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Daniel 10:20
ESV Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come.
NIV So he said, 'Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come;
NASB Then he said, 'Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am leaving, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come.
CSB He said, "Do you know why I've come to you? I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come.
NLT He replied, 'Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece will come.
KJV Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.

What does Daniel 10:20 mean?

Apparently reacting to his troubling vision, Daniel had been in mourning for three weeks (Daniel 10:1–3). He was then visited by one or more celestial beings in response to his prayers (Daniel 10:4–6, 12–13). The delay was attributed to a conflict with an entity referred to as "the prince of the kingdom of Persia" (Daniel 10:13–14); that reference is echoed here. The flow of this section suggests that the human-like being (Daniel 10:16, 18) is the same as the impressive figure Daniel first saw (Daniel 10:4–6). The angel, likely Gabriel (Daniel 8:15–16; 9:21–22; Luke 1:26), plans to return to his battle against a spiritual enemy. First, the angel will explain Daniel's recent visions (Daniel 10:21; 11:2).

Part of the angel's comments mention what seem to be other spiritual beings. The "prince of Persia" seems to be some type of demon working on the Persian kingdom; the "prince of Greece" would presumably be a demon working on the Greek kingdom. Michael the archangel (Jude 1:9) is also labeled a "prince" in this section (Daniel 10:21). It appears he has taken Gabriel's place in battle so Gabriel can bring this message to Daniel. The exact meaning of this statement is not clear, but the nations of Persia and Greece both factor heavily into the prophecies in chapter 11.
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