Charles Ellicott Commentary Daniel 2:31

"Thou, O king, sawest, and, behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the aspect thereof was terrible." — Daniel 2:31 (ASV)

A great image.—Properly, one great image. This is one important feature in the vision. The image, though representing many things, was itself only “one” (See Note on Daniel 2:1).

That the image was of human form is evident from the further descriptions of the various parts of the body given in Daniel 2:32-33; Daniel 2:42. The “greatness” of the image implies its magnificence and size. As will be seen shortly, throughout its various parts, it represented the many complex phases of the one history of the world.