Daniel 10:13
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. | However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. | But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedA heavenly messenger tells Daniel why his answer came only after a delay. Daniel's words were heard on the first day, but the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood the messenger for twenty-one days until Michael came to help. Those twenty-one days match the three full weeks Daniel spent mourning and fasting. Daniel 10:12Daniel 10:13Daniel 10:2Daniel 10:3
Commonly taken out of context
How it’s often usedQuoted to teach that unanswered prayer means demons are blocking it, so believers must wage warfare against territorial spirits to break through.
In contextDaniel's words were heard from the first day, so the verse does not say his prayer was blocked. Daniel mourned, fasted and sought understanding; the messenger and Michael did the fighting. Even Michael would not rail against the devil but said, "The Lord rebuke thee." Daniel 10:12Daniel 10:13Daniel 10:2Daniel 10:3Daniel 10:20Jude 1:9
SpeakingA man clothed in linen, with a face like lightning and eyes like lamps of fire, who says he was sent to Daniel. The chapter does not name him. Daniel 10:5Daniel 10:6Daniel 10:11
ToDaniel, called "a man greatly beloved," who had mourned and fasted three weeks and set his heart to understand. Daniel 10:11Daniel 10:2Daniel 10:12
Also involvedThe prince of the kingdom of Persia, who opposed the messenger, and Michael, "one of the chief princes." Elsewhere Daniel calls Michael "your prince" and "the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people." Daniel 10:13Daniel 10:21Daniel 12:1
The messenger explains his delay. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood him for twenty-one days, and Michael came to help him. The messenger says he will return to fight with the prince of Persia, and then the prince of Grecia will come. Daniel 10:13Daniel 10:20Daniel 10:21
Daniel saw the vision beside the great river Hiddekel. The opposition the messenger describes concerned the kingdom of Persia, where he says "I remained there with the kings of Persia." Daniel 10:4Daniel 10:13Persia
The eventsThe vision came in the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, on the twenty-fourth day of the first month. The book's overview dates the third year of Cyrus to about 536 BC. Daniel 10:1Daniel 10:4Daniel overview
WrittenTraditional: written by Daniel in the 500s BC. Scholarly: many critical scholars date the book's final form to about 167-164 BC under Antiochus IV, while others hold to the traditional date. Daniel overview
HereThe verse explains the delay and assures Daniel that he was heard. It leads into the messenger's purpose: to make Daniel understand what shall befall his people in the latter days. Daniel 10:12Daniel 10:14
In the whole of ScriptureDaniel teaches that the most High rules in the kingdom of men and sets up and removes kings. In this chapter God's message still reaches Daniel despite opposition, and Michael stands for God's people. Daniel overviewDaniel 10:12Daniel 12:1
For readersA delay is not proof that God did not hear, for Daniel was heard from the first day. Other Scripture shows Michael and his angels fighting the dragon, and calls Christ "the head of all principality and power." Daniel 10:12Revelation 12:7Colossians 2:10
Christians read this differently
No Scripture names who "the prince of the kingdom of Persia" is. Many read him as a hostile spiritual power over Persia, since he fights a heavenly messenger, is set apart from "the kings of Persia," and is opposed by Michael, also called a prince. Others read him as human opposition at the Persian court, such as the opposition to Judah under Persian kings recorded in Ezra 4. Daniel 10:13Daniel 10:20Daniel 12:1Strong's H8269Ezra 4:4Ezra 4:6
- princeשַׂר
The word means ruler, leader, or commander, and one listed sense is "patron-angel." The same title is used for Michael, "one of the chief princes" and "your prince." Strong's H8269Daniel 10:13Daniel 10:21Daniel 12:1
- withstood (stood)עָמַד
The word means to stand or take one's stand, including to make a stand or rise up against. Here the prince stood "before" the messenger, in front of him, for twenty-one days. Strong's H5975GStrong's H5048Daniel 10:13
- chiefרִאשׁוֹן
The word means first, foremost, or chief in degree. Michael is one of the foremost princes; Daniel 12:1 calls him "the great prince" and Jude 1:9 calls him "the archangel." Strong's H7223IDaniel 12:1Jude 1:9
- Michaelמִיכָאֵל
The name means "who is like God." The lexicon describes him as the chief archangel who stands in time of conflict for the children of Israel, as Daniel 12:1 says. Strong's H4317QDaniel 12:1
Takeaway
God heard Daniel at once, even while the answer was delayed by opposition Daniel did not see. God's people are not forgotten, for Michael stands for them and the most High rules in the kingdom of men. Daniel 10:12Daniel 10:13Daniel 12:1Daniel overview
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
About 605-536 BC. King of Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC). Where Daniel lived and served for about seventy years. The capital of the Babylonian empire, on the Euphrates south of modern Baghdad, in the land the Bible calls Shinar and Chaldea.
