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.

And when he shall stand up {H5975}, his kingdom {H4438} shall be broken {H7665}, and shall be divided {H2673} toward the four {H702} winds {H7307} of heaven {H8064}; and not to his posterity {H319}, nor according to his dominion {H4915} which he ruled {H4910}: for his kingdom {H4438} shall be plucked up {H5428}, even for others {H312} beside those.

But once he appears, his kingdom will be broken up and divided to the four winds of heaven. It won't be inherited by his descendants, and it won't be ruled with the power he had, because his kingship will be uprooted and will pass to others than his own posterity.

But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the authority with which he ruled, because his kingdom will be uprooted and given to others.

And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion wherewith he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides these.

Commentary

Daniel 11:4 continues the prophetic vision detailing the rise and fall of empires, specifically focusing on the successor to the powerful king introduced in the previous verse. This verse is widely interpreted as a direct prophecy concerning the aftermath of Alexander the Great's reign.

Context

Following the detailed prophecy in Daniel 11:3 about a mighty king who would rise and rule with great dominion, Daniel 11:4 foretells the swift and dramatic dissolution of his empire. Historically, this points to the Greek (or Hellenistic) Empire established by Alexander. After his sudden death in 323 BC, his vast kingdom, stretching from Greece to India, did not pass to his direct descendants. Instead, it was violently contested and eventually divided among his leading generals, known as the Diadochi. This division laid the groundwork for the subsequent conflicts between the "King of the North" and the "King of the South" that dominate much of Daniel chapter 11.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty over Empires: The verse powerfully illustrates God's ultimate control over the rise and fall of human kingdoms, demonstrating that even the most powerful rulers operate within His predetermined plan. This echoes themes seen throughout Daniel, such as in Daniel 2:21, where God "removes kings, and sets up kings."
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: Daniel's prophecies about Alexander's empire being "broken" and "divided toward the four winds of heaven" found precise historical fulfillment. The four major Hellenistic kingdoms that emerged were: the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt (South), the Seleucid Empire in the Near East (East), the Antigonid Kingdom in Macedon and Greece (West), and Lysimachus's kingdom in Thrace and Asia Minor (North). This division was also foreshadowed in Daniel 8:8.
  • Transient Nature of Earthly Power: Despite Alexander's unparalleled military success and vast dominion, his empire proved to be impermanent and unstable, unable to be passed down through his lineage. This highlights the temporary and often unpredictable nature of human power and ambition.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "four winds of heaven" (Hebrew: arba ruchot ha-shamayim) is a common biblical idiom signifying the four cardinal directions, emphasizing a complete and widespread division. The Hebrew word for "broken" (shabar) implies a shattering or violent fragmentation, accurately reflecting the tumultuous period following Alexander's death. The term "plucked up" (natash) suggests a violent uprooting, reinforcing the idea that the kingdom was forcibly taken from its expected course.

Practical Application

For believers, Daniel 11:4 serves as a powerful reminder of God's meticulous foresight and control over history. It encourages trust in His overarching plan, even when world events seem chaotic or beyond human comprehension. The prophecy's precise fulfillment strengthens faith in the reliability of God's Word and His ability to bring about His purposes, regardless of human intentions or earthly power struggles. It also calls us to consider where our ultimate allegiance lies, not in fleeting earthly kingdoms, but in the eternal kingdom of God (Hebrews 12:28).

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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Daniel 8:8 (6 votes)

    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 8:22 (6 votes)

    Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

  • Jeremiah 12:17 (4 votes)

    But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.

  • Daniel 7:8 (3 votes)

    I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn [were] eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

  • Daniel 7:2 (3 votes)

    Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

  • Jeremiah 12:15 (3 votes)

    And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.

  • Jeremiah 18:7 (3 votes)

    [At what] instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy [it];