Daniel 11:16 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Daniel 11:16 kjv
But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.
Daniel 11:16 nkjv
But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and no one shall stand against him. He shall stand in the Glorious Land with destruction in his power.
Daniel 11:16 niv
The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it.
Daniel 11:16 esv
But he who comes against him shall do as he wills, and none shall stand before him. And he shall stand in the glorious land, with destruction in his hand.
Daniel 11:16 nlt
"The king of the north will march onward unopposed; none will be able to stop him. He will pause in the glorious land of Israel, intent on destroying it.
Daniel 11 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 14:26-27 | This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth... the LORD of hosts has purposed... | God's ultimate sovereignty over human plans. |
| Psa 33:10-11 | The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples... | God's divine will often overrules human will. |
| Pro 19:21 | Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. | Emphasizes divine sovereignty over human desires. |
| Isa 46:10 | declaring the end from the beginning... saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all... | God's sovereign control over future events. |
| Rom 9:19 | ...who can resist his will? | Question on inability to resist God's will. |
| Rom 8:31 | If God is for us, who can be against us? | Divine protection and overcoming opposition. |
| Jer 1:10 | See, I have set you this day over nations... to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow. | Prophetic mandate for destruction and building. |
| Zec 4:6 | ...Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. | Contrasts human power with divine power. |
| Psa 2:1-4 | Why do the nations rage...? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together.. | Rebellious human rulers countered by divine plan. |
| Dan 4:17 | ...the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will... | God's sovereignty over earthly kingdoms. |
| Isa 54:17 | No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed... | Divine protection from opposition (God's people). |
| Mic 4:10 | You shall go to Babylon; there you shall be rescued... | Prophecy of land's capture and later restoration. |
| Eze 20:6 | ...land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands. | Refers to Israel as the "glorious land." |
| Zec 7:14 | ...I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. | Destruction/scattering related to the land. |
| Exo 9:16 | But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show my power in you, so that my name... | God raises up rulers for His own purposes. |
| Isa 10:5-7 | Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; a staff in their hand is my fury! | God uses nations as instruments of judgment. |
| Joel 2:20 | ...I will remove the northern army far from you, and will drive it into a parched and desolate land... | Invading northern army's fate. |
| Rev 11:2 | ...the holy city they will trample underfoot for forty-two months. | Prophecy of the Holy City being trampled. |
| Luke 21:24 | They will fall by the edge of the sword... Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles... | Jerusalem's trampling by foreign powers. |
| Hab 1:6-7 | For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through... | God raises powerful, destructive nations. |
| Dan 8:9-12 | Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south... | Parallel to a powerful figure gaining immense power and trampling the holy place. |
| Jer 3:19 | ...how I would set you in a pleasant land, a heritage of the most beautiful of nations. | Describes the desirable land of Israel. |
| Num 24:18-19 | Edom shall be a possession... Israel shall do valiantly. And one from Jacob shall have dominion... | Prophecy of conquering power over surrounding lands. |
Daniel 11 verses
Daniel 11 16 meaning
Daniel 11:16 prophesies the unstoppable rise of a powerful king (historically identified as Antiochus III, the Seleucid "King of the North"). He will act according to his own unhindered will, overcoming all opposition. He is destined to conquer the "glorious land" (Judah or Israel), bringing devastation and exercising complete control there.
Daniel 11 16 Context
Daniel chapter 11 details a long and precise prophetic account of the conflicts between the Seleucid (King of the North) and Ptolemaic (King of the South) empires, stemming from the division of Alexander the Great's empire. This period covers approximately 300 BC to 160 BC. Verse 16 specifically describes the actions of a formidable King of the North, historically identified as Antiochus III (the Great), who campaigned extensively against the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt in the early 200s BC. His military victories were instrumental in solidifying Seleucid control over much of the Near East. The verse anticipates a crucial phase of his Third Syrian War, where he conquers Coele-Syria and Judah, bringing the land of Israel under direct Seleucid rule.
Daniel 11 16 Word analysis
וְהָאֶל הַבָּא עָלָיו֙ (v’hā-’êl hab-bā ’ā-lāyw): "But he who comes against him"
- וְהָאֶל (v’hā-’êl): "And the king/prince." The term "king" or "prince" is implicitly understood in the context of the chapter's focus on kings. It points to the next significant actor.
