The Prince of Persia

After Daniel had mourned and fasted for three weeks, a glorious heavenly messenger came to him and explained the delay: '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.' He added that he would return to fight with the prince of Persia, and that the prince of Grecia would come. Most interpreters understand these princes as spiritual powers opposed to God and linked to earthly empires, since it took Michael to resist them, though some have taken the prince of Persia as a human ruler. The passage pulls back the curtain on unseen conflict behind world history, echoing Paul's words about 'principalities' and 'spiritual wickedness in high places.'

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Strongest connections in Scripture

Daniel 10 2×

Key Passages

The Prince of Persia Withstood Me

Daniel 10:12-14

Daniel's prayer was heard from the first day, but the answer was delayed by unseen opposition.

T¹²hen said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

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. ¹⁴ Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

The Prince of Grecia Shall Come

Daniel 10:20-21

The messenger returns to the battle, with Michael standing with him for Daniel's people.

T²⁰hen said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.

²¹ But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.