Daniel 11:14 (KJV)

What does Daniel 11:14 mean?

Daniel 11:14 describes a time when many groups will rise up against the king of the south, and even some from the speaker’s own people will try to fulfill a vision or prophecy, but they will not succeed and will be defeated. The verse points to a period of political upheaval and failed attempts to change the course of events.

In this part of Daniel, an angel is explaining future conflicts to Daniel, focusing on struggles between northern and southern kingdoms after Alexander the Great’s empire split. The “robbers of thy people” refers to certain people from Daniel’s nation who try to force the fulfillment of prophecy but end up failing. The verse highlights both outside opposition and misguided efforts from within Daniel’s own people.

The Hebrew behind Daniel 11:14

• "robbers" (בְּנֵי פָּרִיץ, bnei paritz): This phrase literally means "sons of the violent" or "sons of the lawless." It suggests not just ordinary rebels, but people who act aggressively or unlawfully, possibly trying to take matters into their own hands regarding prophecy.
• "vision" (חָזוֹן, chazon): This word refers to a prophetic revelation or vision. Here, it means that these people are trying to make a prophecy come true by their own actions, rather than waiting for God's timing.
• "establish" (עָמַד, amad): This word often means "to stand" or "to take a stand," but here it carries the sense of trying to make something happen or bring it about, in this case, the vision.

Why Daniel 11:14 matters

• Daniel 11:14 shows that not all opposition comes from outside forces; sometimes, people from within a group can act out of impatience or misunderstanding, trying to force events that are not yet meant to happen.
• The verse connects to the larger theme of Daniel 11, which is about the rise and fall of kingdoms and the limits of human power in shaping history, especially when it comes to fulfilling prophecy.
• By mentioning the failure of these “robbers,” the verse warns against taking prophecy into one’s own hands and highlights the importance of waiting for events to unfold as intended.