Daniel 11:3

And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

And a mighty {H1368} king {H4428} shall stand up {H5975}, that shall rule {H4910} with great {H7227} dominion {H4474}, and do {H6213} according to his will {H7522}.

"Then a powerful king will appear who will rule a vast kingdom and do whatever he pleases.

Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great authority and do as he pleases.

And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

Commentary

Daniel 11:3 introduces a pivotal figure in the prophetic vision, immediately following the description of the Persian kings. This verse states, "And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will."

Context

This verse is widely understood by scholars to refer to Alexander the Great, whose meteoric rise to power reshaped the ancient world. Following the four Persian kings mentioned in Daniel 11:2, this "mighty king" represents the swift transition from the Persian Empire to the Hellenistic period. Daniel's prophecies often depict future world powers with remarkable accuracy, including the Greek Empire symbolized by bronze in Nebuchadnezzar's dream and a four-winged leopard in Daniel's own vision.

Key Themes

  • Unprecedented Power: The phrase "mighty king" (Hebrew: melek gibbor) emphasizes an unparalleled strength and military prowess. Alexander's conquests were swift and extensive, establishing an empire that stretched from Greece to India in a remarkably short time.
  • Absolute Dominion: "Great dominion" (Hebrew: mimshal rav) signifies a vast and comprehensive rule. His empire was enormous, and his authority was largely unchallenged during his lifetime.
  • Autocratic Will: The phrase "do according to his will" (Hebrew: ya'aseh kirṣōno) highlights his unchecked power and autocratic nature. This suggests a ruler who faces little internal or external opposition and acts solely on his own desires, a characteristic also seen in other powerful figures described in Daniel, such as King Nebuchadnezzar.
  • Divine Foreknowledge: The precise prediction of such a figure's rise long before his birth underscores God's ultimate sovereignty over human history and the unfolding of world events.

Practical Application

Daniel 11:3 reminds us that even the most powerful human leaders and empires rise and fall according to God's sovereign plan. While these rulers may act "according to his will" in their temporal dominion, their ultimate trajectory is always within the bounds of God's greater purpose. This offers comfort and assurance that no earthly power can thwart the divine will or the ultimate establishment of God's eternal kingdom (Daniel 2:44). It encourages believers to trust in the Lord's control, even when facing formidable human authority.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 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 β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Daniel 11:16

    But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.

  • Daniel 11:36

    And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

  • 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 7:6

    After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

  • Daniel 5:19

    And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.

  • Daniel 8:4

    I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither [was there any] that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.

  • Daniel 8:14

    And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
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