Daniel 11:40 · Bible study
Daniel 11:40 Commentary: The King of the North's Whirlwind Assault
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Discover what Daniel 11:40 reveals about the final conflict between the king of the south and king of the north, and how it has been interpreted throughout
Research Summary
- Meaning: A climactic conflict at the time of the end, where the king of the north launches a sudden, overwhelming invasion.
- Key words: 'end' (qets H7093), a divinely set point; 'storm' (yis.ta.‘Er H8175), a violent rush; 'overflow' (sha.taph H7857), flood-like conquest.
- Main debate: Whether this refers to Antiochus Epiphanes, the Saracens and Turks, or a future Antichrist.
- Teological theme: God's sovereignty over history, even when evil powers seem to triumph.
- Best use: A lens for understanding apocalyptic prophecy and its application to both past and future conflict.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships, invading many countries and sweeping through them like a flood.
WEB World English Bible 2000
“At the time of the end the king of the south will contend with him; and the king of the north will come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships. He will enter into the countries, and will overflow and pass through.
KJV King James Version 1769
And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And at the time of the end shall the king of the south contend with him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`And at the time of the end, push himself forward with him doth a king of the south, and storm against him doth a king of the north, with chariot, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he hath come in to the lands, and hath overflowed, and passed over,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and overflow and pass through.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And at the time prefixed the king of the south shall fight against him, and the king of the north shall come against him like a tempest, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with a great navy, and he shall enter into the countries, and shall destroy, and pass through.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Empero al cabo del tiempo el rey del mediodía se acorneará con él; y el rey del norte levantará contra él como tempestad, con carros y gente de á caballo, y muchos navíos; y entrará por las tierras, é inundará, y pasará.
E no tempo do fim o rei do sul lutará contra ele; e o rei do norte levantará como tempestade contra ele, com carruagens, cavaleiros, e muitos navios; e entrará pelas terras, arruinará como se fosse inundação, e passará.
Au temps de la fin, le roi du midi se heurtera contre lui. Et le roi du septentrion fondra sur lui comme une tempête, avec des chars et des cavaliers, et avec de nombreux navires; il s’avancera dans les terres, se répandra comme un torrent et débordera.
Und am Ende wird sich der König gegen Mittag mit ihm messen; und der König gegen Mitternacht wird gegen ihn stürmen mit Wagen, Reitern und vielen Schiffen und wird in die Länder fallen und verderben und durchziehen
En op den tijd van het einde, zal de koning van het Zuiden tegen hem met hoornen stoten; en de koning van het Noorden zal tegen hem aanstormen, met wagenen, en met ruiteren, en met vele schepen; en hij zal in de landen komen, en hij zal ze overstromen en doortrekken.
E al tempo della fine, il re del mezzogiorno verrà a cozzo con lui; e il re del settentrione gli piomberà addosso come la tempesta, con carri e cavalieri, e con molte navi; penetrerà ne’ paesi e, tutto inondando, passerà oltre.
A przy skończeniu tego czasu będzie się z nim potykał król z południa; ale król północny jako burza nań przyjdzie z wozami i z jezdnymi i z wielą okrętów, a wtargnie w ziemię, i jako powódź przejdzie.
Под конец же времени сразится с ним царь южный, и царь северный устремится как буря на него с колесницами, всадниками и многочисленными кораблями, и нападет на области, наводнит их, и пройдет через них.
到末了，南方 王 要與他 交戰。北方 王 必用戰車、馬兵，和許多 戰船，勢如暴風 來攻擊他，也必進入 列國，如洪水氾濫。
And at the time of the end, the king of the south will make an attack on him: and the king of the north will come against him like a storm-wind, with war-carriages and horsemen and numbers of ships; and he will go through many lands like overflowing waters.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Daniel 11:40
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse marks a decisive transition in Daniel's prophecy, a climactic conflict at 'the time of the end.' However, they disagree sharply on the identity of the kings. Adam Clarke and John Gill, along with the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary, interpret the king of the South as the Saracen Arabs and the king of the North as the Ottoman Turks, seeing a historical fulfillment in the rise of Islam and the Turkish empire. John Calvin saw the kings as Egypt and Syria, then applied the conflict to the wars between Romans and Egyptians. The Cambridge Bible notes the historical difficulty of applying this to Antiochus Epiphanes, since no ancient historian except Porphyry records a later Egyptian campaign. Keil and Delitzsch reject the Porphyry tradition and see the passage as describing Antiochus' final, failed eastern expedition instead. Matthew Henry read the passage as a continuation of the narrative of Antiochus. What all agree on: the imagery of whirlwind, chariots, horsemen, and ships depicts an overwhelming military invasion, and the 'time of the end' signals a God-ordained moment of culmination.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: High
Main views:
- Antiochus Epiphanes' final campaign: Porphyry, preserved by Jerome, claimed Antiochus made a fourth Egyptian expedition in his eleventh year, but this is disputed by other historians.
