“But as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four points of the compass, though not to his own descendants, nor according to his authority which he wielded, for his sovereignty will be uprooted and given to others besides them.” (v.4) This verse speaks of a sudden shift in power taking place immediately after a great ruler rises, reflecting the short-lived nature of his reign. Historically, this is widely understood to refer to Alexander the Great, who rapidly conquered vast territories but died prematurely in 323 BC. His empire spanned from Greece through Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), across Persia (modern-day Iran), and even into parts of India, which is an immense geographical scope for that time period. Yet, following his death, “his kingdom” (v.4) did indeed “break up” (v.4) among his generals, fulfilling the prophecy that it would not remain intact or pass on to his direct heirs.
When the verse continues, “and parceled out toward the four points of the compass” (v.4), it alludes to the division of Alexander’s empire into four major regions under four of his notable generals (often historically listed as Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, and Seleucus). The text clarifies it was “not to his own descendants” (v.4), since Alexander’s son was too young and did not inherit a lasting dominion. Instead, the verse states, “for his sovereignty will be uprooted and given to others” (v.4), underscoring not only the transience of earthly power but also God’s overarching sovereignty in world affairs. This highlights the theme present throughout the book of Daniel: empires rise and fall under the hand of the Almighty (Daniel 2:20-21), foreshadowing the coming of an everlasting kingdom fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Luke 1:32-33).
From a biblical perspective, Daniel 11:4 reaffirms that human pride and grand aspirations often collapse under divine rulership. Alexander the Great stands as a historical example of rapid expansion undone by sudden death, an image of the fragile nature of worldly grandeur. In the New Testament, believers are encouraged to put their hope not in temporal rules or powerful figures, but in the eternal kingdom established by Christ (Mark 1:15). Thus, this prophecy serves as a sobering reminder that all terrestrial power structures remain fleeting, pointing us toward a kingdom that has no end.
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Daniel 11:4 meaning
“But as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four points of the compass, though not to his own descendants, nor according to his authority which he wielded, for his sovereignty will be uprooted and given to others besides them.” (v.4) This verse speaks of a sudden shift in power taking place immediately after a great ruler rises, reflecting the short-lived nature of his reign. Historically, this is widely understood to refer to Alexander the Great, who rapidly conquered vast territories but died prematurely in 323 BC. His empire spanned from Greece through Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), across Persia (modern-day Iran), and even into parts of India, which is an immense geographical scope for that time period. Yet, following his death, “his kingdom” (v.4) did indeed “break up” (v.4) among his generals, fulfilling the prophecy that it would not remain intact or pass on to his direct heirs.
When the verse continues, “and parceled out toward the four points of the compass” (v.4), it alludes to the division of Alexander’s empire into four major regions under four of his notable generals (often historically listed as Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, and Seleucus). The text clarifies it was “not to his own descendants” (v.4), since Alexander’s son was too young and did not inherit a lasting dominion. Instead, the verse states, “for his sovereignty will be uprooted and given to others” (v.4), underscoring not only the transience of earthly power but also God’s overarching sovereignty in world affairs. This highlights the theme present throughout the book of Daniel: empires rise and fall under the hand of the Almighty (Daniel 2:20-21), foreshadowing the coming of an everlasting kingdom fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Luke 1:32-33).
From a biblical perspective, Daniel 11:4 reaffirms that human pride and grand aspirations often collapse under divine rulership. Alexander the Great stands as a historical example of rapid expansion undone by sudden death, an image of the fragile nature of worldly grandeur. In the New Testament, believers are encouraged to put their hope not in temporal rules or powerful figures, but in the eternal kingdom established by Christ (Mark 1:15). Thus, this prophecy serves as a sobering reminder that all terrestrial power structures remain fleeting, pointing us toward a kingdom that has no end.