Daniel 11:5

¶ 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.

And the king {H4428} of the south {H5045} shall be strong {H2388}, and one of his princes {H8269}; and he shall be strong {H2388} above him, and have dominion {H4910}; his dominion {H4475} shall be a great {H7227} dominion {H4474}.

"The king in the south will be strong, and one of his princes will gain power over him and have dominion; his domain will be a great dominion.

The king of the South will grow strong, but one of his commanders will grow even stronger and will rule his own kingdom with great authority.

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

Daniel 11:5 begins a highly detailed prophetic section, often regarded as one of the most remarkable examples of fulfilled prophecy in the Bible. This verse specifically describes the complex power dynamics that emerged after the death of Alexander the Great, whose vast empire was eventually divided among his generals.

Context of Daniel 11

Chapter 11 of Daniel provides an unparalleled historical prophecy, meticulously foretelling events involving the "king of the North" and the "king of the South." These titles refer to the Seleucid dynasty (based in Syria/Mesopotamia) and the Ptolemaic dynasty (based in Egypt), respectively. These two Hellenistic kingdoms constantly vied for control of the Levant, a region that included Judah. The preceding verse, Daniel 11:4, describes the initial fragmentation of Alexander's empire, setting the stage for the specific interactions detailed in Daniel 11:5 and onward.

Meaning of Daniel 11:5

The verse states, "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."

  • "The king of the south shall be strong": This refers to Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander's most capable generals, who established the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. He secured a powerful and wealthy kingdom, laying the foundation for future Ptolemaic rule.
  • "and [one] of his princes": This points to Seleucus I Nicator. Initially, Seleucus served under Ptolemy I as a general, fleeing to him after being driven out of Babylon by Antigonus. Thus, he was, for a time, one of Ptolemy's "princes" or subordinates.
  • "and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion [shall be] a great dominion": This describes Seleucus I Nicator's eventual rise to far greater power than Ptolemy I. Seleucus recovered Babylon, conquered vast territories, and founded the Seleucid Empire, which ultimately encompassed a much larger geographical area, stretching from Asia Minor to India. His dominion was indeed "a great dominion," surpassing the strength and reach of Ptolemy's kingdom. This is a remarkable detail, accurately predicting the future power dynamic between two of Alexander's successors.

Key Themes and Historical Fulfillment

This verse highlights several profound themes:

  • Divine Sovereignty over History: The meticulous accuracy of this prophecy underscores God's absolute control over human affairs and the rise and fall of empires. It demonstrates that history is not random but unfolds according to His predetermined plan, a concept echoed in Daniel 2:21, which states God "removeth kings, and setteth up kings."
  • Accuracy of Prophetic Detail: The specific identification of Ptolemy I and Seleucus I, and the precise prediction of Seleucus's greater dominion, serves as compelling evidence for the divine inspiration of Scripture.
  • Foreshadowing of Future Conflicts: This verse sets the stage for the ongoing conflicts between the Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties, which would significantly impact the Jewish people and the land of Israel for centuries, as described in subsequent verses of Daniel 11.

Practical Application

While Daniel 11:5 details ancient history, its inclusion in Scripture offers timeless truths. It reinforces the understanding that God is sovereign over all earthly kingdoms and events. For believers, this provides immense comfort and assurance: if God accurately foretold ancient geopolitical struggles, He can be trusted with our present and future. It encourages us to look beyond immediate circumstances and trust in God's overarching plan, knowing that He works all things according to His purpose, even through the complex interplay of human powers.

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 11:11

    And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, [even] with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.
  • 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.
  • Daniel 11:14

    And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.
  • Daniel 11:40

    And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
  • Daniel 11:3

    And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.
  • 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.
  • Daniel 11:8

    And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, [and] with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue [more] years than the king of the north.

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