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ScriptureDepth's study of Daniel 11

“The king will do according to his will. He will exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and will speak marvelous things against the God of gods. He will prosper until the indignation is accomplished; for that which is determined will be done.

Daniel 11:36

The angel speaks to Daniel, revealing that the king will act according to his will, forecasting a ruler's arrogance that leads to conflict in the chapter.

What Daniel 11 is about

In the first year of Darius the Mede, the speaker strengthens him (vv. 1-2). Three kings will arise in Persia, and a fourth will stir up conflict against Greece. A mighty king will emerge, but his kingdom will be broken and divided (vv. 3-4). The king of the south will grow strong, and a prince will surpass him (vv. 5-15). Their conflicts will escalate, with the king of the north prevailing in battles against the south. A new ruler will display arrogance, disregarding the gods of his ancestors and promoting a foreign god (vv. 16-29). He will deceive many, leading to destruction and profaning the sanctuary. Final confrontations occur as the king of the south contends with the northern king, who will invade and overpower many lands (vv. 30-45). He will face challenges from the east and north but will ultimately come to his end.

He will come to his end, and no one will help him.

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Daniel 11 at a glance

  1. Daniel 11:1–2Darius and Persian Kings
  2. Daniel 11:3–4Rise of a Mighty King
  3. Daniel 11:5–15Conflict Between North and South
  4. Daniel 11:16–29The Arrogance of a New Ruler
  5. Daniel 11:30–39Destruction and Deception
  6. Daniel 11:40–45Final Confrontations and Fate

Key verse: Daniel 11:36

One thing to notice

A repetition of conflict is evident as it shifts between the 'king of the south' and the 'king of the north' throughout the chapter. This is particularly clear in verses 5-15 and again in vv. 40-45, as both kings engage in warfare and strategies against each other.

Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.

Chapter text

Read Daniel 11 (WEB)

Darius and Persian Kings Daniel 11:1–2

Verse 1. “As for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him. Verse 2. “Now will I show you the truth. Behold, three more kings will stand up in Persia; and the fourth will be far richer than all of them. When he has grown strong through his riches, he will stir up all against the realm of Greece.

Rise of a Mighty King Daniel 11:3–4

Verse 3. A mighty king will stand up, who will rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. Verse 4. When he stands up, his kingdom will be broken, and will be divided toward the four winds of the sky, but not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom will be plucked up, even for others besides these.

Conflict Between North and South Daniel 11:5–15

Verse 5. “The king of the south will be strong. One of his princes will become stronger than him, and have dominion. His dominion will be a great dominion. Verse 6. At the end of years they will join themselves together; and the daughter of the king of the south will come to the king of the north to make an agreement; but she will not retain the strength of her arm. He will also not stand, nor will his arm; but she will be given up, with those who brought her, and he who became the father of her, and he who strengthened her in those times.

Verse 7. “But out of a shoot from her roots one will stand up in his place, who will come to the army, and will enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and will deal against them, and will prevail. Verse 8. He will also carry their gods, with their molten images, and with their goodly vessels of silver and of gold, captive into Egypt. He will refrain some years from the king of the north. Verse 9. He will come into the realm of the king of the south, but he will return into his own land. Verse 10. His sons will wage war, and will assemble a multitude of great forces, which will come on, and overflow, and pass through. They will return and wage war, even to his fortress.

Verse 11. “The king of the south will be moved with anger, and will come out and fight with him, even with the king of the north. He will send out a great multitude, and the multitude will be given into his hand. Verse 12. The multitude will be lifted up, and his heart will be exalted. He will cast down tens of thousands, but he won’t prevail. Verse 13. The king of the north will return, and will send out a multitude greater than the former. He will come on at the end of the times, even of years, with a great army and with much substance.

Verse 14. “In those times many will stand up against the king of the south. Also the children of the violent among your people will lift themselves up to establish the vision; but they will fall. Verse 15. So the king of the north will come and cast up a mound, and take a well-fortified city. The forces of the south won’t stand, neither will his chosen people, neither will there be any strength to stand.

