Daniel 11 31

Daniel 11:31 kjv

And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

Daniel 11:31 nkjv

And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.

Daniel 11:31 niv

"His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.

Daniel 11:31 esv

Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.

Daniel 11:31 nlt

"His army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration.

Daniel 11 verses

Daniel 11 31 Meaning

And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

Daniel 11 31 Context

This verse is part of a detailed prophetic narrative in Daniel 11, tracing the conflicts and interactions between the Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties, successors to Alexander the Great. Specifically, this verse focuses on the actions of a powerful northern king, widely understood to be Antiochus IV Epiphanes. His reign was marked by aggressive campaigns and significant persecution of the Jewish people, including the desecration of the Jerusalem Temple. This desecration was a pivotal event leading to the Maccabean Revolt. The prophecy foretells military actions that would defile the sanctuary and abolish the daily temple rituals, culminating in the erection of a pagan idol.

Daniel 11 31 Word analysis

• and (Hebrew: וְ, wə) - A conjunction indicating connection or continuation, linking actions or clauses.

• arms (Hebrew: זְרֹעַ, zĕrōaʿ) - Can mean literal arms, strength, power, or military forces. Here refers to military might or troops.

• shall stand (Hebrew: יַעֲמֹד, ya‘ămōḏ) - Indicates position or readiness for action, referring to the deployment of forces.

• on his part (Hebrew: עָלָיו, ‘ālāw) - Means against him, upon him, or on his behalf. In this context, it means troops that will be positioned for his purpose, likely meaning in opposition or to execute his plans.

• and (Hebrew: וְ, wə) - Conjunction.

• they (Hebrew: הֵמָּה, hēmmāh) - Refers to the previously mentioned "arms" or troops.

• shall pollute (Hebrew: יְחַלְּלוּ, yĕḥallĕlū) - To defile, profane, desecrate, or treat as common/unclean. Signifies a violation of sacredness.

• the sanctuary (Hebrew: הֵיכָל, hêḵāl) - Refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, the holy place of worship.

• of strength (Hebrew: מָעוֹז, mā‘ōz) - A fortress, stronghold, refuge, or strength. Highlights the security and divine protection associated with the Temple.

• and (Hebrew: וְ, wə) - Conjunction.

• they (Hebrew: הֵמָּה, hēmmāh) - The troops.

• shall take away (Hebrew: יָסִיר, yāṣîr) - To remove, cause to cease, put away. Refers to the abolition of the temple service.

• the daily sacrifice (Hebrew: הַתָּמִיד, hat-tāmîḏ) - The regular, continuous burnt offering that was a fundamental part of Jewish worship.

• and (Hebrew: וְ, wə) - Conjunction.

• they (Hebrew: הֵמָּה, hēmmāh) - The troops.

• shall place (Hebrew: יִתְּנוּ, yit-tə-nū) - To give, set, place, put. Refers to the act of establishing something offensive.

• the abomination (Hebrew: שִׁקּוּץ, šiqqūṣ) - An abomination, idol, detestable thing. Refers to a pagan idol or sacrilegious object.

• that maketh desolate (Hebrew: שֹׁמֵמֹת, šōmē-mōṯ) - That causes desolation, emptiness, or horror. Indicates the devastating effect of this sacrilege.

• The placement of forces against the sanctuary: The Hebrew word for "arms" here is multifaceted, representing not just physical limbs but the might and power of an army. The verb "stand" implies an active positioning for action. The phrase "on his part" signifies direct support of the aggressor's intentions.

• The pollution of the sanctuary of strength: "Sanctuary of strength" vividly portrays the Temple as a fortified place, both physically and spiritually. "Pollute" speaks of a deep desecration, turning the sacred into something common and defiled.

• The removal of the daily sacrifice: The tamid was central to the daily worship, representing the constant connection between God and His people. Its cessation signifies a breaking of that communion.

• The placement of the abomination of desolation: This phrase, translated from shiqquts shomem, is critical. "Abomination" points to idolatry, an affront to God's holiness. "Desolation" signifies the resulting devastation and emptiness in God's presence and the land. This phrase has significant theological weight, pointing to a climactic act of sacrilege.

Daniel 11 31 Bonus section

The "abomination of desolation" spoken of here by Daniel is a theme echoed and reinterpreted in the New Testament, particularly by Jesus Himself. He speaks of this abomination when warning his disciples about the future destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14). While Antiochus IV Epiphanes clearly fits the historical fulfillment for this particular verse in Daniel, Jesus applies the concept to a future, though related, event. This indicates that while prophecy can have specific historical fulfillments, certain terms and concepts can carry prophetic weight that extends beyond a single instance. The principle of desecration of God's holy places by opposition to His will and the imposition of that which is detestable remains a recurring motif in biblical prophecy concerning the end times.

Daniel 11 31 Commentary

Daniel 11:31 describes a critical turning point in the persecution of the Jews, executed through military force. This verse specifically details how foreign armies would desecrate the Jewish Temple. They would stop the daily sacrifices, a core element of worship, symbolizing the severing of God's people from direct communion with Him. Furthermore, these forces would install an "abomination of desolation" within the sacred space, a highly offensive pagan idol or symbol of idolatry that rendered the Temple spiritually void and desolate. This act of profanation marked a zenith of opposition to God's covenant and His people's faith, directly foreshadowing future events that echo this pattern of sacrilege and rebellion against divine authority. The verse's language conveys the immense spiritual violation that occurred.