---
title: Daniel 10:13
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/daniel-10-13/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/daniel-10-13.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Daniel 10:13
testament: OT
section: Prophets
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Daniel 10:13

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (2013 revision): "But the prince of the royal realm of Persia stood in opposition to me for 21 days. But then Michael, one of the foremost princes, came to help me; and I remained there beside the kings of Persia."

## JW Usage

JWs identify Michael as Jesus in his pre-human existence — the chief angel through whom Jehovah accomplishes great works, including speaking to Daniel and contending with the spiritual prince of Persia. Daniel 10:13 grounds the JW Christology in which Jesus is the highest of created beings, exalted above other angels but subordinate to Jehovah.

## Protestant Usage

Read the verse carefully. Michael is described as "ONE of the foremost princes" — the partitive language places him within a class of senior angelic beings, not above all of them. He arrives to help the angel speaking with Daniel; that helper is dispatched, not consulted. Pair this with the angelic vocation in Hebrews 1:14 ("ministering spirits sent out to render service"), Daniel 10's delay (the helper-angel was held up for 21 days — an angel cannot break through hostile spiritual opposition unaided), and Jude 9 (Michael does not even rebuke Satan on his own authority but says "May Jehovah rebuke you"). Now compare the Son: he forgives sins on his own authority (Mark 2:5-7), volunteers his life of his own initiative (John 10:18), and is worshipped by all the angels (Hebrews 1:6). Michael is sent; the Son sends. Michael is one of the foremost princes; the Son is "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" (Hebrews 1:3). The doorstep insight: Daniel 10:13 is the strongest text JWs have for the Michael-is-Jesus identification, and on its own grammar it places Michael within the angelic order rather than above it. The Son cannot be one of a class of foremost princes if he is the eternal Word who created them (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16).

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Volunteer or Servant? — Why the Son's Obedience Cannot Be Angelic](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/voluntary-submission-vs-angelic.md) — John 10:18 / Philippians 2:6-8 / Hebrews 1:14 [Deity of Christ]