Who ruled
- King of BabylonNebuchadnezzar605-562 BC
The king who besieged Jerusalem, carried Daniel and the temple vessels to Babylon, and later destroyed the city and temple. His own building inscriptions boast of the Babylon he built. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 24:12 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 25:1Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- Last king of Babylon, and his son who ruled in his placeNabonidus and Belshazzar556-539 BC
Nabonidus spent about ten years at the oasis of Tema in Arabia and left his son Belshazzar to rule in Babylon. That is why Belshazzar could only offer Daniel the place of "third ruler in the kingdom": he was himself second. Daniel 5:1Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:29Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Verse Account of Nabonidus
- Received the kingdom after Babylon fellDarius the MedianFrom 539 BC
Daniel says he "took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old" and set 120 princes over it. Records outside the Bible do not name him; he has been identified with Gubaru, the governor Cyrus set over Babylon, or with Cyrus himself. Daniel 5:31Daniel 6:1Daniel 9:1Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)
- King of PersiaCyrus559-530 BC
He united the Medes and Persians, took Babylon in 539 BC, and let the exiles go home to rebuild the temple, as Isaiah had named him beforehand. Daniel 1:21Daniel 6:28Daniel 10:1Ezra 1:1-4Isaiah 44:28-45:1Cyrus Cylinder
- King of JudahJehoiakim609-598 BC
Judah's king when Daniel was taken. Jeremiah warned him and his people that the land would serve Babylon seventy years. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 23:36-24:6Jeremiah 25:1-11
What was happening, 612 BC to 167 BC
- 612 BCWarNineveh falls
Babylon and the Medes destroyed Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as Nahum and Zephaniah had foretold. Babylon became the great power of the region. Nahum 3:7Zephaniah 2:13Fall of Nineveh Chronicle (ABC 3)
- 605 BCWarBattle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Carchemish on the Euphrates, in Jehoiakim's fourth year. The same year he came against Jerusalem and took the first captives, Daniel among them. Jeremiah 46:2Daniel 1:1-4Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 597 BCWarJerusalem surrenders
Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiachin, his nobles and craftsmen to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel went into exile with them. 2 Kings 24:10-17Ezekiel 1:2Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 586 BCWarJerusalem and the temple destroyed
Babylon's army burned the temple and the city and broke down its walls. Daniel later prays over "the desolations of Jerusalem" and asks God to shine on his "sanctuary that is desolate." 2 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 52:12-14Daniel 9:2Daniel 9:17
- c. 575 BCBuildingBabylon rebuilt in splendor
Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon with great walls, palaces and the blue-glazed Ishtar Gate, and his inscriptions praise his own work. Compare his boast: "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?" Daniel 4:30Nebuchadnezzar's East India House InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 1.178-183
- 562 BCRulersNebuchadnezzar dies
His son Evil-merodach became king and released Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 2 Kings 25:27-30Jeremiah 52:31-34
- c. 553-543 BCRulersNabonidus leaves Babylon to Belshazzar
King Nabonidus stayed at Tema in Arabia for about ten years, and the yearly New Year festival in Babylon was not held. Belshazzar governed in Babylon. Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Daniel 5:1Daniel 7:1
- 550 BCWarCyrus unites the Medes and Persians
Cyrus of Persia defeated Astyages king of the Medes, joining the two peoples in one kingdom. Daniel's vision names the ram's two horns as "the kings of Media and Persia," the higher coming up last. Daniel 8:3Daniel 8:20Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.127-130
