רְגַל (re.gal)
re.gal
foot
A:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-F
Word Overview
The word regal is the Aramaic form for "foot," corresponding to the Hebrew regel. It appears in only seven verses, with a heavy concentration in the book of Daniel. In this context, it refers to the literal foot or feet of people and statues, grounding abstract visions in physical reality.
Its most striking usage occurs in Daniel 2:34-35, where a stone cut out without hands strikes the statue of Nebuchadnezzar on its feet of iron and clay. The impact shatters the entire structure, symbolizing the collapse of earthly empires before God’s eternal kingdom. This specific image highlights the fragility of human power when confronted with divine authority.
As a loanword in Aramaic, regal bridges the linguistic shift in Daniel’s narrative. While Hebrew dominates the earlier chapters, Aramaic takes over for sections addressing Gentile nations. The consistent meaning across both languages ensures that the physical imagery of feet remains clear to all readers, whether they are following the Hebrew or Aramaic text.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for foot in this text appears in Aramaic, marking a shift in Daniel’s vision toward the nations of the world. It grounds abstract prophecy in physical reality, reminding us that God sees the concrete details of human history. When we look at the rise and fall of empires, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by their power or confused by their complexity.
In Daniel 2, a stone strikes the feet of iron and clay, shattering a statue that seemed unbreakable. This image shows that earthly strength, no matter how mixed with weakness, cannot stand against God’s eternal kingdom. It is a comfort to know that human systems are temporary, but divine authority is permanent.
Whether in the lion with eagle’s wings or the beast that stamps with its feet, these images point to the limits of human pride. We can trust that God remains sovereign over every change and every crisis. His kingdom will not be shaken, offering a steady hope for those who look beyond the shifting tides of history.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- feet/ the2×
- feet/ its2×
- with/ foot/ its1×
- with/ feet/ its1×
- two feet1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- רַגְלַיָּ֣/א1×
- רַגְלַיָּ֔/א1×
- רַגְלַ֙יִן֙1×
- רַגְל֕וֹ/הִי1×
- רַגְל֔וֹ/הִי1×
- בְּ/רַגְלַ֥י/הּ1×
- בְּ/רַגְלַ֣/הּ1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 2:34
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.
This verse captures the decisive moment when divine intervention strikes the weakest point of human power, demonstrating that God’s kingdom is not built by human hands.
-
Daniel 2:33
its legs of iron, its feet part of iron and part of clay.
Here the feet are described as a mixture of iron and clay, illustrating the inherent instability and division within earthly kingdoms that rely on force rather than unity.
-
Daniel 7:7
“After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there was a fourth animal, awesome, powerful, and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth. It devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different from all the animals that were before it. It had ten horns.
The fourth beast stamps with its feet to show absolute dominance, yet this display of power is contrasted with the eventual judgment that follows in the vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this word in Aramaic instead of Hebrew?
What does the stone striking the feet represent?
How does this word help us understand Daniel 7?
Every Occurrence (7 verses across 1 books)
Daniel 7 verses
its legs of iron, its feet part of iron and part of clay.
Daniel 2:34You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and…
Daniel 2:41Whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay and part of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but there will…
Daniel 2:42As the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle.
Daniel 7:4“The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from…
Daniel 7:7“After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there was a fourth animal, awesome, powerful, and exceedingly…
Daniel 7:19“Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was different from all of them, exceedingly…