Daniel 11 44

Daniel 11:44 kjv

But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.

Daniel 11:44 nkjv

But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.

Daniel 11:44 niv

But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many.

Daniel 11:44 esv

But news from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction.

Daniel 11:44 nlt

"But then news from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in great anger to destroy and obliterate many.

Daniel 11 verses

Daniel 11 44 Meaning

The verse describes the return of the Northern Kingdom of Israel to their promised land. This return is marked by a period of distress and fear for the enemies of Israel, as well as a renewal of faith and obedience for Israel itself. It signifies a divinely orchestrated restoration and judgment.

Daniel 11 44 Context

This verse concludes the prophetic pronouncements concerning Antiochus IV Epiphanes and extends to the final eschatological conflict. Chapter 11 provides a historical overview of the Greco-Syrian period following Alexander the Great, detailing the interactions and conflicts between the Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties, with Israel often caught in the middle. The focus intensifies on Antiochus IV's oppressive actions against Judaism. Daniel 11:40-45 prophesies a future king from the North, often interpreted as a composite figure representing various anti-God rulers, culminating in the final confrontation at "the end time." This final conflict involves a surge of activity against God's people and an eventual divine intervention and judgment upon those forces. The specific verse describes a significant shift where God intervenes, leading to the downfall of the oppressor and the preservation of His people.

Daniel 11 44 Word Analysis

• "But when the king of the North hears tidings of them":

  • King of the North (מֶלֶךְ צָפוֹן - melech tzafon): This title typically refers to rulers of the Seleucid Empire, successors to Alexander the Great who controlled the northern territories, including Syria and Babylon, impacting Judea. However, in eschatological contexts, it is often seen as a typological or final fulfillment figure representing an anti-God power.
  • Hears tidings (יִשְׁמַע שְׁמֻעוֹת - yishma' shĕmuoth): This implies receiving news or reports, signifying an awareness of events and movements concerning his adversaries. The Hebrew suggests multiple, possibly alarming, reports.

• "he shall be stirred up with great fury":

  • Stirred up (יִתְעַבַּר - yit’abar): This verb denotes becoming enraged, incensed, or wroth. It conveys a passionate and hostile reaction.
  • Great fury (חֵמָה גְדוֹלָה - chemá gedolá): "Chemá" signifies hot anger, wrath, rage, or fury. "Gedolá" means great or mighty, emphasizing the intensity of the king's anger. This anticipates a forceful and aggressive response.

• "to go forth and utter destruction":

  • To go forth (וְלָצֵאת - wĕlatzēt): This indicates a deliberate move, a military campaign, or a decisive action to confront the perceived threat.
  • To utterly destroy (וּלְהַחֲרִים - wŭlehachǎrîm): "Machǎrîm" comes from the root meaning "to ban, to devote to destruction, to exterminate." It implies a complete annihilation or curse, signifying total war and ruthless intent.

• "and to destroy many":

  • To destroy many (לְהַשְׁמִיד רַבִּים - lehashmîd rabbîm): "Hashmîd" means to destroy, exterminate, or make desolate. "Rabbîm" means many or great numbers. This highlights the extensive casualties and devastation resulting from the king's fury.

• "and to sentence some to the sword":

  • To sentence (וּלְהַעֲבִיר - wŭlehǎǎvîr): This verb can mean to cause to pass over, to remove, or, in this context, to condemn or pass sentence upon.
  • The sword (חֶרֶב - cherev): A common weapon of war, symbolizing death and conquest in warfare. To be given to the sword signifies execution by military means.

• "and to condemn to death":

  • To condemn to death (לְהַחֲרִים לְמָוֶת - leḥacharîm lĕmāweth): This phrase reinforces the preceding idea, reiterating the intent of fatal execution. The repetition emphasizes the severity of the king's decree.

