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Daniel 11:3

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Daniel 11:3 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great authority and do as he pleases.

King James Version KJV

And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

American Standard Version ASV

And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

Bible in Basic English BBE

And a strong king will come to power, ruling with great authority and doing whatever is his pleasure.

Free Bible Version FBV

Then a mighty king will come to power. He will rule with great authority and do whatever he wants.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

But a mightie King shall stand vp, that shall rule with great dominion, and doe according to his pleasure.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

And a mighty king hath stood, and he hath ruled a great dominion, and hath done according to his will;

World English Bible WEB

A mighty king will stand up, who will rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

Noah Webster Bible WBS

And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

But there shall rise up a strong king, and shall rule with great power: and he shall do what he pleaseth.

Translation for Translators T4T

Then a very powerful king will appear in Greece. He will rule over a very large empire, and he will do whatever he wants to do.

Study Highlights

Key words in the translations above are automatically highlighted. Names of God and Jesus are marked in purple, the Holy Spirit in orange, divine action verbs are underlined, and repeated key words are highlighted in yellow.

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Berean Amplified Bible — Daniel 11:3

BAB
Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Daniel 11:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
HEB וְ/עָמַ֖ד מֶ֣לֶךְ גִּבּ֑וֹר וּ/מָשַׁל֙ מִמְשָׁ֣ל רַ֔ב וְ/עָשָׂ֖ה כִּ/רְצוֹנֽ/וֹ
וְ/עָמַ֖ד ʻâmad H5975 to stand Conj | V-Qal-3ms
מֶ֣לֶךְ melek H4428 King's N-ms
גִּבּ֑וֹר gibbôwr H1368 mighty man Adj
וּ/מָשַׁל֙ mâshal H4910 to rule Conj | V-Qal-3ms
מִמְשָׁ֣ל mimshâl H4474 dominion N-cs
רַ֔ב rab H7227 many Adj
וְ/עָשָׂ֖ה ʻâsâh H6213 to make Conj | V-Qal-3ms
כִּ/רְצוֹנֽ/וֹ râtsôwn H7522 acceptance Prep | N-ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

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Hebrew Word Reference — Daniel 11:3

וְ/עָמַ֖ד ʻâmad H5975 "to stand" Conj | V-Qal-3ms
Means 'to stand' in a strong sense, like in Exodus 17:12 where Moses stood with his arms up to help Israel win a battle.
Definition: : stand/stop/establish 1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of 1a2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease 1a3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast 1a4) to make a stand, hold one's ground 1a5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright 1a6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against 1a7) to stand with, take one's stand, be appointed, grow flat, grow insipid 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to station, set 1b2) to cause to stand firm, maintain 1b3) to cause to stand up, cause to set up, erect 1b4) to present (one) before (king) 1b5) to appoint, ordain, establish 1c) (Hophal) to be presented, be caused to stand, be stood before
Usage: Occurs in 497 OT verses. KJV: abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry. See also: Genesis 18:8; Joshua 21:44; 1 Chronicles 6:17.
מֶ֣לֶךְ melek H4428 "King's" N-ms
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Definition: King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Usage: Occurs in 1919 OT verses. KJV: king, royal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Joshua 10:39; 1 Samuel 16:1.
גִּבּ֑וֹר gibbôwr H1368 "mighty man" Adj
This word describes a strong or mighty man, like a warrior or champion, as seen in 1 Samuel 17:51 where David defeats Goliath. It can also imply a brave or valiant person.
Definition: adj 1) strong, mighty n m 2) strong man, brave man, mighty man
Usage: Occurs in 152 OT verses. KJV: champion, chief, [idiom] excel, giant, man, mighty (man, one), strong (man), valiant man. See also: Genesis 6:4; 2 Chronicles 17:16; Psalms 19:6.
וּ/מָשַׁל֙ mâshal H4910 "to rule" Conj | V-Qal-3ms
To rule means to have power over something or someone, like a king ruling his kingdom, as seen in 1 Samuel. It involves having control and making decisions, like a leader guiding their people. In the Bible, God rules over all things.
Definition: 1) to rule, have dominion, reign 1a) (Qal) to rule, have dominion 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to rule 1b2) to exercise dominion
Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: (have, make to have) dominion, governor, [idiom] indeed, reign, (bear, cause to, have) rule(-ing, -r), have power. See also: Genesis 1:18; Proverbs 16:32; Psalms 8:7.
מִמְשָׁ֣ל mimshâl H4474 "dominion" N-cs
This word refers to a ruler or dominion, describing a person or entity with authority. It can also mean rule or leadership, conveying a sense of power or control. The KJV translates it as dominion or ruler.
Definition: 1) dominion, ruler 1a) dominion 1b) ruler
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: dominion, that ruled. See also: 2 Kings 20:13; 2 Chronicles 8:6; Daniel 11:5.
רַ֔ב rab H7227 "many" Adj
This Hebrew word means a chief or captain, someone in charge. It is used in 2 Samuel 23:19 to describe a great and powerful man. The idea is one of leadership and authority.
Definition: adj 1) much, many, great 1a) much 1b) many 1c) abounding in 1d) more numerous than 1e) abundant, enough 1f) great 1g) strong 1h) greater than adv 1i) much, exceedingly
Usage: Occurs in 443 OT verses. KJV: (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent). See also: Genesis 6:5; 1 Kings 11:1; Psalms 3:2.
וְ/עָשָׂ֖ה ʻâsâh H6213 "to make" Conj | V-Qal-3ms
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
כִּ/רְצוֹנֽ/וֹ râtsôwn H7522 "acceptance" Prep | N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word refers to acceptance or delight, often used to describe God's pleasure or favor. It appears in Psalms and Isaiah, highlighting God's goodwill towards us. This word is about taking pleasure in something.
Definition: 1) pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill, acceptance, will 1a) goodwill, favour 1b) acceptance 1c) will, desire, pleasure, self-will
Usage: Occurs in 56 OT verses. KJV: (be) acceptable(-ance, -ed), delight, desire, favour, (good) pleasure, (own, self, voluntary) will, as...(what) would. See also: Genesis 49:6; Psalms 145:16; Psalms 5:13.

