Daniel 11:19

Authorized King James Version

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Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.

Original Language Analysis

וְיָשֵׁ֣ב Then he shall turn H7725
וְיָשֵׁ֣ב Then he shall turn
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 1 of 8
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
פָּנָ֔יו his face H6440
פָּנָ֔יו his face
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 2 of 8
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
לְמָעוּזֵּ֖י toward the fort H4581
לְמָעוּזֵּ֖י toward the fort
Strong's: H4581
Word #: 3 of 8
a fortified place; figuratively, a defense
אַרְצ֑וֹ of his own land H776
אַרְצ֑וֹ of his own land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 4 of 8
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
וְנִכְשַׁ֥ל but he shall stumble H3782
וְנִכְשַׁ֥ל but he shall stumble
Strong's: H3782
Word #: 5 of 8
to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication, to falter, stumble, faint or fall
וְנָפַ֖ל and fall H5307
וְנָפַ֖ל and fall
Strong's: H5307
Word #: 6 of 8
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
וְלֹ֥א H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 7 of 8
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִמָּצֵֽא׃ and not be found H4672
יִמָּצֵֽא׃ and not be found
Strong's: H4672
Word #: 8 of 8
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

Analysis & Commentary

Antiochus III's return to his own land and eventual death (187 BC) while plundering a temple in Elam fulfilled this verse. The phrase 'he shall stumble and fall, and not be found' describes his sudden death ending his ambitious reign.

Historical Context

Daniel chapter 11 contains some of Scripture's most detailed predictive prophecy, written c. 536 BC and fulfilled with remarkable precision 200-160 BC during Ptolemaic-Seleucid conflicts. The prophecies served multiple purposes: encouraging Jewish exiles that God controls history, providing roadmap for future generations facing Hellenistic pressures, and typologically pointing to end-times Antichrist. Reformed theology sees dual fulfillment: near historical events (Antiochus Epiphanes) typifying far eschatological realities (final Antichrist). This pattern validates divine inspiration—only God knows future details with such precision. For believers under persecution, these prophecies demonstrated that tyrannical opposition is temporary, God's sovereignty absolute, and ultimate victory certain. The historical fulfillment encourages trust that eschatological promises will similarly fulfill exactly as prophesied.

Questions for Reflection

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