Daniel 11 4

Daniel 11:4 kjv

And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.

Daniel 11:4 nkjv

And when he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these.

Daniel 11:4 niv

After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.

Daniel 11:4 esv

And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these.

Daniel 11:4 nlt

But at the height of his power, his kingdom will be broken apart and divided into four parts. It will not be ruled by the king's descendants, nor will the kingdom hold the authority it once had. For his empire will be uprooted and given to others.

Daniel 11 verses

Daniel 11 4 meaning

Daniel 11:4 prophesies the rapid dissolution of the vast empire built by the mighty king introduced in the previous verse (Alexander the Great) shortly after he achieves his zenith. It specifically states that this kingdom will be shattered, not passing to his direct descendants, nor maintaining its original integrated structure and dominion. Instead, it will be fragmented and distributed among unrelated individuals, pointing to the division among Alexander’s generals.

Daniel 11 4 Context

Daniel chapter 11 provides an exceptionally detailed and extensive prophecy spanning several centuries, primarily focusing on the conflicts between the Hellenistic kingdoms that emerged after Alexander the Great's death. This chapter follows the visionary dream sequences of Daniel 7, 8, and 9, which also foreshadow these empires. Verse 4 specifically transitions from the reign of Alexander (introduced in verse 3 as the "mighty king") to the immediate aftermath of his death, setting the stage for the protracted struggles that dominate the rest of the chapter, particularly between the Seleucid (King of the North) and Ptolemaic (King of the South) dynasties. Historically, Alexander the Great, after conquering an immense empire, died suddenly in Babylon in 323 BC at a young age, without a clear, mature successor. His empire, stretching from Greece to India, became the subject of intense conflict among his leading generals, known as the Diadochi (successors). These conflicts lasted for decades, ultimately leading to the establishment of four major Hellenistic kingdoms. The accuracy of this prediction, delivered centuries before the events, powerfully demonstrates divine foreknowledge and underscores God's sovereignty over the course of world history.

Daniel 11 4 Word analysis

• And when he shall stand up: (u’ba‘amdō - וּבְעָמְד֔וֹ) This literally means "and in his standing." It signifies the king's ascent to his full power and established position, implying his reign reaches its peak just before its catastrophic end.
• his kingdom: (malkhūtō - מַלְכוּתֽוֹ) Refers to the vast, unified empire under the rule of the king from Dan 11:3, explicitly identifying it as Alexander's realm.
• shall be broken: (tishaver - תִּשָּׁבֵר) From the root shāvar (שָׁבַר), meaning "to break, shatter, destroy." This denotes a violent, sudden, and complete fragmentation rather than a gradual decline or a peaceful secession. It suggests forceful dismantling.
• and shall be divided: (v’techalaq - וְתֵחָלַק) From ḥālaq (חָלַק), meaning "to divide, apportion, share." This indicates an intentional partition or distribution among multiple parties, reinforcing the idea of a deliberate division of the fractured entity.
• toward the four winds of heaven: (l’arba‘ rūḥōt ha’shāmayim - לְאַרְבַּ֤ע רוּח֣וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם) "Four winds" is a biblical idiom (Jer 49:36, Zech 2:6, Rev 7:1) signifying universal extent or dispersal in every direction. In this context, it prophesies the widespread geographic distribution of the fragmented parts of the empire, rather than a concentrated successor state. This aligns perfectly with the four major Hellenistic kingdoms emerging across the compass points of the former empire.
• and not to his posterity: (v’lō l’aḥarītō - וְלֹ֥א לְאַחֲרִית֖וֹ) Aḥarīt (אַחֲרִית) means "end, last part," and often refers to descendants or future generations. This is a critical detail, as Alexander had potential heirs (his half-brother Philip III Arrhidaeus and his posthumous son Alexander IV), but they were swiftly eliminated by his generals. The kingdom's succession bypasses his direct bloodline, a dramatic deviation from dynastic expectations.
• nor according to his dominion: (v’lō kimshalto - וְלֹ֣א כְמִשְׁלָת֑וֹ) Mimshālāh (מֶמְשָׁלָה) denotes the authority, rule, or sphere of influence. This means the successor kingdoms would not collectively or individually maintain the original unity, scale, or singular authority that Alexander wielded. The fragmented nature prevented any one entity from replicating his unified control.
• which he ruled: (asher māshal - אֲשֶׁר מָשָׁל) Emphasizes the original, singular, and sweeping power exercised by Alexander.
• for his kingdom shall be plucked up: (ki yinatēsh malkhūtō - כִּי יִנָּתֵשׁ מַלְכוּת֖וֹ) Nātaš (נָתַשׁ) means "to pluck up, root out, eradicate." This verb reinforces the idea of the kingdom being violently and completely removed from its original state, further emphasizing the finality of its dismemberment and redistribution. It signifies an act of destruction and reappropriation.
• even for others besides those: (v’l’aḥērīm - וּלְאַחֵרִ֖ים) Literally, "and for others." This phrase conclusively states that the kingdom would be seized by and distributed among different, unrelated individuals – Alexander's powerful generals (the Diadochi), who were external to his direct family lineage and distinct from one another. This confirms the complete transfer of power to new, independent rulers.

Words-group analysis:

• "when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided": This swift, emphatic sequence portrays the sudden and dramatic collapse of a colossal empire at the height of its power. The words "broken" and "divided" encapsulate both violent destruction and subsequent reallocation.
• "toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion": These clauses precisely define the nature of the empire's dissolution. The division is expansive (four winds), defies expected succession (not his posterity), and eliminates the original unified authority (not according to his dominion), a perfect descriptor of the historical Diadochi conflicts.
• "for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides those": This culminating phrase powerfully reiterates and cements the complete removal and re-assignment of the kingdom to new, independent entities. The strong verb "plucked up" emphasizes the finality of the original kingdom's eradication and its comprehensive transfer to non-heirs.

Daniel 11 4 Bonus section

The astonishing accuracy of Daniel 11:4, particularly the specific detail about the kingdom not passing to Alexander's direct heirs and its division among four generals, has long been a focal point for understanding biblical prophecy. Such intricate foretelling centuries before its fulfillment solidifies Daniel as a book of genuine prophetic revelation, demonstrating that God possesses ultimate foresight and directs the course of nations. This detailed prophecy serves to affirm God's sovereign control not only over the macro-movements of empires but also over specific historical contingencies, such as the sudden death of a king and the ensuing succession struggles. This divine oversight provides reassurance that God's plan will ultimately prevail, even when world powers seem overwhelming or unpredictable.

Daniel 11 4 Commentary

Daniel 11:4 offers a remarkably precise prophecy regarding the immediate aftermath of Alexander the Great's death. It foretells that his colossal empire, despite its strength, would be violently shattered immediately after his rise to prominence. Crucially, the prophecy highlights three key aspects of this fragmentation: its wide geographical dispersion across "the four winds of heaven," its bypass of Alexander's direct "posterity" for succession, and its failure to preserve the "dominion" and unity of his original rule. Instead, the kingdom would be entirely "plucked up" and redistributed among "others," accurately pointing to the historical division of Alexander's empire among his four leading generals—Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy. This verse is not only a historical record of events but a profound testament to the detailed foreknowledge and sovereign control of God over human empires, confirming His hand in guiding world history even amidst seemingly chaotic political transitions.