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.

And now will I shew {H5046} thee the truth {H571}. Behold, there shall stand up {H5975} yet three {H7969} kings {H4428} in Persia {H6539}; and the fourth {H7243} shall be far {H6239} richer {H6238} than they all {H1419}: and by his strength {H2393} through his riches {H6239} he shall stir up {H5782} all against the realm {H4438} of Grecia {H3120}.

What I am going to tell you now is true. "Three kings will arise in Persia, followed by a fourth, who will be far wealthier than all of them; and when he has grown strong by means of his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.

Now then, I will tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. By the power of his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.

And now will I show thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and when he is waxed strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece.

Commentary

Daniel 11:2 continues a detailed prophetic revelation given to the prophet Daniel, detailing future events concerning the Persian and Greek empires. The angelic messenger, likely Gabriel as in Daniel 10, promises to show Daniel "the truth," emphasizing the certainty and accuracy of the forthcoming predictions.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse specifically forecasts the succession of kings within the Persian (Achaemenid) Empire after the time of Cyrus the Great. The "three kings" are generally identified by biblical scholars and historians as Cambyses II, Smerdis (or the usurper Gaumata), and Darius I Hystaspes. The "fourth" king, described as "far richer than they all," is widely understood to be Xerxes I. Xerxes was renowned for his immense wealth, which is also alluded to in the book of Esther, where he is known as Ahasuerus. His vast resources were instrumental in funding his ambitious military campaigns.

The prophecy culminates with Xerxes' intent to "stir up all against the realm of Grecia" (Greece). This directly refers to the monumental Greco-Persian Wars, particularly Xerxes' massive invasion of Greece around 480 BC, which included famous battles like Thermopylae and Salamis. This detailed prediction underscores the remarkable historical accuracy of Daniel's prophecies, written centuries before these events transpired.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Foreknowledge: The verse highlights God's absolute knowledge of future events, even specific political and military actions of human kings. It demonstrates that history unfolds according to a divine plan, not merely by chance.
  • Sovereignty Over Empires: God is presented as the ultimate ruler over earthly kingdoms, orchestrating their rise and fall. This detailed prophecy of the Persian Empire's succession and its conflict with Greece is consistent with broader visions of empires in the book of Daniel, particularly in Daniel 2 and Daniel 7.
  • Accuracy of Prophecy: The precise prediction of the number of kings and the specific actions of the fourth king serves as strong evidence for the divine inspiration and reliability of Scripture.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "shew thee the truth" (Hebrew: aggรฎแธ lแต‰แธตฤ สพฤ•meแนฏ) emphasizes the reliability and factual nature of the revelation. It's not a speculative vision but a certain declaration of what will come to pass, reinforcing the trustworthiness of God's prophetic word.

Practical Application

For believers today, Daniel 11:2 offers profound reassurance that God is in control of world events. Even amidst political turmoil, shifting geopolitical landscapes, and the ambitions of human leaders, God's overarching plan is being executed. This verse reminds us that the Lord reigns supreme over all nations and empires, providing comfort and a call to trust in His providence. It encourages us to look beyond immediate circumstances to the eternal purposes of God, knowing that His prophetic word is always true and will ultimately be fulfilled.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezra 4:5

    And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

  • Ezra 4:6

    ยถ And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they [unto him] an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

  • Daniel 8:26

    And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told [is] true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it [shall be] for many days.

  • Revelation 21:5

    And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

  • 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.

  • Daniel 10:21

    But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and [there is] none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

  • Amos 3:7

    Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
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