- October 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus's army entered Babylon without a long siege. Herodotus says the people were feasting when the city was taken. Daniel records that "in that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain." Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.191Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleCyrus lets the exiles return
In his first year over Babylon, Cyrus proclaimed that the Jews could go back and build the LORD's house in Jerusalem. Daniel "continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus." Ezra 1:1-42 Chronicles 36:22-23Daniel 1:21Cyrus Cylinder
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe temple's foundation is laid
The returned exiles rebuilt the altar and laid the foundation of the temple. In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel was still in the east, mourning and praying. Ezra 3:1-11Daniel 10:1-3
- 334-331 BCWarAlexander the Great conquers Persia
Alexander of Macedon crossed into Asia and overthrew the Persian empire within four years. Daniel 8:21 names the rough goat as "the king of Grecia" and its great horn as "the first king." Daniel 8:5-8Daniel 8:21Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 1-3
- 323-301 BCWarAlexander's empire is divided
Alexander died young, and after twenty years of war his generals divided his empire, chiefly into four kingdoms. Daniel 8:22 says "four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." Daniel 8:8Daniel 8:22Daniel 11:4Diodorus Siculus, Library 18-20Plutarch, Demetrius 28-30
- 167 BCWarAntiochus IV defiles the temple
The Greek king Antiochus IV banned Jewish worship and set up a pagan altar on the altar of burnt offering. 1 Maccabees calls it "the abomination of desolation." Two centuries later Jesus spoke of "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" as still to come. 1 Maccabees 1:54-59Josephus, Antiquities 12.5.4Matthew 24:15
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records of these years (the Babylonian Chronicles, the Cyrus Cylinder, Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Diodorus, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Where
- Persia regionMapAbout this place
Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and [the] prince of | וְשַׂ֣ר׀ | ve-SAR | H8269 | rulerשַׂר (sar) 1) prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain 1a) chieftain, leader 1b) vassal, noble, official (under king) 1c) captain, general, commander (military) 1d) chief, head, overseer (of other official classes) 1e) heads, princes (of religious office) 1f) elders (of representative leaders of people) 1g) merchant-princes (of rank and dignity) 1h) patron-angel 1i) Ruler of rulers (of God) 1j) warden |
| [the] kingdom of | מַלְכ֣וּת | mal-KHUT | H4438 | kingdomמַלְכוּ (mal.khu) 1) royalty, reign, kingdom 1a) royalty, kingship, kingly authority 1b) kingdom 1c) realm (of territory) 1d) reign (of time) |
| Persia | פָּרַ֗ס | pa-RAS | H6539 | Persiaאֲפָֽרְסָיֵא (a.pha.re.say) Persia or Apharsite = "causers of division (?)" (CLBL) an unknown office (TWOT) perhaps a title of an official Another spelling of pa.ras (פָּרַס "Persia" H6539) |
| [was] standing | עֹמֵ֤ד | 'o-MED | H5975G | to stand: standעָמַד (a.mad) : 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 … |
| to before me | לְנֶגְדִּי֙ | le-neg-DI | H5048 | beforeנֶ֫גֶד (ne.ged) subst 1) what is conspicuous, what is in front of adv 2) in front of, straight forward, before, in sight of 3) in front of oneself, straightforward 4) before your face, in your view or purpose with prep 5) what is in front of, corresponding to 6) in front of, before 7) in the sight or presence of 8) parallel to 9) over, for 10) in front, opposite 11) at a distance prep 12) from the front of, away from 13) from before the eyes of, opposite to, at a distance from 14) from before, in front of 15) as far as the front of Aramaic equivalent: ne.ged (נֶ֫גֶד "before" H5049) |
| twenty | עֶשְׂרִ֣ים | 'es-RIM | H6242 | twentyעֶשְׂרִים (es.rim) twenty, twentieth Aramaic equivalent: es.rin (עֶשְׂרִין "twenty" H6243) |
| and one | וְאֶחָ֣ד | ve-'e-CHAD | H0259 | oneאֶחָד (e.chad) 1) one (number) 1a) one (number) 1b) each, every 1c) a certain 1d) an (indefinite article) 1e) only, once, once for all 1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one 1g) first 1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal) |
