Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.

DANIEL 10:20KJV
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Daniel 10:20 (KJV)

What does Daniel 10:20 mean?

Daniel 10:20 records an angel speaking to Daniel, explaining that he must return to fight against the "prince of Persia," and that after this, the "prince of Grecia" (Greece) will come. The verse shows that spiritual conflict is happening behind the scenes of earthly kingdoms, with angelic beings involved in these struggles.

In this setting, the angel is addressing Daniel after delivering a message about future events. The angel refers to returning to battle with the spiritual power connected to Persia, and then mentions that another spiritual figure associated with Greece will appear. This hints at a sequence of world empires and the unseen spiritual realities connected to them.

The Hebrew behind Daniel 10:20

  • "Prince" (שַׂר, sar): This word means a leader or ruler, and here it is often understood as referring to a spiritual being or angelic power representing a nation, rather than a human ruler.
  • "Fight" (לָחַם, lacham): This verb means to engage in battle or conflict. The angel is describing an ongoing spiritual struggle, not a physical war.
  • "Persia" (פָּרַס, paras) and "Grecia" (יָוָן, yavan): These are the Hebrew names for the historical empires of Persia and Greece, anchoring the vision in real-world kingdoms but connecting them to spiritual forces.

Why Daniel 10:20 matters

  • Daniel 10:20 clarifies that the angelic messenger is not just delivering information but is actively involved in spiritual battles that influence earthly events.
  • The verse helps explain the transition between major world empires (Persia to Greece) as not only political but also spiritual in nature, according to the vision given to Daniel.
  • This verse connects the personal experience of Daniel to a much larger cosmic conflict, giving readers a glimpse into the spiritual dimension behind historical changes.

Where else these words appear

“Grecia” Hebrew H3120 · used in 11 verses

  • Genesis 10:2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
  • 1 Chronicles 1:7 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
  • Ezekiel 27:19 Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market.

“Persia” Hebrew H6539 · used in 24 verses

  • 2 Chronicles 36:20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:
  • Ezra 4:3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
  • Esther 1:19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.