OET interlinear DAN 11:25

11:25a

And with a large army he will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South: The subject of this clause is the king of the North, Antiochus IV. The Hebrew verb that the BSB translates as he will stir up means “he will arouse” or “he will awaken.” This is a figure of speech meaning that the king will encourage himself to do something. In this context the king encouraged himself to confront the king of the South. Historical records indicate that Antiochus did go to war with Egypt in 169 B.C.11:25 See Lucas page 285, Steinmann page 527, and Goldingay pages 300–301. Here are some other ways to translate this:

And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army. (ESV)

He shall stir up his power and determination against the king of the south with a great army (NRSV)

He will boldly raise a large army to attack the king of Egypt (GNT)

he will stir up his power and his courage against: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as courage is literally “heart.” This is figurative languages referring to a person’s will and desires. Use the term that is natural in your language for someone who chooses to act vigorously and enthusiastically. Avoid translating it in such a positive way as to imply that the king was a noble and courageous figure. Here are some other possible ways to translate this:

with great vigor/energy he will confront

with sudden enthusiasm he will confront

energetically/enthusiastically he will march against

the king of the South: At this time the ruler of Egypt was Ptolemy VI Philometer (who died in 145 B.C.)

11:25b

who will mobilize a very large and powerful army: This verse indicates that the king of the South will have a very large and powerful army of his own. It is implied that this army is bigger than that of the king of the North. With this army, the king of the South will fight back and defend himself against the king of the North. Here are some other ways to translate this:

and the king of the south shall wage war with a much greater and stronger army (NRSV)

who will prepare for war with a large, strong army (GW)

who will prepare to fight back with a huge and powerful army (GNT)

11:25c

but will not withstand: This is an idiom referring to failure in battle. The phrase continues to refer to the king of the South. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

But the southern king won’t be able to withstand him (GW)

But the king of Egypt…will not be successful. (GNT)

the king of the South will be defeated (NCV)

11:25d

the plots devised against him: This clause tells what the king of the South would not “withstand.” It indicates that some unnamed people would plot against the king of the South and that this would cause his defeat. This a passive clause, and there are at least two ways to translate it:

• using a passive verb. For example:

  for plots shall be devised against him (NRSV)

• using an active verb. For example:

  the people who are against him will make secret plans (NCV)

Translate this in the way that is most natural in your own language.