And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.

DANIEL 11:6KJV
truelightbible.com

Daniel 11:6 (KJV)

What does Daniel 11:6 mean?

Daniel 11:6 describes a political alliance formed between the king of the south and the king of the north through the marriage of the southern king’s daughter to the northern king, but the alliance fails because the woman and those connected to her lose their power and influence. The verse shows that even carefully arranged agreements can fall apart, and those involved may end up betrayed or powerless.

In the book of Daniel, an angel is explaining future events to Daniel, focusing on conflicts between powerful kingdoms after Alexander the Great’s empire broke apart. Daniel 11:6 uses the image of a royal marriage to show how rulers tried to secure peace or power, but the attempt does not succeed. The language points to a time when political marriages were common, but even these could not guarantee lasting stability.

The Hebrew behind Daniel 11:6

  • "Agreement" (בְּרִית, bərith): This word means a formal covenant or treaty, not just a casual agreement. The verse highlights that this was a serious, binding attempt at peace or alliance.
  • "Retain" (עָצַר, atsar): This word means to hold back or keep control. The verse emphasizes that the southern king’s daughter is unable to keep her position or influence, showing the fragility of her situation.
  • "Arm" (זְרוֹעַ, zeroa): This word often means strength or power, not just a physical arm. The verse uses it to show that neither the woman nor those supporting her have the strength to maintain their plans.

Why Daniel 11:6 matters

  • Daniel 11:6 clears up the idea that political alliances, even those sealed by marriage, are not always reliable or lasting, especially in a world of shifting power.
  • The verse shows how personal relationships and political strategies are deeply connected in ancient history, but also how easily they can unravel.
  • Daniel 11:6 connects to the larger theme of Daniel 11, where the rise and fall of rulers and kingdoms are shown to be unpredictable and often outside of human control.