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 11:25KJVWhat does Daniel 11:25 mean?
Daniel 11:25 describes a powerful northern king gathering his strength and courage to attack the king of the south with a large army, while the southern king also prepares a very great and strong army for battle. Despite this, the southern king will not succeed, because plans and schemes will be made against him.
In the book of Daniel, this is part of a vision where an angel explains future conflicts between northern and southern kingdoms, often understood as the Seleucid and Ptolemaic empires after Alexander the Great. The verse highlights the intense military buildup and the behind-the-scenes plotting that leads to the southern king’s defeat, setting the stage for further struggles described in the chapter.
The Hebrew behind Daniel 11:25
- "up" (עוּר, ʿur): This word means to rouse or stir up, emphasizing the deliberate effort and determination of the northern king to take action, not just a casual decision.
- "power" (כֹּחַ, koach): This word means strength or might, pointing to both military resources and personal resolve being summoned for the conflict.
- "courage" (לֵבָב, levav): Often translated as heart or inner resolve, this highlights the emotional and mental preparation for battle, not just physical readiness.
- "forecast devices" (חָשַׁב מַחֲשָׁבוֹת, chashav machashavot): This phrase means to devise plans or schemes, making clear that the southern king’s downfall is due to strategic plotting, not just brute force.
Why Daniel 11:25 matters
- Daniel 11:25 shows that the outcome of the battle is shaped as much by secret plans and alliances as by the size of the armies, warning readers not to judge by appearances alone.
- The verse connects to the larger theme in Daniel of God revealing the hidden workings behind historical events, emphasizing that what happens on the surface often has deeper causes.
- Understanding the specific words for strength, courage, and scheming helps clarify that this is not just a straightforward military defeat, but a story of manipulation and calculated betrayal.