Single lesson
Praise and the Statue Dream in Greek Daniel
Daniel (Greek) 2:20–23; Daniel (Greek) 2:31–45
These verses join Daniel’s praise to God with the report and explanation of the king’s dream. They show who gives wisdom, who rules over kings, and what Daniel says about kingdoms that rise, weaken and finally give way.
Before you teach
In this part of Greek Daniel, the text first records Daniel blessing and thanking God for revealing what had been asked. It then gives the dream itself and Daniel’s interpretation before the king. The passage moves from praise, to the image in the dream, to the meaning of its parts and the lasting kingdom God will set up.
Explain the central teaching of Praise and the Statue Dream in Greek Daniel, using two details from the reading. This passage teaches that wisdom, rule and the future belong to God, and that his kingdom will outlast every human kingdom.
Welcome: Praise and the Statue Dream in Greek Daniel
5 minIntroduce “Praise and the Statue Dream in Greek Daniel” and locate Daniel (Greek) 2:20–23; Daniel (Greek) 2:31–45. This passage teaches that wisdom, rule and the future belong to God, and that his kingdom will outlast every human kingdom. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Daniel (Greek) 2:20, Daniel (Greek) 2:36, Daniel (Greek) 2:45
Read and explain the passage
12 minDaniel begins by blessing God’s name forever and saying that wisdom and might belong to him. He says God changes times and seasons, removes kings and sets up kings, and reveals deep and secret things. Daniel then thanks God for making known what had been asked about the king’s matter.
Daniel says he will now give the interpretation. He tells the king that the God of heaven has given him kingdom, power, strength and glory. Wherever people live, the king’s rule is described as given into his hand. Daniel then identifies him directly as the head of gold.
The final explanation focuses on what God will do. In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or left to another people. It will break the other kingdoms and stand forever. Daniel closes by saying the dream is certain and its interpretation sure.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Praise and the Statue Dream in Greek Daniel”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Daniel (Greek) 2:20, Daniel (Greek) 2:21, Daniel (Greek) 2:22, Daniel (Greek) 2:23, Daniel (Greek) 2:36, Daniel (Greek) 2:37, Daniel (Greek) 2:38, Daniel (Greek) 2:44, Daniel (Greek) 2:45
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What does Daniel say God does that explains why Daniel can thank him for understanding the king’s matter?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This passage teaches that wisdom, rule and the future belong to God, and that his kingdom will outlast every human kingdom. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Daniel (Greek) 2:21, Daniel (Greek) 2:22, Daniel (Greek) 2:23, Daniel (Greek) 2:34, Daniel (Greek) 2:35, Daniel (Greek) 2:42, Daniel (Greek) 2:44
Make and respond: Words and images response sheet
12 minWork on “Praise and the Statue Dream in Greek Daniel: Words and images response sheet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Praise and the Statue Dream in Greek Daniel” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Daniel (Greek) 2:20, Daniel (Greek) 2:36, Daniel (Greek) 2:45
Closing: return to Praise and the Statue Dream in Greek Daniel
3 minRevisit Daniel (Greek) 2:20–23; Daniel (Greek) 2:31–45. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Praise and the Statue Dream in Greek Daniel and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Daniel (Greek) 2:20, Daniel (Greek) 2:36, Daniel (Greek) 2:45
Questions to explore
What does Daniel say God does that explains why Daniel can thank him for understanding the king’s matter?
Look for the lines about wisdom, secret things and Daniel’s direct thanksgiving for what God made known.
Daniel (Greek) 2:21, Daniel (Greek) 2:22, Daniel (Greek) 2:23
Why is the statue’s weakest point important in the dream?
Notice where the stone strikes and what happens next to every part of the image.
Daniel (Greek) 2:34, Daniel (Greek) 2:35
How does the passage contrast the divided kingdom with the kingdom God sets up?
Compare the words partly strong and partly brittle with the words never be destroyed and stand forever.
Daniel (Greek) 2:42, Daniel (Greek) 2:44
Make, think or respond
Praise and the Statue Dream in Greek Daniel: Words and images response sheet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “A repeated word or image”, “Its verse reference”, “What it expresses”.
- Read Daniel (Greek) 2:20–23; Daniel (Greek) 2:31–45. Use “Praise and the Statue Dream in Greek Daniel” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Choose one image and add a short written response or a simple drawing. Explain how it connects with the passage.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Praise and the Statue Dream in Greek Daniel connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Praise and the Statue Dream in Greek Daniel” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Daniel (Greek) 2:20–23; Daniel (Greek) 2:31–45. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Daniel (Greek) 2:20–23; Daniel (Greek) 2:31–45. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Daniel (Greek) 2
20 Daniel answered, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are his.
21 He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
23 I thank you and praise you, O God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
31 “You, O king, saw, and behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before you; and its appearance was terrifying.
32 As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its chest and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze,
33 its legs of iron, its feet part of iron, and part of clay.
34 You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them. The stone that struck the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
36 “This is the dream; and we will tell its interpretation before the king.
37 You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory.
38 Wherever the children of men dwell, he has given the animals of the field and the birds of the sky into your hand, and has made you rule over them all. You are the head of gold.
39 “After you, another kingdom will arise that is inferior to you; and a third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.
40 The fourth kingdom will be strong as iron, because iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things; and as iron that crushes all these, it will break in pieces and crush.
41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but there will be in it of the strength of the iron, because you saw the iron mixed with miry clay.
42 As the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom will be partly strong, and partly brittle.
43 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.
44 “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever.
45 Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. The great God has made known to the king what will happen hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.