Daniel 11:25 illustrates a momentous conflict between the king of the North and the king of the South, highlighting that deceit and betrayal eclipse sheer military might.
“He will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South with a large army; so the king of the South will mobilize an extremely large and mighty army for war; but he will not stand, for schemes will be devised against him.” (v.25) In this verse from Daniel 11:25, the prophet Daniel continues his detailed vision of future conflicts among earthly powers. The “He” in this passage is often understood to be the king of the North, who is traditionally associated with Antiochus IV Epiphanes (reigning from 175 BC to 164 BC). By saying “He will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South with a large army” (v.25), the scripture pictures him mustering his military might to confront a southern adversary, historically associated with the Ptolemaic kingdom in Egypt. This clash would have taken place in the regions of the ancient Near East, specifically the land bridge between modern-day Syria (Seleucid territory) and Egypt (Ptolemaic territory).
The verse then states “so the king of the South will mobilize an extremely large and mighty army for war; but he will not stand, for schemes will be devised against him” (v.25). This describes how the southern king—likely Ptolemy VI Philometor—gathers a formidable force of his own but still ends up succumbing to political stratagems and betrayal. Despite possessing numerical strength, he suffers a defeat orchestrated by conspiracies, demonstrating that power alone cannot secure victory without wisdom and loyalty. The text underscores the ever-shifting alliances and the inclination toward deceit in these Hellenistic kingdoms, themes that the rest of the chapter expands upon.
Much of Daniel’s prophecy reveals the reality of hearts driven by ambition, but this passage anticipates a greater kingdom of justice and truth foretold elsewhere in Daniel and ultimately realized in the advent of Jesus Christ (John 18:36). The schemes of earthly rulers stand in stark contrast to the eternal reign promised through Christ’s coming.
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Daniel 11:25 meaning
“He will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South with a large army; so the king of the South will mobilize an extremely large and mighty army for war; but he will not stand, for schemes will be devised against him.” (v.25) In this verse from Daniel 11:25, the prophet Daniel continues his detailed vision of future conflicts among earthly powers. The “He” in this passage is often understood to be the king of the North, who is traditionally associated with Antiochus IV Epiphanes (reigning from 175 BC to 164 BC). By saying “He will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South with a large army” (v.25), the scripture pictures him mustering his military might to confront a southern adversary, historically associated with the Ptolemaic kingdom in Egypt. This clash would have taken place in the regions of the ancient Near East, specifically the land bridge between modern-day Syria (Seleucid territory) and Egypt (Ptolemaic territory).
The verse then states “so the king of the South will mobilize an extremely large and mighty army for war; but he will not stand, for schemes will be devised against him” (v.25). This describes how the southern king—likely Ptolemy VI Philometor—gathers a formidable force of his own but still ends up succumbing to political stratagems and betrayal. Despite possessing numerical strength, he suffers a defeat orchestrated by conspiracies, demonstrating that power alone cannot secure victory without wisdom and loyalty. The text underscores the ever-shifting alliances and the inclination toward deceit in these Hellenistic kingdoms, themes that the rest of the chapter expands upon.
Much of Daniel’s prophecy reveals the reality of hearts driven by ambition, but this passage anticipates a greater kingdom of justice and truth foretold elsewhere in Daniel and ultimately realized in the advent of Jesus Christ (John 18:36). The schemes of earthly rulers stand in stark contrast to the eternal reign promised through Christ’s coming.