Study Notes — Daniel 11:3

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 Daniel 11:16 The invader will do as he pleases, and no one will stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land, with destruction in his hand.
2 Daniel 11:36 Then the king will do as he pleases and will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must be accomplished.
3 Daniel 8:21 The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king.
4 Daniel 5:19 Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whom he wished and kept alive whom he wished; he exalted whom he wished and humbled whom he wished.
5 Daniel 7:6 Next, as I watched, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
6 James 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.
7 Hebrews 2:4 and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.
8 Ephesians 1:11 In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
9 Daniel 8:4–14 I saw the ram charging toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and there was no deliverance from his power. He did as he pleased and became great. As I was contemplating all this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came out of the west, crossing the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed at him with furious power. I saw him approach the ram in a rage against him, and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against him, and the goat threw him to the ground and trampled him, and no one could deliver the ram from his power. Thus the goat became very great, but at the height of his power, his large horn was broken off, and four prominent horns came up in its place, pointing toward the four winds of heaven. From one of these horns a little horn emerged and grew extensively toward the south and the east and toward the Beautiful Land. It grew as high as the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the earth, and trampled them. It magnified itself, even to the Prince of the host; it removed His daily sacrifice and overthrew the place of His sanctuary. And in the rebellion, the host and the daily sacrifice were given over to the horn, and it flung truth to the ground and prospered in whatever it did. Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long until the fulfillment of the vision of the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled?” He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be properly restored.”
10 Daniel 4:35 All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”

Daniel 11:3 Summary

This verse is talking about a powerful king who will come and rule with great authority, doing whatever he wants. This king is likely Alexander the Great, who was a real historical figure. The Bible is saying that even though this king may seem all-powerful, God is still in control, as seen in verses like Psalm 24:1 and Isaiah 40:15-17. We can learn from this verse to trust in God's sovereignty, even when human leaders seem to have all the power, and to remember that our ultimate authority is God, as stated in Romans 13:1-7 and Revelation 19:6.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the mighty king mentioned in Daniel 11:3?

The mighty king in Daniel 11:3 is often interpreted as Alexander the Great, who conquered a vast portion of the known world and ruled with great authority, as seen in historical records and supported by Bible verses such as Daniel 8:5-8 and Daniel 10:20.

What does it mean that the king will 'do as he pleases'?

The phrase 'do as he pleases' suggests that the king will have absolute power and will not be restrained by anyone or anything, similar to the descriptions of God's sovereignty in Psalm 115:3 and Jeremiah 32:17.

Is this verse talking about a good king or a bad king?

The Bible does not explicitly state whether the king is good or bad, but his actions and the consequences that follow, as described in Daniel 11:4, suggest that his rule may be characterized by pride and a lack of regard for God's sovereignty, as warned against in Proverbs 16:18.

How does this verse relate to the rest of the book of Daniel?

Daniel 11:3 is part of a larger prophecy about the rise and fall of kingdoms, including the Medo-Persian and Greek empires, which is a central theme in the book of Daniel, as seen in Daniel 2:36-45 and Daniel 7:1-14.

Reflection Questions

  1. What are some ways that humans, like the mighty king, try to exert control over their lives and circumstances, and how can we learn to trust in God's sovereignty instead?
  2. How can we balance the desire for authority and leadership with humility and a recognition of God's ultimate power, as seen in verses like Matthew 20:25-28 and Mark 10:42-45?
  3. What are some areas in our own lives where we may be trying to 'do as we please' without considering God's will, and how can we surrender those areas to Him, as encouraged in Romans 12:1-2 and Galatians 2:20?
  4. In what ways can we, as believers, be a witness to the truth of God's sovereignty in a world that often values human power and control, as seen in verses like Daniel 4:34-35 and Acts 17:24-31?