| day[s] | י֔וֹם | Yom | H3117G | dayיוֹם (yom) : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow |
| and there! | וְהִנֵּ֣ה | ve-hi-NEH | H2009 | beholdהִנֵּה (hin.neh) behold, lo, see, if |
| Michael | מִֽיכָאֵ֗ל | mi-kha-'EL | H4317Q | Michaelמִיכָאֵל (mi.kha.el) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.10.13 Also named: Michaēl (Μιχαήλ "Michael" G3413) § Michael = "who is like God" 1) one of, the chief, or the first archangel who is described as the one who stands in time of conflict for the children of Israel 2) an Asherite, father of Sethur, one of the 12 spies of Israel 3) one of the Gadites who settled in the land of Bashan 4) another Gadite, ancestor of Abihail 5) a Gershonite Levite, ancestor of Asaph 6) one of the 5 sons of Izrahiah of the tribe of Issachar 7) a Benjamite of the sons of Beriah … |
| one of | אַחַ֛ד | 'a-CHAD | H0259 | oneאֶחָד (e.chad) 1) one (number) 1a) one (number) 1b) each, every 1c) a certain 1d) an (indefinite article) 1e) only, once, once for all 1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one 1g) first 1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal) |
| the princes | הַשָּׂרִ֥ים | ha-sa-RIM | H8269 | rulerשַׂר (sar) 1) prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain 1a) chieftain, leader 1b) vassal, noble, official (under king) 1c) captain, general, commander (military) 1d) chief, head, overseer (of other official classes) 1e) heads, princes (of religious office) 1f) elders (of representative leaders of people) 1g) merchant-princes (of rank and dignity) 1h) patron-angel 1i) Ruler of rulers (of God) 1j) warden |
| the chief | הָרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים | ha-ri-sho-NIM | H7223I | firstרִאשׁוֹן (ri.shon) : first adj 1) first, primary, former 1a) former (of time) 1a1) ancestors 1a2) former things 1b) foremost (of location) 1c) first (in time) 1d) first, chief (in degree) adv 2) first, before, formerly, at first |
| he came | בָּ֣א | ba' | H0935G | to come (in): comeבּוֹא (bo) : come/go_in 1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to enter, come in 1a2) to come 1a2a) to come with 1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy) 1a2c) to come to pass 1a3) to attain to 1a4) to be enumerated 1a5) to go 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to lead in 1b2) to carry in 1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon 1b4) to bring to pass 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be brought, brought in 1c2) to be introduced, be put |
| to help me | לְעָזְרֵ֑נִי | le-'a-ze-RE-ni | H5826 | to helpעָזַר (a.zar) 1) to help, succour, support 1a) (Qal) to help 1b) (Niphal) to be helped 1c) (Hiphil) to help |
| and I | וַאֲנִי֙ | va-'a-NI | H0589 | meאֲנָא (a.na) I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis) Aramaic of a.ni (אֲנִי, אָֽנֹכִ֫י "I" H0589) |
| I remained behind | נוֹתַ֣רְתִּי | no-TAR-ti | H3498 | to remainיָתַר (ya.tar) 1) to be left over, remain, remain over, leave 1a) (Qal) remainder (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be left over, remain over, be left behind 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to leave over, leave 1c2) to save over, preserve alive 1c3) to excel, show pre-eminence 1c4) to show excess, have more than enough, have an excess |
| there | שָׁ֔ם | Sham | H8033G | thereשָׁם (sham) 1) there, thither 1a) there 1b) thither (after verbs of motion) 1c) from there, thence 1d) then (as an adverb of time) Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536) |
| beside | אֵ֖צֶל | 'E-tzel | H0681 | besideאֵ֫צֶל (e.tsel) 1) beside, by, near, nearness, joining, proximity subst 2) (BDB) 2a) conjunction, proximity 2b) beside, in proximity, contiguous to, from beside |
| [the] kings of | מַלְכֵ֥י | mal-KHEI | H4428G | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) 1) king Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430) |
| Persia | פָרָֽס׃ | fa-RAS | H6539 | Persiaאֲפָֽרְסָיֵא (a.pha.re.say) Persia or Apharsite = "causers of division (?)" (CLBL) an unknown office (TWOT) perhaps a title of an official Another spelling of pa.ras (פָּרַס "Persia" H6539) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.