Daniel 11:19

After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and fall and be no more.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The prophet delivers a historical vision to Daniel concerning the ongoing conflict between southern and northern Hellenistic kings. The verse marks the predicted collapse of a ruler after his failed military campaign against his own territory.

The words — The phrase וְלֹא יִמָּצֵא (ve./Lo' yi.ma.Tze') literally translates to "and not he will be found," describing a complete disappearance. This follows the verbs יָשׁוּב (ya.Shev, "he will turn back") and נִכְשַׁל (nikh.Shal, "he will stumble"), which chart his failed retreat to his homeland's strongholds.

The thread — The expression "be no more" and "never be found" echoes the judgment language in Ezekiel 26:21, Psalms 37:36, and Job 20:8. These passages consistently use the same idiom to describe the sudden and permanent removal of a proud figure.

Why it lands — The text records a ruler’s failed retreat and abrupt end without offering moral commentary. It requires the reader to acknowledge that political ambition and military maneuvering cannot prevent divine sovereignty from executing its decrees.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְיָשֵׁ֣בve./ya.Shevand/ he will turn פָּנָ֔יוpa.Na/vface/ his לְמָעוּזֵּ֖יle./ma.'u.Zeito/ [the] strongholds of אַרְצ֑וֹ'ar.Tz/oown land/ his וְנִכְשַׁ֥לve./nikh.Shaland/ he will stumble וְנָפַ֖לve./na.Faland/ he will fall וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not יִמָּצֵֽא׃yi.ma.Tze'he will be found

King James Version

Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 26:21 I will make you an object of horror, and you will be no more. You will be sought, but will never be found,’ declares the Lord GOD.”
Psalms 37:36 yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.
Job 20:8 He will fly away like a dream, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in the night.
Psalms 27:2 When the wicked came upon me to devour my flesh, my enemies and foes stumbled and fell.
Jeremiah 46:6 “The swift cannot flee, and the warrior cannot escape! In the north by the River Euphrates they stumble and fall.