Daniel 11:22 Meaning: Who Is the Prince of the Covenant?
The overwhelming forces will be overwhelmed from before him, and will be broken. Yes, also the prince of the covenant.
And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
And the overwhelming forces shall be overwhelmed from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
And the arms of the flood are overflowed from before him, and are broken; and also the leader of the covenant.
And the overflowing forces shall be overflowed from before him, and shall be broken: yea, also the prince of the covenant.
Meaning in one sentence
Daniel 11:22 describes Antiochus Epiphanes' victory, including the 'prince of the covenant', understood as the high priest Onias III or King Ptolemy Philometor.
Context
Daniel 11 is one of the most detailed prophecies in Scripture. An angel reveals to Daniel a long sequence of conflicts between the kings of the north and the south, the Seleucid and Ptolemaic empires that fought for control after Alexander the Great's death. By verse 21, the focus narrows to a single figure: a contemptible man who seizes power through flattery, not rightful inheritance. Most commentators identify him as Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
Verse 22 describes his early success. The 'overwhelming forces' that come against him are themselves overwhelmed. He defeats every enemy that stands in his path. But the verse ends with a startling detail: also the 'prince of the covenant' falls. This sets up the rest of the chapter, where Antiochus turns against God's people and desecrates the temple. The verse shows that even a covenant relationship cannot provide protection when God allows a ruler to serve His purposes for a time.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight of this verse. First, 'flood' (shetef) paints a picture of a violent downpour or torrent. It appears elsewhere for an overwhelming army, Isaiah calls Assyria 'the mighty flood waters of the River' (Isaiah 8:7). But here the irony runs deep: the flood itself gets flooded.
That happens with the verb 'swept away' (shataph), the Niphal form of the same root. The very thing that overflows others is itself overflowed. The image suggests not just defeat but total reversal, like a wave that breaks and pulls back, carrying everything with it.
Finally, 'prince of the covenant' (nagid berit). Nagid means a leader, often a high priest or royal prince. Berit is a treaty or solemn pledge, whether between people or between God and a nation. This phrase points to someone whose position and safety depend on a covenant. But that covenant could not hold against the flood of Antiochus. The verse leaves us wondering: whose covenant truly stands when the waters rise?
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse in two ways. Many early Protestant commentators, including Calvin, Matthew Henry, and John Wesley, understood the 'prince of the covenant' as Onias III, the high priest who was deposed by Antiochus in 175 BC. They point to historical records showing Antiochus sold the high priesthood to Jason, Onias's brother, for money, and later to Menelaus. Onias's removal broke a centuries-old covenant succession.
Other interpreters, such as Barnes and the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary, identify the prince as Ptolemy Philometor, the young Egyptian king who was Antiochus's nephew and had a treaty with him. Philometor's forces were defeated near Pelusium. Both readings appear across Reformed, Wesleyan, and Baptist traditions. Some Christians also see this verse as a type of a future antichrist who will break a covenant with Israel. The question remains open.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume 'the prince of the covenant' refers to Jesus Christ, the Messiah, because covenant language often points to Him. But in this chapter, the prophecy is firmly rooted in the historical events of the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes. The immediate context, verse 21 describing a contemptible person and verses 23-24 detailing his deceitful rise, places the 'prince' among the rulers of that era. While Christians see prophetic patterns that find ultimate fulfillment in Christ, this specific verse speaks of a leader who was broken by Antiochus, not the One who would break all human powers.
Living This Out
You may feel swept along by forces you cannot control: a boss who makes unreasonable demands, a family situation that keeps escalating, news that makes the world seem dangerous. This verse offers a strange kind of hope. The flood that overpowers everything else will itself be swept away. No matter how strong the pressure feels today, it has a limit.
The 'prince of the covenant' fell, a reminder that even the most sacred human promises can be broken. But the covenant God made with His people is not like that. This week, when you feel overwhelmed, name the flood you are facing. Then hand it to the One who commands the waters. You do not need to be stronger than the flood. You need to know the One who will sweep it away when His time comes.
Main takeaway: Human power can seem overwhelming, but even its greatest strength will be swept away before the God who keeps covenant.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
This verse tells us that even when someone seems very strong, God is stronger. Think of a big wave that looks scary, but it always goes back into the sea. God can stop anything.
For ages 9, 12
In Daniel 11, a powerful king named Antiochus Epiphanes thought he could defeat everyone, including a leader who had made a special promise, a covenant. The verse says his army would sweep through like a flood, but that same flood would be swept away. This teaches us that no matter how strong or clever a person is, God is in charge of history. The person who trusts God’s covenant is safe, even when others break their promises.
Questions People Ask
Who is the 'prince of the covenant' in Daniel 11:22?
Most commentators identify him either as Onias III, the Jewish high priest who was deposed by Antiochus Epiphanes, or as Ptolemy Philometor, the Egyptian king who had a treaty with Antiochus. The Hebrew phrase 'nagid berit' simply means a prince who is bound by a covenant, and the context supports both readings. The interpretation depends on which historical events the reader sees as the primary fulfillment.
What does 'the arms of a flood' mean in Daniel 11:22?
The Hebrew word for 'arms' (zeroa) often refers to military forces or power. 'Flood' (shetef) is a metaphor for an overwhelming invasion. So 'the arms of a flood' means an invading army that sweeps in like a torrent. The verse says that those overwhelming forces will themselves be overwhelmed.
Did Antiochus Epiphanes actually kill the Jewish high priest?
Antiochus deposed Onias III in 175 BC and eventually allowed his death. The high priest was removed from office, and his brother Jason and later Menelaus purchased the position from Antiochus. This broke the traditional succession of the high priesthood, which many Jews saw as a covenant relationship.
Is Daniel 11:22 about the end times or ancient history?
The primary meaning of Daniel 11 is prophetic history covering the Seleucid and Ptolemaic kingdoms, culminating in Antiochus Epiphanes's persecution. Many Christians also see typological patterns that point to a future antichrist. Both readings respect the text, but the immediate historical context is Antiochus's reign.
How does Daniel 11:22 connect to the rest of Daniel's prophecies?
This verse continues the detailed vision that began in Daniel 10. It shows the rise of Antiochus before his later attacks on the temple (Daniel 11:31) and his eventual downfall. The verse echoes imagery from Daniel 8:10-11 and 9:26, where a prince is broken and a flood brings destruction. Together, these passages build a picture of a proud ruler who temporarily prevails but is ultimately crushed.
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