Daniel 11:1
in Daniel 11“And I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, stood up to strengthen and protect him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.
KJV
Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.
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This verse in Daniel 11
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Also I - I the angel. He alludes here to what he had done on a former occasion to promote the interests of the Hebrew people, and to secure those arrangements which were necessary for their welfare - particularly in the favorable disposition of Darius the Mede toward them. In the first year of Darius the Mede - See the notes at Dan 5:
This site's exposition
first year of Darius the Mede
The speaker is still the angel, and him means Darius. Albert Barnes and Matthew Henry read the strengthening as the angel securing the favor of Darius toward the Jews. John Calvin heard the angel claim that the Persian king could do nothing except through him.
This site's exposition
the first year of Darius the Mede
on Daniel 11:1-4
“Three more kings will arise in Persia,” then a fourth “far richer than all the others” who stirs everyone against Greece. Keil and Barnes identify the fourth as Xerxes, the “mighty king” as Alexander. This precision is why Porphyry disputed the book's date, and Jerome answered him.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
[The divine angel says,] As soon as Cyrus came to the throne and the end of captivity had been reached, I took my place until I had secured release and liberation for the people.
Verse 1. "And from the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up that he might be strengthened and confirmed."
The Reformation1 voice
I have not the slightest doubt of my present power to restrain these kings, lest they should pour forth their fury upon the people. The full meaning is this, the king of the Persians is nothing, and can do nothing except through me. I was God's servant in transferring the monarchy of the Medes and Chaldeans to the Persians, as well as that of the Babylonians to the Medes.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
): " In the first year of Darius the Mede, who destroyed Babylon and released the Jews out of that house of bondage, I stood a strength and fortress to him, that is, I was instrumental to protect him, and give him success in his ward, and, after he had conquered Babylon, to confirm him in his resolution to release the Jews," which, it is likely, met with much opposition.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
Also I, in the first year of Darius the Mede,....
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
In the first year of Darius the Mede - This is a continuation of the preceding discourse. Bp. Newton, who is ever judicious and instructing, remarks: It is the usual method of the Holy Spirit to make the latter prophecies explanatory of the former; and thus revelation “is a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” The four great empires shown to Nebuchadnezzar, under the symbol of a great image, were again more particularly represented to Daniel under the forms of four great wild beasts. In like manner, the memorable events that were revealed to Daniel in the vision of the ram and he-goat, are here more clearly revealed in this last vision by an angel; so that this latter prophecy may not improperly be said to be a comment on the former. It comprehends many signal events. The types, figures, and symbols of the things are not exhibited in this, as in most other visions, and then expounded by the angel; but the angel relates the whole: and, not by way of vision, but by narration, informs Daniel of that which is noted in the Scripture of truth, Dan 10:21.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַאֲנִי֙ | vaani | and I | H589 → | 874 times |
| בִּשְׁנַ֣ת | bishnat | in year | H8141 → | 877 times |
| אַחַ֔ת | ʾachat | one | H259 → | 971 times |
| לְדָרְיָ֖וֶשׁ | ledareyavesh | of Darius | H1867 → | |
| הַמָּדִ֑י | hamadi | the Mede | H4075 → | |
| עָמְדִ֛י | ʾamedi | standing my | H5975 → | 521 times |
| לְמַחֲזִ֥יק | lemachazik | [was] to a strengthener | H2388 → | 291 times |
| וּלְמָע֖וֹז | ulemaoz | and to a protection | H4581 → | 36 times |
| לֽוֹ׃ | lo | for him |
וַאֲנִי֙and I
vaaniH589 →874 times
בִּשְׁנַ֣תin year
bishnatH8141 →877 times
אַחַ֔תone
ʾachatH259 →971 times
לְדָרְיָ֖וֶשׁof Darius
ledareyaveshH1867 →
הַמָּדִ֑יthe Mede
hamadiH4075 →
עָמְדִ֛יstanding my
ʾamediH5975 →521 times
לְמַחֲזִ֥יק[was] to a strengthener
lemachazikH2388 →291 times
וּלְמָע֖וֹזand to a protection
ulemaozH4581 →36 times
לֽוֹ׃for him
lo
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 14:22strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- 2 Timothy 3:12
Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
- John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- 1 Thessalonians 3:2–4
We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
- Romans 8:17
And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
- 1 Peter 5:10
Through
Daniel 5:31and Darius the Mede received the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.
it leads to
- Daniel 9:1
In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes, a Mede by descent, who was made ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeans—
- Daniel 6:1
Now it pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom,
- Daniel 9:1
Through
Daniel 10:18Again the one with the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.
it leads to
- Daniel 10:16
And suddenly one with the likeness of a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and said to the one standing before me, “My lord, because of the vision, I am overcome…
- Daniel 10:16
Where this verse is studied
About Daniel
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Daniel; Carl Friedrich Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Daniel; Jerome, St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER ELEVEN; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 11:1.