At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.
At the time appointed {H4150} he shall return {H7725}, and come {H935} toward the south {H5045}; but it shall not be as the former {H7223}, or as the latter {H314}.
"At the time designated, he will come back to the south. But this time, things will turn out differently than before;
At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time will not be like the first.
At the time appointed he shall return, and come into the south; but it shall not be in the latter time as it was in the former.
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Daniel 11:23
And after the league [made] with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. -
Daniel 8:19
And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end [shall be]. -
Acts 17:26
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; -
Daniel 10:1
¶ In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing [was] true, but the time appointed [was] long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. -
Isaiah 14:31
Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, [art] dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none [shall be] alone in his appointed times. -
Daniel 11:25
And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him. -
Galatians 4:2
But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Daniel 11:29 (KJV) continues the detailed prophecy concerning the "king of the north" and "king of the south," revealing a critical turning point in a specific historical conflict.
Context of Daniel 11:29
Daniel Chapter 11 is renowned for its remarkable historical accuracy, detailing the geopolitical struggles between the Seleucid Empire (the "king of the north") and the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt (the "king of the south") following the breakup of Alexander the Great's empire. Verse 29 specifically refers to Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid king, and his second campaign against Egypt. Historically, this campaign is famous for his humiliation by the Roman envoy Popilius Laenas, who forced Antiochus to withdraw without achieving his objectives, marking a significant shift in power dynamics in the ancient world.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew phrase for "time appointed" is mo'ed (מוֹעֵד), which conveys the idea of a fixed, set time or an appointed season. This term reinforces the notion that historical events unfold not randomly, but according to a divinely predetermined schedule, emphasizing God's meticulous planning and execution of His will.
Practical Application
Daniel 11:29 offers profound reassurance: even amidst political turmoil, conflicts between nations, and the rise and fall of empires, God remains in sovereign control. This verse reminds us that no human power, however formidable, can ultimately thwart God's purposes. For believers, it encourages trust in God's plan, knowing that He oversees all events, guiding history toward His ultimate fulfillment. It speaks to the truth that God's will, not human ambition, is the final arbiter of outcomes, even in the most powerful geopolitical arenas.