- Recapitulation of previous events: Lange and some modern scholars see verses 40-45 as a summarizing résumé of Antiochus' earlier campaigns (vv.22-39).
- Saracens and Turks: Clarke, Gill, and JFB interpret the king of the south as the Saracen Arabs and the king of the north as Ottoman Turks, based on historical invasions from those directions.
- Final Antichrist: Futurist interpreters apply the passage to a yet-future end-times ruler, linking 'time of the end' with Daniel 12 and New Testament prophecy.
What is clear: The verse depicts a divinely appointed moment when the king of the north launches a sudden, overwhelming invasion, sweeping through many countries like a flood.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the kings of the South and North | Commentators agree these terms originate in the historical Ptolemaic and Seleucid kingdoms of Egypt and Syria. | Some (Clarke, Gill, JFB) see them as Saracens and Turks; others (Calvin) as Romans and Egyptians; others (Cambridge, Keil) as modified references to Antiochus himself; many futurists see end-times nations. |
| Historical referent for the passage | The passage describes a final conflict at the end of a series of events. | Whether that end was near (Antiochus' reign) or far (the rise of Islam, the Ottoman empire, or the eschatological future) is disputed. |
| The nature of 'the time of the end' | The phrase echoes Daniel 8:17 and indicates a crucial turning point. | Interpreters differ on whether it refers to the end of Antiochus' career, the end of the Maccabean age, or the consummation of history. |
| The military language and its significance | Chariots, horsemen, and ships denote full-scale, overwhelming warfare. | Some see it as literal description of ancient warfare; others see it as symbolic of later powers (e.g., horse tails for the Turks). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Daniel 11 provides a detailed prophecy of conflicts between the Kingdom of the North (the Seleucid Empire) and the Kingdom of the South (the Ptolemaic Empire). From the Maccabean period onward, Judea lay between these powers. By verse 40, the prophecy has covered the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the 'little horn' figure. The phrase 'at the time of the end' directly echoes Daniel 8:17, where the angel tells Daniel that the 'vision belongs to the time of the end.' This signals a transition from detailed history to a broader, climactic period in God's plan.
The military language, 'whirlwind,' 'chariots,' 'horsemen,' 'many ships', evokes the rapid, devastating invasions of the ancient Near East. The Hebrew verb יִשְׂתָּעֵר (yis·ta·r, 'storm') appears only here in this form; it suggests a violent tempest. Isaiah 5:28 and Jeremiah 4:13 use similar imagery of chariots as a whirlwind. The 'king of the north' comes against 'him', the same man described in verses 36-39, who exalts himself above every god. Historically, no ancient source other than Porphyry records a fourth Egyptian campaign by Antiochus. The Maccabean books describe his final expedition to the east (1 Maccabees 3-6). This leaves the passage open to interpretations that see a pattern: the historical Antiochus serves as a type for later persecuting powers.
From the Reformation onward, Adam Clarke and John Gill identified the king of the south with the Saracen Arabs and the king of the north with the Ottoman Turks. Calvin applied the conflict to the struggle between Rome and Egypt. The mention of 'many ships' is particularly striking for a northern power, but the Ottomans did develop a powerful navy. Thus, the historical context is both anchored in the Hellenistic world and pointing forward to future fulfillments.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Daniel 11:40. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscript traditions.
Reception History
Early Christian interpreters often followed the lead of Porphyry, as recorded by Jerome, in understanding these kings as Antiochus Epiphanes and the Ptolemies. The literal-historical school of Antioch maintained this reading. After the Reformation, many Protestant exegetes expanded the scope: John Calvin saw the conflict involving the Romans and Egyptians; Adam Clarke and John Gill identified the kings with the Saracen Arabs and Ottoman Turks, viewing the fall of Constantinople in 1453 as a key fulfillment. The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary also took this view, seeing the Turks as the 'king of the north' whose horsemen were their chief strength. In modern times, some scholars (Lange, Keil-Delitzsch) question the historical viability of a fourth Egyptian campaign by Antiochus and instead see a recapitulation or a symbolic summary. The verse continues to be read in both historicist and futurist eschatological systems, highlighting its enduring significance for Christian hope.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Appointed Time, The phrase 'at the time of the end' reminds us that God has set a specific moment for this conflict (Daniel 8:17). No human power can hasten or delay it.
- The Clash of Kingdoms, The king of the south initiates the conflict, but the king of the north responds with overwhelming force. Earthly powers jostle for supremacy, yet God uses their rivalry to accomplish His purposes.
- The Overwhelming Advance, The whirlwind, chariots, horsemen, ships, and flood imagery paint a picture of an unstoppable invasion. Yet the verse is part of a larger narrative where the oppressor meets his end (vv.44-45).
Five-point outline
- The Setting: 'At the time of the end', This marks a God-ordained moment in the prophetic calendar (Daniel 8:17).
- The Provocation: 'the king of the south will contend with him', The southern power makes the first move.
- The Response: 'the king of the north will come against him like a whirlwind', A sudden, violent counterattack, as described in Jeremiah 4:13.
