Daniel 11 12

Daniel 11:12 kjv

And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.

Daniel 11:12 nkjv

When he has taken away the multitude, his heart will be lifted up; and he will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not prevail.

Daniel 11:12 niv

When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be filled with pride and will slaughter many thousands, yet he will not remain triumphant.

Daniel 11:12 esv

And when the multitude is taken away, his heart shall be exalted, and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail.

Daniel 11:12 nlt

After the enemy army is swept away, the king of the south will be filled with pride and will execute many thousands of his enemies. But his success will be short lived.

Daniel 11 verses

Daniel 11 12 Meaning

When he exalts himself, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the dominion with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be uprooted and go forth to others besides these.

Daniel 11 12 Context

Daniel chapter 11 provides a detailed prophetic history, primarily focusing on the conflicts between the Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties after Alexander the Great's empire fragmented. This verse specifically addresses the downfall of a powerful ruler from the northern kingdom (the Seleucids), identified as Antiochus IV Epiphanes. His tyrannical reign, marked by arrogance and defiance against God and His people, leads to his eventual ruin. The chapter builds a narrative of political intrigue, military campaigns, and religious persecution, culminating in the judgment of oppressive forces and the eventual triumph of God's people. This particular verse marks a pivotal moment of divine retribution against overweening pride and tyrannical rule.

Daniel 11 12 Word analysis

• וּבִתְעוּדָתוֹ (u-vit'udato) - "And in his time of boasting/exaltation." This refers to a period of prideful self-aggrandizement, a key characteristic of Antiochus IV. It signifies his rise to perceived supreme authority and his declaration of divinity or exceptional status. This is often linked to his adopting the epithet "Epiphanes," meaning "God manifest."
• תִּפֹּל (tip·pol) - "shall fall." A decisive future event, indicating complete overthrow.
• מַמְלַכְתּוֹ (mam·lakh·to) - "his kingdom." His dominion, his realm of authority.
• וְתִּפָּרֵד (və·tip·pa·rēd) - "and shall be broken/torn apart." This signifies a violent disintegration, not a peaceful succession.
• לְאַרְבַּע (lə·'ar·ba') - "to four." A symbolic number often indicating completeness or widespread division, reflecting the scattering of his territories.
• רוּח֛וֹת (rū·chōṯ) - "winds." Symbolizes rapid and extensive dispersal in all directions, driven by immense force.
• לִרְבּוּתוֹ (lir·bu·tō) - "to his posterity/increase." Refers to his descendants, the lineage to whom a kingdom might normally pass. The verse explicitly states it will not go to them.
• לְפִּ֣י (lə·p̄î) - "according to." This indicates the manner or way of dominion.
• שֶׁ֤קֶר (she'-qer) - "his authority/dominion/rule." The specific kind of rule he exercised, which was characterized by arrogance and perhaps deception.
• שָׁלַט (sha·lal) - "he ruled." Active possession of power.
• וְלֹא (wə·lō') - "and not." Negation, emphasizing the abrupt and uncharacteristic end to his rule's continuation as it was.
• תִּהְיֶה (tih·yeh) - "it shall be." Future tense.
• וְלֹא (wə·lō') - "and not." Another strong negation.
• כִּרְשׁוּתוֹ (kir·shu·tō) - "according to his dominion/rule." Reinforces that the nature and possession of his rule will cease as he exercised it.
• כִּ֤י (kî) - "for/because." The reason for the preceding statements.
• תִּתָּפֵ֥ק (tit·ta·pē·q) - "it shall be uprooted/plucked out." A strong image of complete removal, destruction, and negation.
• מַמְלַכְתּוֹ (mam·lakh·tō) - "his kingdom." His empire.
• וְתִצְעַד (wə·tich·tza·'ad) - "and shall go forth/march." Indicates movement and transition.
• לְ (lə) - "to." Direction of movement.
• אֲחֵרִ֖ים ('ă·chē·rim) - "others." Individuals or powers separate from his line or dominion.
• זֻלַּ֥ת (zul·laṯ) - "besides/other than." Explicitly excluding his natural heirs or continuation.

Word Groups Analysis

• "in his time of boasting/exaltation... shall fall, his kingdom... broken and divided": This describes a sovereign power that reaches its zenith of arrogance, only to experience a catastrophic and complete fragmentation. The pride leads directly to the collapse.
• "to four winds... not to his posterity, nor according to the dominion with which he ruled": This highlights the nature of the fragmentation. It's not a controlled handover to heirs, but a wild scattering, where the legacy and established rule are violently disrupted and pass to unrelated entities.
• "for his kingdom shall be uprooted and go forth to others besides these": This solidifies the judgment. The entity and its power are not merely defeated; they are eradicated and transferred, signifying a complete shift in authority due to divine decree.

Daniel 11 12 Bonus section

The scattering of the kingdom to the "four winds" is a powerful apocalyptic image that resonates throughout scripture. It speaks to the absolute nature of divine judgment and the ultimate sovereignty of God over earthly powers. Even seemingly invincible empires are subject to His ultimate control and can be utterly dismantled. The repudiation of his "posterity" and his former "dominion" underscores that God's favor is not hereditary; it is contingent upon obedience and righteousness. The transfer of power to "others" highlights the ongoing, dynamic nature of God's dealings with nations, raising some and bringing down others according to His perfect plan and timing. The historical fulfillment in the fractured empire of the Seleucids after Antiochus IV's death supports the detailed prophetic accuracy within the Book of Daniel.

Daniel 11 12 Commentary

This verse portrays a pivotal judgment on a powerful, self-exalting ruler. His excessive pride (a recurring theme in biblical condemnations, as seen with Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4, or Lucifer in Isaiah 14) directly precipitates the complete destruction and scattering of his kingdom. The prophecy emphasizes that his empire will not be passed down to his descendants nor continue in its existing form. Instead, it will be uprooted and fall into the hands of entirely different powers. This speaks to a divine reordering of kingdoms, punishing wickedness and establishing new authorities as per God's sovereign will. The mention of "four winds" suggests a total dispersal, a chaotic and complete ruin of his territorial control. This serves as a potent warning against the dangers of unchecked ambition and arrogance, particularly when directed against God's purposes or His people, as Antiochus IV Epiphanes ultimately did in his historical context.