Definition: Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream [is] certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Daniel 2:45. It's a really interesting and symbolic verse about the future of the world. Here’s a simplified explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse is saying that God has a plan for everything, and it’s going to be incredibly significant. It’s not just about what will happen, but how it will happen. Let's unpack it word by word: “Forasmuch as thou sawest…” : This means “because you saw” or “as you observed.” It's a way of saying "Because of what you witnessed..." "...the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands…" : This describes a significant event. It’s like a massive, powerful rock (the “stone”) was being removed from its place in the mountains. “Without hands” is crucial - it means it wasn't built or created by human effort. “…and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold.” : This shows the stone is being transformed into something new – broken down into its component parts. It’s not just a simple removal; it's breaking into smaller pieces. Iron, brass, clay, silver, and gold are all valuable metals. “the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter:” : This is where it gets really profound. “Great God” refers to God – the ultimate authority. The King (representing humanity or a nation) is receiving information about the future. “…and the interpretation thereof sure.” : This means "and the understanding of this will be certain." It’s like having a clear and accurate prediction. Putting it all together – What's the message? Daniel 2:45 says that God is showing us something incredibly important about the future . The stone, which represents something significant (perhaps a nation or kingdom), is being broken down into its individual parts. This isn’t just a random event; it’s a planned transformation. God is telling us what will happen – that there will be a great change and upheaval in the future. And, crucially, he's guaranteeing this change will occur – “the dream [is] certain” and "the interpretation thereof sure." Symbolic Meaning (A Bit More Deep) The most common understanding is that this describes the coming of Christ. The "stone" represents the world, and its breaking down symbolizes the defeat of evil and the triumph of good. It’s a promise of a final, powerful victory for God's kingdom. In short, it’s a message about a future change – a significant transformation that will ultimately lead to God’s ultimate victory. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific biblical story or theme? Give you some examples of what "the dream" could mean?