Daniel 10:20

Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.

Then said {H559} he, Knowest {H3045} thou wherefore I come {H935} unto thee? and now will I return {H7725} to fight {H3898} with the prince {H8269} of Persia {H6539}: and when I am gone forth {H3318}, lo, the prince {H8269} of Grecia {H3120} shall come {H935}.

Then he said, "Do you know why I came to you? Although now I must return to fight the prince of Persia; and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come;

“Do you know why I have come to you?” he said. “I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I have gone forth, behold, the prince of Greece will come.

Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I go forth, lo, the prince of Greece shall come.

Daniel 10:20 is a pivotal verse in Daniel's final vision, offering a profound glimpse into the spiritual forces at play behind earthly kingdoms and historical events. It comes after an angelic messenger, likely Gabriel, has finally reached Daniel after a three-week delay, explaining that he was hindered by the "prince of the kingdom of Persia" (Daniel 10:13) and aided by Michael, one of the chief princes.

Context

This verse is part of a detailed prophetic revelation given to Daniel after he had been fasting and mourning for three weeks. The angelic being addresses Daniel, revealing that his delay in bringing the message was due to a spiritual battle with the angelic "prince of Persia." The angel now states his intention to return to this ongoing spiritual conflict, and further prophesies the rise of another spiritual adversary, the "prince of Grecia," following the decline of the Persian empire. This sets the stage for the extensive prophecies of future empires and conflicts detailed in Daniel 11.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Warfare: This verse powerfully introduces the concept of spiritual warfare, where unseen angelic powers influence and contend over earthly nations and their rulers. It reveals that human history is not merely a product of political maneuvering but is deeply intertwined with a cosmic struggle between divine and demonic forces. This concept is further explored in Ephesians 6:12.
  • Divine Foreknowledge and Sovereignty: Despite the intense spiritual opposition, the angel confidently declares what will happen next—he will return to fight the prince of Persia, and then the prince of Grecia will emerge. This demonstrates God's ultimate sovereignty over history and His foreknowledge of the rise and fall of empires, even those influenced by malevolent spiritual entities.
  • Angelic Ministry and Conflict: The verse highlights the active role of angels in carrying out God's will and engaging in spiritual battles on behalf of His people and His plans. The angel's mission to Daniel was crucial, and he was willing to return to the fray to ensure God's prophetic word unfolded.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "prince" is sar (שַׂר), which can denote a chief, ruler, or commander. In this context, particularly when paired with a nation's name (e.g., "prince of Persia"), it clearly refers to a powerful spiritual entity—an angelic or demonic patron over a specific kingdom. This usage underscores the unseen spiritual hierarchy and the battles fought in the heavenly realms that impact earthly affairs.

Practical Application

Daniel 10:20 provides crucial insights for believers today:

  • Prayer Matters: Daniel's persistent prayer (mentioned in Daniel 10:2-3) was instrumental in breaking through spiritual resistance, demonstrating that our prayers have tangible effects in the spiritual realm.
  • Awareness of Unseen Battles: This verse reminds us that there are spiritual forces at work behind the headlines and political events of our world. It encourages us to look beyond the purely natural explanation for societal trends and conflicts.
  • Confidence in God's Plan: Despite the reality of spiritual opposition, the angel's message assures us that God's purposes will ultimately prevail. The rise of Persia and Grecia, though influenced by spiritual entities, was part of God's sovereign plan, just as the subsequent kingdoms detailed in Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 were. We can trust that God is ultimately in control of history.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Daniel 8:21

    And the rough goat [is] the king of Grecia: and the great horn that [is] between his eyes [is] the first king.

  • Daniel 8:5

    And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat [had] a notable horn between his eyes.

  • Daniel 8:8

    Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.

  • Daniel 10:13

    But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

  • Daniel 11:2

    And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than [they] all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.

  • Daniel 11:4

    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.

  • Acts 12:23

    And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

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