earlier times; the lower, the later times. The metals become successively baser and baser, implying the growing degeneracy from worse to worse. Hesiod, two hundred years before Daniel, had compared the four ages to the four metals in the same order; the idea is sanctioned here by Holy Writ. It was perhaps one of those fragments of revelation among the heathen derived from the tradition as to the fall of man. The metals lessen in specific gravity, as th”
- Daniel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Daniel 2:31: Daniel here gives full satisfaction to Nebuchadnezzar concerning his dream and the interpretation of it. That great prince had been kind to this poor prophet in his maintenance and education; he had been brought up at the king's cost, preferred at court, and the land of his captivity had hereby been made much easier to him than to others of his brethren. And now the king is abundantly repaid for all the expense he had been at upon him; and for receiving this prophet, though not in the name of a prophet, he had a prophet's reward, such a reward as a prophet only co”