Daniel 11 25

Daniel 11:25 kjv

And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.

Daniel 11:25 nkjv

"He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South with a great army. And the king of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall devise plans against him.

Daniel 11:25 niv

"With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him.

Daniel 11:25 esv

And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army. And the king of the south shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against him.

Daniel 11:25 nlt

"Then he will stir up his courage and raise a great army against the king of the south. The king of the south will go to battle with a mighty army, but to no avail, for there will be plots against him.

Daniel 11 verses

Daniel 11 25 meaning

Daniel 11:25 describes a critical phase in the ongoing conflict between the Seleucid and Ptolemaic empires. It details the preparations and eventual military engagement where the King of the North, Antiochus III (the Great), instigates a large-scale offensive against the King of the South, Ptolemy IV Philopator. Though the King of the South rallies an "exceeding great and mighty army" in response, he is prophesied not to "stand," indicating a lack of enduring success or ultimate downfall, attributed to internal "plots" and strategic failures. This verse foreshadows the geopolitical realities and court intrigues surrounding the Fourth Syrian War (219–217 BC) and its aftermath.

Daniel 11 25 Context

Daniel 11 offers an incredibly detailed prophetic panorama of historical events, specifically concerning the protracted struggle between the Seleucid (King of the North) and Ptolemaic (King of the South) empires, spanning over 150 years. This specific verse (v. 25) falls within a section that prophesies the Fourth Syrian War (219-217 BC). It directly follows verses detailing Antiochus III's campaigns (vv. 20-24) where he seized considerable territory and riches. Historically, the area of Judah (Coele-Syria) lay as a buffer, repeatedly changing hands and enduring the devastating impact of these powerful kings' conflicts. The precise fulfillment of these prophecies demonstrated to the original audience, living under Hellenistic rule, that God remained in sovereign control over their oppressors, guiding world events according to His plan. This chapter stands as a powerful testament against the notion that history is solely shaped by human will or random chance, directly asserting God's exhaustive foreknowledge and ultimate sovereignty over human empires, which contrasted sharply with the polytheistic and deterministic worldviews of contemporary pagan societies.

Daniel 11 25 Word analysis

• And he shall stir up: וְיָעֵר (veya'er). H5781, from עוּר (ur), "to arouse, awaken, incite, stir up." Denotes an active and intentional move to prepare for conflict, indicating Antiochus III's deliberate initiation of hostilities.
• his power and his heart: עֹצְמוֹ וְלִבּוֹ (otsmo velibbo). עֹצֶם (otsem, H6108) signifies "strength, might, bone" (essence). לֵב (lev, H3824) denotes "heart, inner being, mind, will, purpose." This emphasizes that the King of the North (Antiochus III) will engage with his full physical might and his deepest determination, reflecting his personal resolve and comprehensive military mobilization.
• against the king of the South: Referring to Ptolemy IV Philopator of Egypt.
• with a great army: בְּחַיִל גָּדוֹל (bechayil gadol). חַיִל (chayil, H2428) is "army, host, strength, wealth," גָּדוֹל (gadol, H1419) is "great, mighty." Highlights the significant military force assembled by Antiochus III for his invasion.
• and the king of the South shall be stirred up to battle: וּמֶלֶךְ הַנֶּגֶב יִתְגָּרֶה בַּמִּלְחָמָה (umêlek hannegev yitgâreh bammilḥāmâ). יִתְגָּרֶה (yitgâreh), H1624, "to contend, strive, excite oneself, make war." This indicates Ptolemy IV's reactive but determined response to confront the invasion, signifying his commitment to engage in full-scale war.
• with an exceeding great and mighty army: עִם־חַיִל גָּדוֹל וְעָצוּם מְאֹד (im-ḥayil gâdol ve‘ātsûm me’ōd). עָצוּם (atsum, H6105) is "mighty, strong," and מְאֹד (me'od, H3966) means "very, exceedingly." This describes Ptolemy IV's counter-mobilization as immense and powerful, historically involving the arming of indigenous Egyptians which had long-term destabilizing effects for his dynasty.
• but he shall not stand: וְלֹא יַעֲמֹד (velo ya'amod). H3808/H5975, "not stand, endure, remain, succeed." This critical phrase does not necessarily refer to a loss in a single battle, as Ptolemy IV historically won the Battle of Raphia (217 BC). Rather, it signifies his ultimate strategic failure, his inability to maintain his kingdom's power, his moral collapse into debauchery after the victory, and the long-term weakening of his rule and territory.
• for they shall plot against him: כִּי יַחְשְׁבוּ עָלָיו מַחֲשָׁבוֹת (ki yaḥshevû ‘ālāyw maḥăshāvôt). H3588/H2803/H4284, "for they shall think/plan plots against him." This refers to internal conspiracies, betrayals, and political machinations within Ptolemy IV's own court and kingdom. Historically, after Raphia, Ptolemy IV plunged into debauchery, leading to internal revolts and factionalism that gravely weakened his regime, fulfilling this prophecy of being unable to "stand" due to plots.

Words-Group analysis

• "he shall stir up his power and his heart": This grouping emphasizes the total commitment and resolve of Antiochus III, leveraging not only his physical and military might ("power") but also his full strategic intellect and personal determination ("heart") in his campaign.
• "great army...exceeding great and mighty army": The parallelism and intensified description highlight the massive scale of military engagement expected from both sides. It underscores the destructive potential and resource drain of these Hellenistic conflicts.
• "but he shall not stand, for they shall plot against him": This forms a cause-and-effect relationship. The "plots" are identified as a primary reason for the King of the South's failure to endure. This indicates that internal decay, treachery, and poor leadership are as detrimental, if not more, than external military defeat, ultimately undermining a kingdom's stability and strength.

Daniel 11 25 Bonus section

The intricate detail of Daniel 11, including verse 25, poses a formidable challenge to any attempts to explain it away as merely historical record written after the fact (a common liberal critical viewpoint, 'vaticinium ex eventu'). The prophetic clarity concerning specific actions, sizes of armies, and outcomes, extending generations after Daniel's time, points compellingly to divine inspiration and God's absolute sovereignty over human history. This predictive precision is not just about isolated events, but highlights a sustained prophetic narrative that reveals God's control over kings and empires, shaping events for the ultimate establishment of His kingdom. The detailed nature of "plots" (machashavot) against Ptolemy IV further illustrates this, indicating divine foreknowledge of court intrigue and human frailties, demonstrating God’s comprehensive awareness of all facets of history, both grand and minute.

Daniel 11 25 Commentary

Daniel 11:25 provides a snapshot of the intense rivalry between the Seleucid and Ptolemaic empires during the Fourth Syrian War. It depicts Antiochus III initiating a formidable assault against Ptolemy IV. While Ptolemy IV responded with an equally massive force, and even achieved a historical battlefield victory at Raphia, the prophecy's declaration that he "shall not stand" points to a deeper, more enduring failure. This refers to the profound internal weakness and moral decline that plagued Ptolemy IV's reign after Raphia, largely brought about by his debauchery and the subsequent "plots" from his own corrupt court and restive populace. The verse accurately foretells that Ptolemy's short-term tactical success would be overshadowed by strategic failure, rooted in internal dissent and weak leadership, thereby losing his ability to "stand" in terms of lasting power and stability. This precisely illustrates God's foreknowledge of not only military movements but also the moral and political fragilities of human rulers and kingdoms.