- הַבָּא (hab-bā): "The one who comes" or "the attacker." Signifies a military aggressor or invader.
- עָלָיו֙ (’ā-lāyw): "Against him" or "over him." Refers back to the King of the South (Ptolemaic king), indicating this new figure is attacking and succeeding against the previous adversary.
- Significance: Clearly identifies the conquering power, emphasizing an offensive action.
יַעֲשֶׂה כִרְצוֹנוֹ וְאֵין עוֹמֵד לְפָנָיו (ya‘aśeh kirṣō-nō wə-’ên ‘ō-mêḏ lə-fā-nāyw): "Shall do his own will, and no one shall stand before him."
- יַעֲשֶׂה כִרְצוֹנוֹ (ya‘aśeh kirṣō-nō): "He shall do according to his will." Denotes unchecked authority, absolute power, and success in carrying out his plans without significant resistance.
- וְאֵין עוֹמֵד לְפָנָיו (wə-’ên ‘ō-mêḏ lə-fā-nāyw): "And there is no one standing before him" or "no one will withstand him." A vivid idiom for overwhelming military superiority and complete victory, indicating an unstoppable force.
- Significance: Highlights the king's irresistible power and self-driven ambition, at least from a human perspective.
וְיַעֲמֹד בְּאֶרֶץ הַצְּבִי וְכָלָה בְיָדוֹ (wə-ya‘ămōḏ bə-’ereṣ haṣ-ṣəḇî wə-ḵālâ bə-yā-ḏō): "And he shall stand in the glorious land, with destruction in his hand."
- וְיַעֲמֹד (wə-ya‘ămōḏ): "And he shall stand" or "take a stand." Implies establishing a permanent presence or control, occupying and ruling the territory.
- בְּאֶרֶץ הַצְּבִי (bə-’ereṣ haṣ-ṣəḇî): "In the land of splendor/beauty" or "the glorious land." This phrase exclusively refers to the land of Israel (Judah) due to its special divine election and beauty, particularly from a biblical perspective. It emphasizes the king's targeting of this sacred territory.
- וְכָלָה בְיָדוֹ (wə-ḵālâ bə-yā-ḏō): "And consumption/destruction/completion in his hand." The term kalah (כָלָה) can mean completion, consumption, or utter destruction. In this military context, it most often signifies complete devastation or the power to execute his destructive purpose fully. Some scholars suggest "perfection" or "full sway," meaning he achieves his full objective with irresistible power.
- Significance: Foretells the occupation of God's chosen land and the dire consequences (destruction or absolute control) that this powerful king brings with him.
Daniel 11 16 Bonus section
The precise historical details predicted in Daniel 11, including verse 16, are so accurate concerning the Seleucid-Ptolemaic wars that many critical scholars contend that this chapter must have been written after the events it describes (known as vaticinium ex eventu). However, from a Christian theological perspective, this detailed accuracy is seen as irrefutable evidence of the Bible's divine inspiration and the pre-determinative nature of God's prophetic word, showcasing His foreknowledge and sovereignty over human history and political powers. The conquest of "the glorious land" by foreign powers is a recurring theme in biblical prophecy, often a consequence of Israel's unfaithfulness, yet always under God's ultimate permission and oversight. This event paved the way for future developments and figures, like Antiochus IV Epiphanes, whose actions, detailed later in Daniel 11, foreshadow the Antichrist.
Daniel 11 16 Commentary
Daniel 11:16 is a remarkable example of specific prophecy. It meticulously describes the actions of a Hellenistic king, Antiochus III, after his significant victory over the Ptolemaic forces at the Battle of Panium (c. 200 BC). "He who comes against him" is Antiochus III, asserting his might against the weakened King of the South. His capacity to "do his own will" signifies his unchallenged dominance over the region following his victories, where "no one shall stand before him." The phrase underscores the temporary invincibility of human power, yet within the divine framework of Daniel, even this absolute will serves a larger purpose. Crucially, he "shall stand in the glorious land," directly referring to his conquest and control over Judea, an event of immense importance to the Jewish people. His "destruction in his hand" denotes the comprehensive power he wields, leading either to devastation or the full accomplishment of his conquering objectives within the Holy Land. This verse vividly portrays an intermediate period of foreign rule over Israel before the greater eschatological events later in Daniel's prophecy.