“Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee?”
The full verse · Daniel 10:20 · KJV
Then he, thou wherefore I unto thee? and will I to with the of : and when I am gone , lo, the of shall .
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionThe angel uses this question to transition from reassurance to revelation, preparing Daniel to receive strategic information about cosmic spiritual warfare. By asking rather than simply declaring his mission, the angel invites Daniel’s focused attention and underscores the gravity of what follows.
The Response
What Scripture recordsDaniel does not verbally respond to this question. The angel immediately continues speaking, explaining that he must return to fight against the prince of Persia and that the prince of Greece will come when he departs (Daniel 10:20).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThe angel’s question serves as a rhetorical bridge between comfort and cosmic revelation. Having just strengthened Daniel with reassuring touch and words, the messenger now pivots to explain the spiritual warfare that caused his three-week delay. The Hebrew construction expecting a negative answer implies Daniel cannot fully grasp the magnitude of what the angel is about to disclose. This question format appears elsewhere in Scripture when divine messengers prepare recipients for privileged insight (compare Genesis 18:17). By framing his purpose as a question, the angel honors Daniel’s dignity as a conversation partner while emphasizing the extraordinary nature of the revelation. The immediate reference to fighting the prince of Persia reveals that earthly political powers have corresponding spiritual adversaries in heavenly places. This question thus functions not to elicit information but to focus Daniel’s attention on the invisible spiritual realities governing visible historical events.
When life feels like an endless battle, remember unseen forces are at work. This passage reminds us that our struggles often have spiritual dimensions we cannot perceive. When delays, opposition, or unexplained resistance plague our prayers or obedience, we may be witnessing the clash of kingdoms described in Ephesians 6:12. Like Daniel, we must persist in prayer and trust that God’s messengers are active even when we see no immediate results. The angel’s question invites us to understand God’s purposes more deeply rather than simply demanding quick answers. Our confidence rests not in our ability to comprehend every spiritual battle, but in knowing that Michael, the great prince, stands guard over God’s people (Daniel 10:21), and ultimately Christ has already secured the victory.
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