What does Daniel 10:13 mean?

This verse is a unique look "behind the scenes" into the spiritual realm. It comes across like an obscure reference spoken by an expert to a layman. Occasionally, a medical doctor, lawyer, technician, or mechanic will use "working language" around those who don't know that subject intimately. When that happens, a non-expert might understand a portion of what's said; the rest goes over their head. The statement made in this verse has the same flavor: the angel is speaking about something which mortals, such as Daniel, can only vaguely grasp.

The basic message given is clear; what's obscure is the precise meaning of these phrases. The speaker, likely the angel Gabriel (Daniel 8:15–16; 9:21–22; Luke 1:26), has come to Daniel three weeks after he saw another vision (Daniel 10:1–6). Here, this being explains why he is arriving now. Daniel's prayers were heard as soon as he began praying, twenty-one days before the angel appeared (Daniel 10:1–9). Yet the angelic response was delayed. The explanation given here is that the angel was obstructed somehow. Blame is assigned to "the prince of the kingdom of Persia." This stalemate lasted until the angel Michael came to assist.

Scholars have pored over the Hebrew words used here, attempting to make sense of each one. All agree on the most obvious aspects of the verse, as above. Questions about the exact identity of "the prince of the kingdom of Persia," "the kings of Persia," the precise implications of the term "princes," what sort of battle was occurring, and so forth are subject to debate. Most such discussions delve into fine points of ancient Hebrew or related topics. The verse conveys enough for Daniel—and later readers—to grasp the basic idea, and the rest is ultimately unimportant.

No explanation is given for why God allowed His messenger to be delayed.

Michael and Gabriel are the only angels named in the Bible. Michael typically appears in a military context (Revelation 12:7; Jude 1:9). He is mentioned again in this same passage in connection to the nation of Israel (Daniel 10:21).

The "prince of the kingdom of Persia" is very likely a demon of some sort, whose interests were primarily over that nation. This would coordinate with the idea of a demonic hierarchy working to influence human affairs (Ephesians 6:12; Matthew 4:8–9; 1 John 5:19). It's possible the term "prince" is used here of spiritual rank, and that it might apply to angels in the same sense as it does to demons.

The following verses will give more information on this angel's mission and the content of his new information (Daniel 10:14).