• "he shall also judge against the fortresses of his god":

  • He shall also judge against (גַּם אֶל־בִּצְרוֹת אֱלֹהָיו יָדוּן - gam el-bitzrōth ‘ělōhāw yadûn): This is a crucial phrase. "Bitzrōth" refers to strongholds, fortresses, or places of defense. The term "His god" (אֱלֹהָיו - 'ělōhāw) is ambiguous.
    • Possible interpretations:
      • His own idol gods: Antiochus was deeply superstitious and perhaps superstitious rulers in general attribute their strength to their deities, and in their defeat or struggle, they turn against or abandon those deities, or these deities fail them.
      • The God of Israel: This interpretation suggests the invading force will blasphemously or defiantly act against God's people and places of worship. Given the context of Antiochus's desecration of the Temple, this is a strong possibility, indicating an attack on the divine, represented by God's chosen people and strongholds of faith. Scholars often point to the desecration of the Jerusalem Temple and Mount Zion.

• "but he shall stand his ground":

  • He shall stand his ground (הוּא יַעֲמֹד - hu ya’amōd): This signifies that despite the efforts against him, or perhaps in the very act of judging against the strongholds, he will maintain his position or persist in his course of action.

• "and none shall deliver him":

  • None shall deliver him (וְאֵין מְפַלֵּט לוֹ - wĕ’ēn mĕpalēṭ lō): This asserts the futility of any attempt to rescue him. It points to a situation where he is left entirely exposed to divine judgment, with no human or supernatural intervention on his behalf. This is a statement of absolute defeat.

• "and shall stand for their deliverance": (Implied transition, focusing on God's action on behalf of His people.)

  • Shall stand for their deliverance (וְיַעֲמֹד עַל־עַמּוֹ לִישׁוּעָה - wĕya‘amōd ‘al-‘ammō liyšu’á): This is the pivotal point where God intervenes. "Ya'amod ‘al" can mean "to stand over," "to stand against," or "to stand for." Here, it signifies God taking a stance on behalf of His people for their salvation. "‘ammō" refers to "His people," specifically Israel. "Liyšu’á" means for salvation, deliverance, or rescue. This marks God's active intervention for His faithful.

Daniel 11 44 Bonus Section

The imagery of the "king of the North" launching widespread destruction and targeting the "fortresses of his god" resonates with historical instances of religious persecution and attempts to obliterate faith. It also points to a future culmination of such opposition where, despite immense power and destructive capacity, the oppressor faces inevitable judgment and the God of Israel secures deliverance. The language "he shall stand his ground" carries a dual meaning – persistence in his evil ways, but ultimately standing his ground in the face of divine wrath, where he finds no deliverer. The contrasting image of God standing for His people's deliverance is a powerful affirmation of divine sovereignty and redemptive power.

Daniel 11 44 Commentary

Daniel 11:44 describes a turning point in eschatological warfare. Following a period of intense persecution initiated by the "king of the North," who hears alarming news, he is moved to a fierce, destructive offensive. His fury leads him to launch campaigns aimed at annihilation, resulting in mass casualties and executions by the sword. The verse highlights the extreme barbarity and decisiveness of this attack.

A particularly striking element is the king's judgment against the "fortresses of his god." This has been interpreted in various ways: either a pagan king's actions against his own pantheon when they fail him, or more pointedly, an antichristian force launching attacks against the strongholds of God or His people. This could refer to the desecration of holy places, such as the Temple in Jerusalem, as well as the destruction of the spiritual fortresses of God's people—their faith and institutions.

Despite his relentless pursuit and destructive actions, the verse ominously states that he will "stand his ground, and none shall deliver him." This implies a final confrontation where his aggressive actions ultimately lead to his downfall, isolated and without recourse. He stands his ground, but not to triumph; rather, his final stand becomes his undoing.

The verse then pivots to God's action: "he shall stand for their deliverance." This indicates divine intervention on behalf of God's people. God Himself will "stand" or take a firm stance for the salvation of His people against the onslaught. This establishes a pattern seen throughout biblical history and in eschatology: human opposition culminates, but divine intervention secures the ultimate deliverance of the faithful. This anticipates a time when God actively opposes the enemies of His kingdom and ensures the survival and salvation of His chosen people.