- The Armaments: 'with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships', The full military might of the ancient (or later) world is deployed.
- The Conquest: 'He will enter into the countries, and will overflow and pass through', A sweeping invasion, using the Hebrew verb sha.taph (to overflow), like a flood that cannot be stopped.
Illustration hooks
- The way a hurricane is tracked for days, yet when it makes landfall the actual force is far greater than expected, the northern king's arrival is similarly sudden and devastating.
- Watching two large storm systems collide on a weather map; the verse pictures the clash of two powerful forces, with one gaining dominance.
- The experience of a small nation caught between superpowers during the Cold War, unable to control its own fate, something like this is felt by Judah in this prophecy.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is this verse about past history, or is it something yet to come?
- Who are the 'king of the south' and 'king of the north' today?
- If these empires are wicked, why does God allow them to succeed so dramatically?
Leading a Discussion
This verse marks a climactic moment in Daniel's prophecy. It focuses on a final, decisive conflict at an appointed time. For centuries, Christians have wrestled with the identity of these kings. What does this passage teach us about God's sovereignty and the reality of conflict in a fallen world? Let's study it together.
Discussion questions
- Read Daniel 11:40 alongside Daniel 8:17. What does 'the time of the end' mean in both contexts?
- The verse uses vivid Hebrew verbs: 'contend' (yit·na·Gach, literally 'to push with horns') and 'storm' (yis·ta·'Er, 'to be stormy'). How do these words shape your understanding of the conflict?
- The king of the north attacks 'with chariots, horsemen, and many ships.' Look up Jeremiah 4:13 and Isaiah 5:28. How does the Bible use these images elsewhere?
- Why do you think commentators disagree about who these kings are? Does the disagreement affect the main point of the prophecy?
- Some see Antiochus Epiphanes as the main subject, while others see a double fulfillment in later history or the end times. Which view seems most faithful to the text, and why?
- How does the certainty of 'the time of the end' bring comfort when we see wars and conflicts around the world?
- What does this verse teach us about trusting God's plan, even when it involves suffering and conquest by evil powers?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Isaiah 5:28 | whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent. Their horses’ hoofs will be like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind. |
| Isaiah 21:1 | The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from an awesome land. |
| Isaiah 66:15 | For, behold, Yahweh will come with fire, and his chariots will be like the whirlwind; to give his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire. |
| Jeremiah 4:13 | Behold, he will come up as clouds, and his chariots will be as the whirlwind. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! For we are ruined. |
| Ezekiel 38:4 | I will turn you around, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, with all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords; |
| Ezekiel 38:14 | “Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and tell Gog, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “In that day when my people Israel dwells securely, will you not know it? |
| Ezekiel 38:18 | It will happen in that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh, “that my wrath will come up into my nostrils. |
| Daniel 8:17 | So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was frightened, and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, for the vision belongs to the time of the end.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke identifies the king of the south as the Saracens under Mohammed, who pushed against the Greek emperor Heraclius and seized Egypt and Syria. The king of the north represents the Turks, who overwhelmed the remains of the Greek empire and took Constantinople in 1453. For Clarke, these later powers, not the ancient kingdoms, fulfill the prophecy.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes argues that "the time of the end" in this passage refers to the conclusion of the entire 350-year series of events, not just the end of Antiochus's reign. He sees verses 40-45 as a recapitulation that sums up how Antiochus's brief, disastrous rule would bring that long history to a close, rejecting forced interpretations that apply these events to Antichrist.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin refuses to fix a precise time for the predicted conflict, cautioning that the angel only meant to warn the faithful to stand firm through coming upheavals. He reads the struggle as one between Rome and Egypt, with Egypt sometimes joining Syria against the Romans. The focus falls on the difficulty of these wars, not a detailed timeline.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator argues that the events here likely never happened historically. No external source confirms a fourth Egyptian campaign by Antiochus, and later accounts appear to be derived from the language of Daniel itself. The passage is best understood as an imaginative depiction of the tyrant's downfall, modeled on Isaiah's account of Sennacherib's ruin.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And at ye end of time shall the King of the South push at him, and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlewind with charets, and with horsemen, and with many ships, and he shall enter into ye countreis, and shall ouerflow and passe through.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill identifies the king of the south as the Saracens and the king of the north as the Turks, both forces God used to afflict the antichristian power. He links them to the two woes in Revelation: the locusts and the horsemen, who came suddenly and forcefully against Rome’s spiritual dominion.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the number of Persian kings mentioned here is symbolic, not a precise historical count. This fourfold pattern signals the completed development of that kingdom, parallel to the four world-monarchies in Daniel. He identifies the fourth king as Xerxes, whose wealth and strength mark both the peak and the beginning of Persia's dissolution.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry focuses on the character of Antiochus Epiphanes as a "vile person" who seizes power through flattery and deceit rather than rightful honor. He observes that Antiochus directs his treachery especially against the holy covenant, using lies and betrayal to attack God's people, yet all his schemes remain under God's sovereign timetable and ultimately do not prosper.