Daniel 11:5 The king of the South will grow strong, but one of his commanders will grow even stronger and will rule his own kingdom with great authority.

◄ Daniel 11:5 ►

New International Version
“The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power.

New Living Translation
“The king of the south will increase in power, but one of his own officials will become more powerful than he and will rule his kingdom with great strength.

English Standard Version
“Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority.

Berean Standard Bible
The king of the South will grow strong, but one of his commanders will grow even stronger and will rule his own kingdom with great authority.

King James Bible
And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.

New King James Version
“Also the king of the South shall become strong, as well as one of his princes; and he shall gain power over him and have dominion. His dominion shall be a great dominion.

New American Standard Bible
“Then the king of the South will grow strong, along with one of his princes who will gain ascendancy over him and rule; his domain will be a great realm indeed.

NASB 1995
“Then the king of the South will grow strong, along with one of his princes who will gain ascendancy over him and obtain dominion; his domain will be a great dominion indeed.

NASB 1977
“Then the king of the South will grow strong, along with one of his princes who will gain ascendancy over him and obtain dominion; his domain will be a great dominion indeed.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Then the king of the South will grow strong, along with one of his princes who will grow strong over him and obtain dominion; indeed, his domain will be a great dominion.

Amplified Bible
“Then the king of the South (Egypt) will be strong, along with one of his princes who will be stronger than he and have dominance over him; his domain will be a great dominion.

Christian Standard Bible
“The king of the South will grow powerful, but one of his commanders will grow more powerful and will rule a kingdom greater than his.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The king of the South will grow powerful, but one of his commanders will grow more powerful and will rule a kingdom greater than his.

American Standard Version
And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.

Contemporary English Version
The king of the south will grow powerful. Then one of his generals will rebel and will rule an even larger kingdom.

English Revised Version
And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"The southern king will be strong, but one of his officers will become stronger than he is and rule a vast empire.

Good News Translation
"The king of Egypt will be strong. One of his generals, however, will be even stronger and rule a greater kingdom.

International Standard Version
"'The southern king will become strong, along with one of his officials, who will become stronger than he and rule over his own realm with great power.

Majority Standard Bible
The king of the South will grow strong, but one of his commanders will grow even stronger and will rule his own kingdom with great authority.

NET Bible
"Then the king of the south and one of his subordinates will grow strong. His subordinate will resist him and will rule a kingdom greater than his.

New Heart English Bible
The king of the south shall grow strong, and one of his officers shall grow more powerful, and shall have a greater kingdom than his.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.

World English Bible
“The king of the south will be strong. One of his princes will become stronger than him, and have dominion. His dominion will be a great dominion.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And a king of the south—even of his princes—becomes strong, and prevails against him, and has ruled; a great dominion [is] his dominion.

Young's Literal Translation
And a king of the south -- even of his princes -- doth become strong, and doth prevail against him, and hath ruled; a great dominion is his dominion.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the king of the south shall be strong, and from his chiefs; and he shall be strong above him, and he ruled from much dominion.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king of the south shall be strengthened, and one of his princes shall prevail over him, and he shall rule with great power: for his dominion shall be great.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the king of the South will be reinforced, yet one of his leaders will prevail over him, and he will rule with riches, for great is his domain.

New American Bible
“The king of the south shall grow strong, but one of his princes shall grow stronger still and govern a domain greater than his.

New Revised Standard Version
“Then the king of the south shall grow strong, but one of his officers shall grow stronger than he and shall rule a realm greater than his own realm.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the king of the south and his princes shall be strong, and the people shall follow him, and he shall rule over a great dominion.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the King of the south and his Princes shall be strong and he shall triumph over him, and he shall rule with great authority

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the king of the south shall be strong; and one of their princes shall prevail against him, and shall obtain a great dominion.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Kings of the South and North
5The king of the South will grow strong, but one of his commanders will grow even stronger and will rule his own kingdom with great authority. 6After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to seal the agreement. But his daughter will not retain her position of power, nor will his strength endure. At that time she will be given up, along with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Kings 11:11-13
Then the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. / Nevertheless, for the sake of your father David, I will not do it during your lifetime; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. / Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom away from him. I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”

1 Kings 11:31-32
and said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I will give you ten tribes. / But one tribe will remain for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.

2 Kings 24:7
Now the king of Egypt did not march out of his land again, because the king of Babylon had taken all his territory, from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River.

Isaiah 19:4
I will deliver the Egyptians into the hands of a harsh master, and a fierce king will rule over them,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.

Jeremiah 46:2
concerning Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah:

Ezekiel 29:19
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will carry off its wealth, seize its spoil, and remove its plunder. This will be the wages for his army.

Ezekiel 30:10
This is what the Lord GOD says: I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

Ezekiel 30:24-25
I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and place My sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, who will groan before him like a mortally wounded man. / I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king, but Pharaoh’s arms will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I place My sword in the hand of Babylon’s king, and he wields it against the land of Egypt.

Zechariah 9:13
For I will bend Judah as My bow and fit it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against the sons of Greece. I will make you like the sword of a mighty man.

Matthew 24:6-7
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. / Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Mark 13:8
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

Luke 21:10
Then He told them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

John 11:48
If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

Acts 12:20-23
Now Herod was in a furious dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king’s country for food. / On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people. / And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!” ...

Acts 23:12-22
When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. / More than forty of them were involved in this plot. / They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. ...

Treasury of Scripture

And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.

the king.

Daniel 11:8,9,11,14,25,40
And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north…

and one.

Daniel 11:3,4
And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will…

he shall.

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Daniel 11

1. The overthrow of Persia by the king of Grecia.
5. Leagues and conflicts between the kings of the south and of the north.
30. The invasion and tyranny of the Romans.

