Daniel 11 5

Daniel 11:5 kjv

And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.

Daniel 11:5 nkjv

"Also the king of the South shall become strong, as well as one of his princes; and he shall gain power over him and have dominion. His dominion shall be a great dominion.

Daniel 11:5 niv

"The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power.

Daniel 11:5 esv

"Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority.

Daniel 11:5 nlt

"The king of the south will increase in power, but one of his own officials will become more powerful than he and will rule his kingdom with great strength.

Daniel 11 verses

Daniel 11 5 meaning

Daniel 11:5 describes the immediate aftermath of Alexander the Great's empire fragmentation. It foretells that the "king of the South," identified as Ptolemy I Soter who established the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt, would become mighty. However, it specifically prophecies the rise of one of Ptolemy's former "princes" or generals, Seleucus I Nicator, who would establish the vast Seleucid Empire. Seleucus would become significantly stronger and his dominion far greater than that of Ptolemy, his one-time superior, illustrating God's detailed foreknowledge of world history.

Daniel 11 5 Context

Daniel chapter 11 details an extensive and specific prophecy, largely focusing on the conflicts between the Ptolemaic (King of the South, ruling Egypt) and Seleucid (King of the North, ruling Syria and beyond) dynasties, which arose after the sudden death of Alexander the Great. Verse 5 is foundational, setting the stage by identifying the initial key players: Ptolemy I Soter as the formidable "king of the South." Crucially, it then points to the emergence of Seleucus I Nicator, who was indeed a general or "prince" under Ptolemy for a period, but would ultimately forge an empire even grander than his former superior's. Historically, this prophecy encapsulates the period following the partition of Alexander's vast empire among his four principal generals, known as the Diadochi, directly connecting to the earlier visions in Daniel 7 and 8 concerning the fragmentation of the Greek empire. For the original Jewish audience, living under various foreign dominations, this prophecy revealed God's detailed knowledge and control over the most powerful human empires, offering a foundation of hope and reinforcing His unique sovereignty over history.

Daniel 11 5 Word analysis

• And the king of the South (וְ֠מֶלֶךְ הַנֶּגֶב, v'meleḵ hannegev):
  • King (מֶלֶךְ, meleḵ): A standard Hebrew term for a monarch or ruler. Here, it historically identifies Ptolemy I Soter, founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty, who consolidated power in Egypt after Alexander's death.
  • South (נֶגֶב, negev): Meaning "south." In Daniel 11, this refers consistently to the Ptolemaic kingdom, located geographically south of Judea, with its center in Egypt. This serves as a primary geographical identifier in the prophecy.
• shall be strong (יִתְחַזַּֽק, yitḥazzaq):
  • A verb conveying the idea of strengthening oneself, becoming mighty, or resolute. It accurately depicts Ptolemy I's successful establishment and consolidation of his rule, demonstrating significant military and political power.
• and one of his princes (וּמִשָּׂרָיו֮, ū-missārâyv):
  • Princes (שָׂרִים, śarim): While "prince" is a common translation, śar can also mean a high-ranking official, commander, or general. This refers specifically to Seleucus I Nicator, who was one of Alexander's generals and initially served for a time under Ptolemy I before establishing his own empire.
• and he shall be strong above him (וְהוּא יַחֲזִק עָלָיו֮, v’hu yaḥziq ʻalayv):
  • He (וְהוּא, v’hu): Refers to Seleucus I, the prince mentioned previously.
  • Strong above him (יַחֲזִק עָלָיו, yaḥziq ʻalayv): Indicates a superiority in strength and power compared to the "king of the South" (Ptolemy I). This perfectly foretells Seleucus I's subsequent establishment of the Seleucid Empire, which geographically became significantly larger and more powerful than the Ptolemaic kingdom.
• and have dominion (וּמָשָׁ֣ל, ū-mâšâl):
  • To rule, to govern, to exercise sovereign authority. This signifies Seleucus I's successful establishment of his independent and expansive kingdom.
• his dominion shall be a great dominion (מֶמְשָׁלָֽה: מַמְלַכְתּ֣וֹ מֶמְשֶׁלֶת רַבָּ֔ה, mamlakhto memšelet rabbâ):
  • His dominion (מַמְלַכְתּוֹ, mamlakhto): Refers to Seleucus I's specific realm of authority and kingdom.
  • Great (רַבָּה, rabbâ): Meaning extensive, vast, or mighty. The Seleucid Empire did indeed become a geographically massive entity, spanning from Asia Minor through Mesopotamia to India, surpassing the Ptolemaic realm in size and demonstrating this prophecy's accuracy.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "King of the South... one of his princes": This specific contrast highlights the initial power structure (Ptolemy I as king) and the unexpected rise of a subordinate (Seleucus I) to greater power, demonstrating God's meticulous detail in prophecy.
  • "shall be strong... shall be strong above him": The deliberate repetition and escalation of "strong" emphasizes Ptolemy's initial might but underscores the surpassing power of Seleucus, demonstrating the precise foresight into geopolitical shifts.
  • "have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion": This emphasizes the absolute authority and significant territorial expansion of Seleucus I's reign, marking the establishment of a powerful and far-reaching empire.

Daniel 11 5 Bonus section

This specific and accurate foretelling of historical events centuries in advance provides compelling evidence for the Bible's divine inspiration, testifying to God's unique ability to declare "the end from the beginning" (Isa 46:10). The meticulous detail of these prophecies contrasts sharply with the uncertainty of human foresight, bolstering the authority of Scripture. While rooted in the historical conflicts of the Hellenistic era, this verse also implicitly reinforces the temporary nature of all earthly kingdoms, setting a precedent for understanding later prophetic segments in Daniel, where even the grandest human empires ultimately give way to God's eternal kingdom (Dan 2:44; 7:27). The rise of a "prince" to a position of greater authority than his former master highlights a recurring theme in scripture where the Lord often chooses and exalts the unexpected or less prominent figures, revealing His supreme authority over all human structures.

Daniel 11 5 Commentary

Daniel 11:5 provides an astounding prophetic preview of the early Hellenistic period. It clearly outlines the initial rise of Ptolemy I Soter as the strong "king of the South" (Egypt). More remarkably, it precisely foretells the ascendancy of Seleucus I Nicator, who was once a general or "prince" under Ptolemy, to become a power "strong above him" with an immensely "great dominion." This precise prediction of geopolitical shifts, the identification of the two major Hellenistic powers (Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties), and the reversal of their relative power dynamic, powerfully illustrates the divine origin of this prophecy. It affirms God's detailed knowledge and sovereign control over human history, reassuring His people that even the grandest and most complex political movements fall within His divine plan.