Daniel 11:17 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Daniel 11:17 kjv
He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.
Daniel 11:17 nkjv
"He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do. And he shall give him the daughter of women to destroy it; but she shall not stand with him, or be for him.
Daniel 11:17 niv
He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans will not succeed or help him.
Daniel 11:17 esv
He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and he shall bring terms of an agreement and perform them. He shall give him the daughter of women to destroy the kingdom, but it shall not stand or be to his advantage.
Daniel 11:17 nlt
He will make plans to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will form an alliance with the king of the south. He will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom from within, but his plan will fail.
Daniel 11 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 44:28 | ...who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure,’ ... | God controls kings' actions for His purposes. |
| Prov 21:1 | The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. | God's sovereignty over rulers' decisions. |
| Psa 33:10-11 | The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever... | Divine disruption of human plans. |
| Jer 27:5-7 | ...I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar... and I have given him the beasts of the field also to serve him. | God assigns kingdoms and their destinies. |
| Dan 2:21 | He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise... | God's sovereign control over global events and leaders. |
| Dan 4:32 | ...the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, And gives it to whomever He chooses... | God's absolute authority over human government. |
| Lk 9:51 | Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem. | "Set his face" implies resolute determination, like Christ. |
| Neh 13:23-27 | In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. ...And how did Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? | Warning against marriage alliances with foreigners corrupting. |
| 1 Kgs 3:1 | Now Solomon made a treaty with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and married Pharaoh’s daughter... | Political marriages for alliances were common. |
| 1 Kgs 11:1-8 | But King Solomon loved many foreign women... and his wives turned his heart after other gods... | Danger of foreign wives corrupting allegiance. |
| Num 25:1-3 | Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. They invited the people to the sacrifices... | Women (often foreign) leading others to spiritual corruption. |
| 2 Cor 11:3 | But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. | The idea of "corrupting" someone's pure devotion/allegiance. |
| Psa 1:1 | Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners... | "Not stand" implying not adhering to or aligning with evil ways. |
| Gen 3:6 | So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food... she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband... | Manipulation and deception using women. |
| Est 2:16-17 | So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus... The king loved Esther more than all the other women... and made her queen. | Women used in royal settings, for strategic or personal reasons. |
| 2 Ki 8:16-18 | Jehoshaphat was forty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned for twenty-five years... Jehoram did evil in the sight of the Lord. | Marital alliances could introduce corrupting influences into leadership. |
| Ezek 16:32-34 | You are an adulterous wife, who prefers strangers to her husband. Harlots take payment, but you are paid; you make gifts to all your lovers... | Describes unfaithfulness and seeking outside allegiances. |
| Mal 2:15 | For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence... | Underscores the seriousness of breaking marital covenants. |
| Psa 76:10 | Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself. | God uses or restrains human wrath and schemes. |
| Acts 4:27-28 | For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus... both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together | Human rulers conspire, yet their plans align with God's purpose. |
| Isa 19:1 | The burden against Egypt. Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud... The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence... | God’s dealings with Egypt as a nation. |
| Rom 1:24 | Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, | The concept of moral corruption. |
Daniel 11 verses
Daniel 11 17 meaning
Daniel 11:17 describes the geopolitical maneuvers of the "King of the North" (Antiochus III, the Great, of the Seleucid Empire) as he plots against the "King of the South" (Ptolemy V Epiphanes of Egypt). With the full might of his kingdom and strategic political moves, he resolves to consolidate his power. His specific tactic involves forming a marriage alliance: giving his daughter, Cleopatra I Syra, to Ptolemy V. The underlying intent of Antiochus III was to "corrupt her," meaning to sway her allegiance away from her husband and Egypt, thereby gaining influence within the Egyptian court. However, the prophecy foretells the failure of this manipulative scheme, as Cleopatra I ultimately would not align with her father's treacherous purposes but would side with her husband and her new kingdom.
Daniel 11 17 Context
Daniel chapter 11 details a long and incredibly accurate prophecy concerning the conflicts and political maneuvers of the Hellenistic kings following the breakup of Alexander the Great's empire, particularly focusing on the Ptolemaic dynasty (King of the South, ruling Egypt) and the Seleucid dynasty (King of the North, ruling Syria and Mesopotamia). This extensive "history in advance" is given to Daniel to encourage the Jewish people in their period of trial under these foreign rulers, showing God's sovereign control over all history.
Verse 17 specifically refers to the campaigns of Antiochus III (King of the North) after his earlier successful conquests (described in previous verses). He had defeated Ptolemy V in the Fifth Syrian War. In a strategic shift from direct military confrontation, Antiochus then sought to neutralize Egypt through a diplomatic and marital alliance. The verse details the peace treaty and marriage arranged around 193 BC between Antiochus III and Ptolemy V, where Cleopatra I (Antiochus's daughter) was married to the young Ptolemaic king. This event is well-documented in extra-biblical history, attesting to the remarkable precision of Daniel's prophecy.