The Arrogance of a New Ruler Daniel 11:16–29

Verse 16. But he who comes against him will do according to his own will, and no one will stand before him. He will stand in the glorious land, and destruction will be in his hand. Verse 17. He will set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and with him equitable conditions. He will perform them. He will give him the daughter of women, to corrupt her; but she will not stand, and won’t be for him. Verse 18. After this he will turn his face to the islands, and will take many; but a prince will cause the reproach offered by him to cease. Yes, moreover, he will cause his reproach to turn on him.

Verse 19. Then he will turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land; but he will stumble and fall, and won’t be found. Verse 20. “Then one who will cause a tax collector to pass through the kingdom to maintain its glory will stand up in his place; but within few days he shall be destroyed, not in anger, and not in battle. Verse 21. “In his place a contemptible person will stand up, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom; but he will come in time of security, and will obtain the kingdom by flatteries. Verse 22. The overwhelming forces will be overwhelmed from before him, and will be broken. Yes, also the prince of the covenant.

Verse 23. After the treaty made with him he will work deceitfully; for he will come up, and will become strong, with a small people. Verse 24. In time of security he will come even on the fattest places of the province. He will do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers. He will scatter among them prey, plunder, and substance. Yes, he will devise his plans against the strongholds, even for a time. Verse 25. “He will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south will wage war in battle with an exceedingly great and mighty army; but he won’t stand; for they will devise plans against him.

Verse 26. Yes, those who eat of his dainties will destroy him, and his army will be swept away. Many will fall down slain. Verse 27. As for both these kings, their hearts will be to do mischief, and they will speak lies at one table; but it won’t prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time. Verse 28. Then he will return into his land with great wealth. His heart will be against the holy covenant. He will take action, and return to his own land. Verse 29. “He will return at the appointed time, and come into the south; but it won’t be in the latter time as it was in the former.

Destruction and Deception Daniel 11:30–39

Verse 30. For ships of Kittim will come against him. Therefore he will be grieved, and will return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and will take action. He will even return, and have regard to those who forsake the holy covenant. Verse 31. “Forces will stand on his part, and they will profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and will take away the continual burnt offering. Then they will set up the abomination that makes desolate. Verse 32. He will corrupt those who do wickedly against the covenant by flatteries; but the people who know their God will be strong, and take action. Verse 33. “Those who are wise among the people will instruct many; yet they will fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder, many days.

Verse 34. Now when they fall, they will be helped with a little help; but many will join themselves to them with flatteries. Verse 35. Some of those who are wise will fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed. Verse 36. “The king will do according to his will. He will exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and will speak marvelous things against the God of gods. He will prosper until the indignation is accomplished; for that which is determined will be done. Verse 37. He won’t regard the gods of his fathers, or the desire of women, or regard any god; for he will magnify himself above all.

Verse 38. But in his place he will honor the god of fortresses. He will honor a god whom his fathers didn’t know with gold, silver, and with precious stones and pleasant things. Verse 39. He will deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god. He will increase with glory whoever acknowledges him. He will cause them to rule over many, and will divide the land for a price.

Final Confrontations and Fate Daniel 11:40–45

Verse 40. “At the time of the end the king of the south will contend with him; and the king of the north will come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships. He will enter into the countries, and will overflow and pass through. Verse 41. He will enter also into the glorious land, and many countries will be overthrown; but these will be delivered out of his hand: Edom, Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. Verse 42. He will also stretch out his hand on the countries. The land of Egypt won’t escape. Verse 43. But he will have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt. The Libyans and the Ethiopians will be at his steps.

Verse 44. But news out of the east and out of the north will trouble him; and he will go out with great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many. Verse 45. He will plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

World English Bible (public domain)

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Main themes in Daniel 11

Prophecy and History

The chapter unfolds a series of prophetic declarations about successive rulers and their actions, particularly focusing on the kings of the north and south. For example, in v. 2, it mentions 'three more kings will stand up in Persia,' leading to a conflict with Greece. The historical backdrop intertwines with the prophecy, illustrating the unfolding events that shape the future of nations and the people of Israel.