Gill's Exposition on Daniel 11:3

And a mighty king shall stand up,.... Not in Persia, but in Greece; Alexander the great, who rose up a hundred years after the above expedition of Xerxes, and "stood" and flourished, and conquered

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Daniel 11:3

And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Daniel 11:3

This was Alexander the Great, the he-goat, who, moved with choler for the Persian invasion, run down the ram and stamped on it, and got a golden fleece from him by that, and after many victories; afterward he did according to his will, even what he would without controlment, by any. See ,8.

Trapp's Commentary on Daniel 11:3

Daniel 11:3 And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.Ver. 3. But a mighty king shall stand up.] Alexander the Great, the founder of the Greek monarchy; who, with thirty thousand footmen, and five thousand horsemen, overran and subdued a great part of the habitable world. See Daniel 8:1-27. The devil, by his oracles, foretold him of his victories, having stolen his skill out of this prophecy of Daniel.

Ellicott's Commentary on Daniel 11:3

(3) A mighty king.—No clue is given to show over what nation this king reigns. According to the context he might be either a Greek or a Persian, or he might belong to a kingdom not yet mentioned. Those who explain what follows to refer to the Ptolemies and Seleucidæ identify him with Alexander the Great, and compare with this verse Daniel 7:6; Daniel 8:5-8; Daniel 8:21-22. Certainly the self-will spoken of in this verse was characteristic of Alexander (comp. also Daniel 8:4), but there was nothing in the context which makes it necessary to limit the passage to him. Some autocrat may arise “in the latter times” to whom it will apply with greater force than it did to Alexander.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Daniel 11:3

Verse 3. A mighty king shall stand up] This was Alexander the Great. It is not said that this mighty king shall stand up against Xerxes, for he was not born till one hundred years after that monarch; but simply that he should stand up, i.e., that he should reign in Greece.

Cambridge Bible on Daniel 11:3

3. Alexander the Great (b.c. 336–323). The writer, passing over the intermediate Persian rulers, hastens to the period when the course of events begins to affect the Jews, limiting what he has to say respecting the whole of the Persian empire, and the founder of the Greek empire, to a single verse in each case. a warrior king] The regular meaning of gibbôr (‘mighty man’) in Heb.: e.g. 2 Samuel 1:9; 2 Samuel 23:8, 1 Kings 1:8; 1 Kings 1:10, Isaiah 42:13, &c. do according to his will] carry out whatever he wishes: an expression implying the possession of irresistible and irresponsible power. Cf. Quintus Curtius x. 5, 35, ‘Huius [fortunae] beneficio agere videbatur gentibus quidquid placebat.’ Comp. on Daniel 8:4; and below Daniel 11:16; Daniel 11:36.

Barnes' Notes on Daniel 11:3

And a mighty king shall stand up - So far as the language here is concerned, it is not said whether this would be in Persia, as a successor of the “fourth king” Daniel 11:2, or whether it would be in some other part of the world.

Whedon's Commentary on Daniel 11:3

3. A mighty king — This was Alexander the Great, as identified in the next verse. It is not stated that this king succeeds Xerxes immediately. He was in fact separated from him by several rulers.

Sermons on Daniel 11:3

SermonDescription
Joseph Balsan Atlantic Lyman conf.1972-02 Studies in Daniel 11 by Joseph Balsan In this sermon, the speaker discusses the prophecy in the book of Daniel regarding the rise and fall of kings in Persia and Greece. The angel reveals that there will be three kings
Willie Mullan (Common Market) the Time of Thr Toes Appearing by Willie Mullan In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power and authority of the word of God, stating that it will ultimately rule the world. He highlights the importance of getting everyone
John F. Walvoord The Kingdom of Greece by John F. Walvoord John F. Walvoord delves into the prophecy of Daniel, focusing on the rise and conquests of the Grecian Empire under Alexander the Great. The accuracy of Daniel's prophecies regardi
John F. Walvoord The King of the North by John F. Walvoord John F. Walvoord preaches about the prophetic significance of the great world conflict predicted in the Scriptures, involving a revived Roman Empire, a ten-nation confederacy, and
John Gill 2 Peter 2:18 by John Gill John Gill emphasizes the dangers posed by false teachers who use grandiose and empty rhetoric to mislead believers. He explains that these individuals boast of their knowledge and
John F. Walvoord World History From Darius to the Time of the End by John F. Walvoord In this sermon, John F. Walvoord delves into the detailed prophecy of Daniel 11, highlighting the transition from the historical fulfillment of events with Antiochus Epiphanes to t
Derek Prince Authority and God's Word - Part 2 by Derek Prince This sermon delves into the profound nature of God's Word as described in Hebrews 4:12, emphasizing its living and powerful essence that penetrates the deepest parts of our being.
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