Daniel 11 17 Word analysis
- He shall also set his face: Hebrew: wəyā̄s̝em pā̄nîm (וְיָשֵׂם פָּנִים). "To set one's face" is an idiom implying determined resolution, a firm intent to accomplish something, irrespective of obstacles. It suggests deliberate, purposeful action, not a casual endeavor. In a military-political context, it means to prepare resolutely for a major campaign or diplomatic strategy.
- to come with the strength of his whole kingdom: Hebrew: laḇoʾ bəkoaḥ kol-malḵuṯō (לָבֹוא בְּכֹחַ כָּל־מַלְכוּתֹוֹ). This phrase emphasizes the King of the North's complete mobilization of all his resources – military, economic, and political power – indicating a comprehensive and powerful campaign, initially military and then diplomatic.
- and upright ones with him; thus he shall do: Hebrew: wîšārîm ʿimmō (וִישָׁרִים עִמֹּו). This is a phrase with debated interpretations.
- One view: "upright ones" refers to making equitable or straightforward peace terms. Antiochus offered apparently fair conditions to secure the marriage, masking his ulterior motive.
- Another view: It refers to a contingent of "loyal" or "straightforward" troops or officials, perhaps Jewish auxiliaries known for their reliability, whom he brings into Egypt, or simply his main, most reliable forces.
- It could also carry a slight double entendre, highlighting the appearance of righteousness/fairness as a facade for deceit.
- And he shall give him the daughter of women: Hebrew: uḇaṯ-nāšîm yittan-lō̄ (וּבַת־נָשִׁים יִתַּן־לֹוֹ). "Daughter of women" refers to Cleopatra I Syra. The phrase can highlight her specific identity as a prominent female, or perhaps signify her youth and royal status among "women," as well as subtly pointing to her intended vulnerability as a tool.
- to corrupt her: Hebrew: lᵊhašḥîṯāh (לְהַשְׁחִיתָהּ). This verb means "to ruin," "destroy," "spoil," "corrupt." In this political context, it means to subvert her loyalty from her husband (Ptolemy V) and Egypt to her father (Antiochus III), turning her into an instrument of Seleucid policy within the Ptolemaic court. The intent was to sow discord and weaken Egypt from within.
- but she shall not stand on his side, or be for him: Hebrew: loʾ taʿamod lō wᵊloʾ tihyēh lōh (לֹא תַעֲמֹד לוֹ וְלֹא תִהְיֶה לֹוֹ). This is a direct prophecy of the failure of Antiochus's cunning plot. "Not stand on his side" implies a refusal to align with his intentions or carry out his will. "Or be for him" reinforces this by stating she will not become an agent working on his behalf; instead, Cleopatra I largely remained loyal to her husband and the interests of Egypt.
Daniel 11 17 Bonus section
The historical accuracy of Daniel 11, particularly concerning the interaction between the Ptolemies and Seleucids, is one of the most remarkable aspects of biblical prophecy. Many scholars acknowledge the extraordinary detail of this chapter, leading critics, throughout history, to resort to the claim that it must have been written after the events it describes (known as a Maccabean date for Daniel). However, solid linguistic, theological, and textual evidence affirms Daniel's 6th-century BC authorship. The precise fulfillment of Daniel 11:17 with the marriage of Cleopatra I to Ptolemy V, and her subsequent loyalty to Egypt rather than her father, stands as powerful evidence of God's omniscient foresight.
Furthermore, this episode foreshadows the persistent struggle of God's people (often represented by "the South" or Judea caught between these powers) caught in the crossfire of geopolitical conflicts. The manipulative use of marriage alliances is a recurring theme in ancient Near Eastern politics, frequently denounced in the Old Testament as a source of corruption and deviation from God's covenant, particularly when it leads to spiritual apostasy (e.g., King Solomon's foreign wives). Daniel 11:17 focuses on the political corruption intended, yet it draws parallels to the broader spiritual dangers of unholy alliances and strategic compromises for earthly gain, where true allegiance can be compromised.
Daniel 11 17 Commentary
Daniel 11:17 is a prime example of the meticulous precision of biblical prophecy, outlining specific political maneuvers centuries before they occurred. The King of the North, Antiochus III, having established military superiority, shifts to a cunning diplomatic strategy, offering his daughter Cleopatra I in marriage to Ptolemy V of Egypt. This act, while outwardly a peace treaty designed to restore lands, was intended to be a Trojan horse, allowing Antiochus to exert influence over Egypt through his daughter. He aimed to "corrupt" her, not morally in a general sense, but politically, to manipulate her into becoming a loyal agent for Seleucid interests within the Ptolemaic court. This reveals the deep-seated deception and strategic ambition often found in worldly power struggles.
However, the prophecy concludes with the failure of Antiochus's ultimate scheme: "she shall not stand on his side, or be for him." This highlights the limitations of human ingenuity and wicked designs when confronted with God's foreordained plan. Despite the most elaborate and deceptive strategies of powerful kings, divine providence ensures that their schemes either fall short or, more importantly, are ultimately subservient to God's higher purposes. The fact that Cleopatra I largely aligned with her husband, and even saw Egypt declare for Rome against Antiochus, perfectly fulfills this precise detail. It demonstrates that God orchestrates human events, ensuring His will, not the will of human kings, is paramount. This serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty over earthly empires and their intricate plots.