Conflict and Power

Conflict is central to the narrative, particularly between the king of the north and the king of the south, as seen in vv. 5-15, where battles and alliances define their reigns. The text details the strategies and military actions, highlighting how power dynamics shift, such as in v. 12 when the king of the south casts down 'tens of thousands' but ultimately does not prevail. This theme moves through various confrontations leading to a final showdown.

Divine Sovereignty

Throughout the chapter, divine sovereignty is evident as God orchestrates the rise and fall of kings. In v. 36, it states that 'the king will do according to his will,' yet it acknowledges that 'that which is determined will be done.' This tension between human actions and God's ultimate plan reveals a higher control over historical events, culminating in the appointed time of fulfillment.

Pride and Hubris

Pride and hubris manifest in the actions of various rulers, especially in v. 36, where the king exalts himself 'above every god.' The narrative details how arrogance leads to downfall, as seen in v. 19 when a ruler 'will stumble and fall, and won’t be found.' This theme explores the consequences of pride, culminating in a warning about the fate of those who act with self-importance.

Chapter outline

How Daniel 11 unfolds

  1. Daniel 11:1–2 Darius and Persian Kings

    Daniel supports 'Darius the Mede' in his first year (v. 1), and the prophecy foretells that 'three more kings will stand up in Persia' followed by a fourth who will provoke conflict with Greece (v. 2).

  2. Daniel 11:3–4 Rise of a Mighty King

    A mighty king emerges, ruling with great power but facing the division of his kingdom after his death (v. 3-4). This foretells the instability following his reign, affecting future generations and territories.

  3. Daniel 11:5–15 Conflict Between North and South

    The 'king of the south' grows strong, but one of his princes becomes stronger and forms alliances, leading to military confrontations where 'the king of the south will be moved with anger' but ultimately fails (vv. 5-15).

  4. Daniel 11:16–29 The Arrogance of a New Ruler

    A new ruler comes against the 'glorious land' and manipulates alliances, but he will stumble and fall. A 'contemptible person' arises, gaining power through deceit and causing conflict with the 'king of the south' (vv. 16-29).

  5. Daniel 11:30–39 Destruction and Deception

    The actions of a ruler are marked by destruction and deceit (vv. 30-31). He corrupts those who oppose him and takes drastic actions against the holy covenant, leading to increased turmoil among the people (vv. 32-39).

  6. Daniel 11:40–45 Final Confrontations and Fate

    Final confrontations escalate as the king of the north faces opposition from the south and external threats (vv. 40-44). Despite his temporary victories, he ultimately meets a fate of destruction, with no assistance available (v. 45).

Key verses

  • Daniel 11:36The angel speaks to Daniel, revealing that the king will act according to his will, forecasting a ruler's arrogance that leads to conflict in the chapter.

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Study questions

Questions for studying Daniel 11

Uses your daily Ask questions.

  1. observeIn v6, why will the daughter of the king of the south 'not retain the strength of her arm'?
  2. observeWhat does the 'king of the north' do in v15 to take the well-fortified city?
  3. interpretIn v21, why is the new ruler described as a 'contemptible person'?
  4. interpretIn v36, what does it mean that the king 'will exalt himself' above every god?
  5. applyWhen have you seen someone act like they are 'above all' in your own life?

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Daniel 11: frequently asked questions

What is Daniel 11 about?+
In the first year of Darius the Mede, the speaker strengthens him (vv. 1-2).
What is the key verse in Daniel 11?+
Daniel 11:36: “The king will do according to his will. He will exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and will speak marvelous things against the God of gods. He will prosper until the indignation is accomplished; for that which is determined will be done.”
What are the main themes of Daniel 11?+
The main themes of Daniel 11 are Prophecy and History, Conflict and Power, Divine Sovereignty, Pride and Hubris.

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