Berean Study Bible

The king of the South
This phrase refers to the ruler of Egypt, historically identified as Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander the Great's generals who took control of Egypt after Alexander's empire was divided. The "South" in the context of Daniel often refers to Egypt, which is geographically south of Israel. Theologically, this highlights the geopolitical significance of Egypt in biblical prophecy and its recurring role as a power player in the region.

will grow strong
The Hebrew root for "grow strong" is "חָזַק" (chazaq), which conveys the idea of becoming mighty or powerful. This suggests not only military strength but also political influence and stability. In a spiritual sense, it can remind believers of the importance of strength that is rooted in God's providence and purpose.

but one of his commanders
This phrase points to Seleucus I Nicator, another of Alexander's generals, who initially served under Ptolemy but later established his own rule over the Seleucid Empire. The term "commander" indicates a person of significant military capability and leadership. This historical context underscores the theme of shifting allegiances and the rise and fall of earthly powers, which are ultimately under God's sovereign control.

will grow even stronger than he
The phrase indicates a surpassing of power and influence. Seleucus I Nicator's empire eventually became larger and more powerful than that of Ptolemy's. This serves as a reminder of the transient nature of human power and the ultimate supremacy of God's kingdom, which is eternal and unshakeable.

and will rule his own kingdom
This highlights the establishment of the Seleucid Empire, which was one of the major Hellenistic states following the fragmentation of Alexander's empire. The notion of ruling one's own kingdom speaks to the divine allowance for human governance and the responsibility that comes with it. It also reflects the biblical theme of God raising and deposing kings according to His divine plan.

with great authority
The Hebrew word for "authority" is "שָׁלִיט" (shalit), which implies dominion and control. This authority is not just political but also carries a sense of legitimacy and recognized power. In a spiritual context, it serves as a reminder that all authority is ultimately derived from God, and those in positions of power are accountable to Him. This can inspire believers to trust in God's ultimate authority over all earthly rulers and kingdoms.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) The king.--This king of the south (see Daniel 11:8) is suddenly introduced to our notice. The vagueness of the language prevents us from asserting that the reference is to Ptolemy Soter, who assumed the title of king about B.C. 304. Equally obscure is the phrase "one of his princes." Both the Greek versions interpret the passage to mean "that one of the princes of the king of the south shall be stronger than his former master." It is hard to see how Seleucus Nicator can be called a "prince" of Ptolemy Soter. Any attempt at making the pronoun "his" refer to the mighty king mentioned in the last verse is opposed to the context, and to introduce any fresh sentence such as "shall arise" is an unwarrantable assumption. The obscurity of the Hebrew text is well reproduced in the English Version. It should be stated that Ptolemy took Jerusalem B.C. 320, and that these times must have been very critical to the Jews.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 5. - And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes: and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion. The LXX. rendering differs from this," And he shall strengthen the kingdom of Egypt; and one of the rulers shall overcome him (κατισχύσει) and rule; and his power shall be a great power." Theodotion agrees with the Massoretic in sense. The Peshitta agrees verbally with the Massoretic, but, as it omits the preposition rain, the meaning the translator attached to the verse is difficult to ascertain. The Vulgate agrees with the Massoretic. The verse abruptly introduces the conflict between the Lagid and Seleucid princes. There is no indication in the preceding verses that the four winds of heaven are to be taken so rigidly as is implied by this verse. It is no answer to say that Egypt and Syria alone came into intimate relations with the Jews; it is not a question of fact, but a question of the necessities of composition. The appearance presented is that of a fragment existing separately, and inserted here. The intruded references to the truth which is to be shown have the took of being awkward attempts to prepare for the subjoined narrative. Whatever its origin, it is very difficult to explain to what it refers. The king of the south is certainly one of the Ptolemies, most probably Ptolemy Lagi. And one of his princes shall be strong above him. This is usually understood to mean Seleucus Nicator, who, when driven from Babylon, his original satrapy, by Anti-genus, took refuge with Ptolemy Lagi, and became a commander under him in his war against Antigonus. Ptolemy also gave him the few troops with which, after the battle of Gaza, he recovered possession of Babylonia. He certainly became by far the most powerful of the successors of Alexander. Indeed, he may be said to have had all the dominions of Alexander save Egypt and Syria on the south, and Macedonia and Greece on the west; for he had overthrown Lysimachus, and absorbed his dominion. His dominion shall be a great dominion states accurately the extent of the dominions of Scleucus. Rosenmiiller would refer the prenominal suffix ו, "his," to Alexander, and understand Ptolemy as the prince in question; but this is improbable. It is impossible not to observe the abrupt introduction of this prince. Gratz would suggest that a clause has dropped out here, which declared that one of his (Alexander's) princes stood up in the north. Had this any manuscript authority, it would be plausible. More, however, would seem to be wanting.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The king
מֶֽלֶךְ־ (me·leḵ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of the South
הַנֶּ֖גֶב (han·ne·ḡeḇ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5045: South country, the Negeb, south

will grow strong,
וְיֶחֱזַ֥ק (wə·ye·ḥĕ·zaq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

but one of
וּמִן־ (ū·min-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

his commanders
שָׂרָ֑יו (śā·rāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

will grow even
עָלָיו֙ (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

stronger
וְיֶחֱזַ֤ק (wə·ye·ḥĕ·zaq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

and will rule
וּמָשָׁ֔ל (ū·mā·šāl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4910: To rule, have dominion, reign

his own kingdom
מִמְשָׁ֥ל (mim·šāl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4474: Dominion, ruler

with great
רַ֖ב (raḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

authority.
מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽוֹ׃ (mem·šal·tōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4475: Rule, a realm, a ruler

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OT Prophets: Daniel 11:5 The king of the south shall be (Dan. Da Dn)