Lexical Summary rea: Friend, companion, neighbor Original Word: רְעַע Strong's Exhaustive Concordance break, bruise (Aramaic) corresponding to ra'a' -- break, bruise. see HEBREW ra'a' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to raa Definition to crush, shatter NASB Translation break in pieces (1), breaks in pieces (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [רְעַע] verb crush, shatter (ᵑ7 Syriac; see Biblical Hebrew רצץ); — Pe`al Imperfect3feminine singular (וְ)תֵרֹעַ Daniel 2:40 (object omitted). Pa`el Participle active מִרָעַע Daniel 2:40 (accusative of thing). Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Hebrew 7490, רְעַע, is an Aramaic verbal root meaning “to break in pieces, crush, weaken, or ruin.” It appears twice, both in Daniel 2:40, describing the destructive power of the fourth kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Scriptural Usage Daniel 2:40: “Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron crushes and shatters everything—and like iron that smashes, it will crush and break all the others.” Historical Context In Daniel’s sixth-century exile setting, iron weaponry signified unmatched strength. Babylon’s hearers knew iron implements broke bronze and stone, so the Spirit-inspired text uses רְעַע to cement the certainty of coming turmoil. The Persian and Greek periods witnessed considerable destruction, but the fullest historical correspondence is Rome, whose legions “broke” lands from Britannia to Judea. Rome’s demolition of Jerusalem in AD 70 embodies this crushing motif, demonstrating that worldly dominions, however formidable, remain under divine decree. Theological Implications 1. Sovereignty of God: While empires wield crushing power, Daniel 2 climaxes with a stone “cut out without hands” (Daniel 2:34-35) that shatters the statue and grows into a mountain, representing the eternal kingdom of God. רְעַע therefore contrasts finite human might with the unbreakable reign of Messiah. Ministry Applications • Preaching: רְעַע offers vivid language for sermons on Daniel 2, highlighting both the reality of oppressive systems and the certainty of their downfall under Christ’s dominion (Colossians 2:15). Related Words and Themes • שָׁבַר (shabar, “to break”): Common Hebrew counterpart, used of God’s judgment (Jeremiah 23:29). Summary רְעַע encapsulates the shattering force of earthly dominion set against the enduring kingdom of God. Though men may “crush and break,” Scripture reveals that only Christ’s kingdom remains unbroken, inviting every believer to place unwavering trust in His sovereign rule. Forms and Transliterations וְתֵרֹֽעַ׃ ותרע׃ מְרָעַ֥ע מרעע mə·rā·‘a‘ mərā‘a‘ meraA veteRoa wə·ṯê·rō·a‘ wəṯêrōa‘Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 2:40 HEB: וּֽכְפַרְזְלָ֛א דִּֽי־ מְרָעַ֥ע כָּל־ אִלֵּ֖ין NAS: so, like iron that breaks in pieces, KJV: iron that breaketh all INT: iron that breaks all these Daniel 2:40 2 Occurrences |