Daniel 11:28 kjv
Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.
Daniel 11:28 nkjv
While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land.
Daniel 11:28 niv
The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country.
Daniel 11:28 esv
And he shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant. And he shall work his will and return to his own land.
Daniel 11:28 nlt
"The king of the north will then return home with great riches. On the way he will set himself against the people of the holy covenant, doing much damage before continuing his journey.
Daniel 11 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 11:27 | The king will do as he pleases. | Direct preceding context |
| Daniel 11:29 | He will return at the appointed time. | Future actions of the king |
| Daniel 11:30 | Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him. | External opposition |
| Daniel 8:10-12 | His power was magnified against the host of heaven. | General prophetic theme |
| Daniel 8:23-25 | He will understand sinister utterances and prosper. | Nature of his wickedness |
| 1 Maccabees 1:20 | Antiochus intended to become king of Egypt and Coele-Syria. | Historical context of ambition |
| 1 Maccabees 1:23 | He was filled with insolence and pride. | Character of Antiochus |
| 1 Maccabees 1:41 | He acted like a savage lion. | His violent actions |
| 1 Maccabees 1:43 | He imposed decrees and confiscated property. | Opposition to the covenant |
| 1 Maccabees 1:51 | He entered Judea and attacked Jerusalem. | Direct historical fulfillment |
| 1 Maccabees 1:56 | His commanders ravaged Judea and Jerusalem. | Severity of his actions |
| John 10:10 | The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. | Parallel spiritual predator theme |
| 2 Thessalonians 2:3 | The man of lawlessness will not come unless the rebellion comes first. | Lawlessness and opposition to God |
| Galatians 1:6-7 | Some are disturbing you by perverting the gospel. | Deviation from the covenant |
| Romans 1:25 | They exchanged the truth about God for a lie. | Worship of created things |
| Ephesians 6:11-12 | We wrestle against rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers. | Spiritual warfare context |
| Revelation 13:5-7 | The beast was given authority to continue for 42 months. | Antichristic pattern |
| Matthew 24:24 | False christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs. | Deceptive powers |
| Acts 20:29-30 | Grievous wolves will enter and not spare the flock. | Internal threats to the church |
| Deuteronomy 31:20 | They will turn to other gods and serve them. | Covenant unfaithfulness |
| Psalm 56:1-2 | My enemies trample on me. | Victim's perspective |
Daniel 11 verses
Daniel 11 28 Meaning
The verse describes the northern king (identified with Antiochus IV Epiphanes) returning to his kingdom with great displeasure and with plans to take action. He will act deceitfully against the holy covenant and eventually succeed in his wicked designs, showing favor to those who forsake the covenant.
Daniel 11 28 Context
This verse is part of Daniel chapter 11, which provides a detailed prophecy of the kings of the north (Seleucid Empire) and the south (Ptolemaic Kingdom) following Alexander the Great. Specifically, it describes the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Having failed in his ambition to conquer Egypt, he returns to his own kingdom. His interactions with the covenant people and the "holy covenant" become increasingly hostile and deceitful, setting the stage for the desecration of the Temple. Historically, Antiochus IV had spent time in Rome and had ambitions for a wider empire. His dealings with the Jewish people were marked by increasing persecution, including forbidding Jewish religious practices and installing idols in the Temple, directly violating the holy covenant.
Daniel 11 28 Word Analysis
- Return (Hebrew: וְשַׁבְתָּ, wəšāḇtā): "And you shall return" or "and he shall return." This implies a cyclical movement, coming back from a previous engagement or attempt.
- His kingdom (Hebrew: מַלְכוּתוֹ, mālḵūtōw): Pertaining to his royal dominion and authority.
- With great displeasure (Hebrew: בְּקֶצֶף גָּדוֹל, bəqéṣep̄ gāḏōl): Intense anger or wrath. It signifies his frustration and bitterness over his failure in Egypt.
- And to do (Hebrew: וּלְהַעֲבִיד, ūləha‘ăḇîḏ): Literally "and to cause to work," or to bring into servitude/action.
- Their fruit (Hebrew: פִּרְיָם, piryām): Refers to the results of their actions or what they produce.
- Against (Hebrew: עַל, ‘al): Against, upon, concerning. Indicates the target of his actions.
- The holy covenant (Hebrew: בְּרִית הַקֹּדֶשׁ, bərîṯ haqqōḏeš): This refers to the covenant God made with Israel, particularly emphasizing its sacred and divine nature.
- And to do (Hebrew: לַעֲשׂוֹת, la‘ăśōṯ): To perform, to execute.
- Deceitfully (Hebrew: בְּמִרְמָה, bəmirmāh): With treachery, cunning, guile, deception. This highlights his character and methods.
- And he shall execute (Hebrew: וְיַעֲשֶׂה, wəya‘ăśeh): He will perform, he will accomplish.
- Therefore (Hebrew: וְעַל־, wə‘al-): Upon, and concerning.
- His purposes (Hebrew: לִבּוֹ, libbô): Literally "his heart," but idiomatically his mind, will, desires, plans, and intentions.
- Shall succeed (Hebrew: יַצְלִיחַ, yaṣlîaḥ): To prosper, to achieve success, to advance.
Words Group Analysis
- "With great displeasure" and "to do deceitfully": These phrases highlight the internal disposition and the external methodology of the king, driven by anger and characterized by guile. This combination of malice and deceit is a hallmark of opposition to God's people and His ways.
- "Against the holy covenant": This is the central point of conflict. The king’s actions are directly aimed at undermining or desecrating the sacred agreement between God and His people, the foundational principles of their faith and worship.
Daniel 11 28 Bonus Section
This verse’s emphasis on returning "with great displeasure" to "do deceitfully" against the "holy covenant" finds a theological parallel in Satan’s ongoing efforts to deceive and corrupt believers. Like Antiochus, the adversary seeks to draw people away from their faithful commitment to God’s covenant, employing subtle falsehoods and exploiting discontent or worldly desires. The "holy covenant" represents not only the Old Covenant with Israel but also the New Covenant in Christ, which believers are called to uphold through faith and obedience. The success of "his purposes" highlights the reality of spiritual opposition and the need for discernment and perseverance, echoing Jesus' warnings about deceptive spiritual forces in the last days (Matthew 24).
Daniel 11 28 Commentary
The northern king’s return signals a shift in his strategy. His anger fuels a desire for retribution, but not through straightforward conquest. Instead, he opts for cunning and deceptive tactics aimed specifically at undermining the very foundation of Israel’s identity: the holy covenant. This verse emphasizes his malice ("great displeasure") and his unprincipled approach ("deceitfully"). He will succeed in these treacherous plans, implying a period where God's people will face severe hardship due to this opposition. This foreshadows the desecration of the Temple and the persecution that defined the Maccabean period, demonstrating how spiritual opposition often manifests through worldly political power that twists God's promises and corrupts His people through enticements to forsake their faithful commitments.