Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 7:19

"Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was diverse from all of them, exceeding terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;" — Daniel 7:19 (ASV)

Then I desired to know the truth of the fourth beast—I particularly wanted to understand what was symbolized by it. Daniel appears to have been satisfied with the most general indications regarding the first three beasts, for the kingdoms they represented seemed to have nothing very remarkable. But it was different with the fourth beast.

The beast itself was so remarkable—so fierce and terrifying; the number of its horns was so great; the emergence of the little horn was so surprising; the character of that horn was so unusual; the judgment passed on it was so solemn; and the vision of one like the Son of Man coming to take possession of the kingdom—all these things were of such a fearful and uncommon character that Daniel’s mind was peculiarly affected by them, and he earnestly sought a further explanation.

In the description Daniel gives here of the beast and its horns, he refers for the most part to the same circumstances he had previously described. However, he adds a few details he had omitted before, all tending to impress the mind more deeply with the fearful character and momentous importance of the vision—for instance, the fact that it had nails of brass and made war with the saints.

Which was different from all the others—It was different in its form and character—so different as to attract particular attention and to leave the impression that something very peculiar and remarkable was denoted by it. (See notes on Daniel 7:7).

Exceedingly dreadful—(see notes on Daniel 7:7).

And its nails of brass—This circumstance is not mentioned in the first statement (Daniel 7:7). It accords well with the other part of the description, that its teeth were of iron, and is designed to denote the fearful and terrifying character of the kingdom symbolized by the beast.

Which devoured...—(see notes on Daniel 7:7).