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

Daniel 11:31 prophesies the actions of a wicked ruler against God's people and sanctuary. It specifically details how his military forces ("forces shall be mustered by him") would desecrate the Jerusalem Temple ("profane the sanctuary fortress"). A key act of defilement would be the removal of the continuous, daily offerings ("take away the daily sacrifices"). Most significantly, this ruler would then establish something abhorrent that causes devastation within the sacred precinct ("place there the abomination of desolation"). This verse points primarily to the historical actions of Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

Daniel 11 31 Context

Daniel chapter 11 details a long and precise prophetic vision concerning the wars and political maneuvers of the kings of the North (Seleucid dynasty) and South (Ptolemaic dynasty), who descended from Alexander the Great's generals. This chapter is remarkably specific, often termed "history written in advance" due to its accurate descriptions of events hundreds of years before they occurred.

Daniel 11:31 specifically marks a turning point within this prophecy, moving from political and military conflicts (vv. 1-28) to direct religious persecution. Verses 29-30 describe the "king of the North" (Antiochus IV Epiphanes) returning from Egypt and directing his rage against the holy covenant. He is portrayed as being thwarted by "ships of Kittim" (likely Roman intervention) which ignites his fury against the Jewish people and their sacred customs. Verse 31 describes the direct consequences of this rage: the brutal suppression of Jewish worship and the desecration of the Jerusalem Temple. This prophecy found its literal fulfillment during the Maccabean Revolt era, around 167 BC, when Antiochus IV Epiphanes outlawed Judaism, dedicated the Temple to Zeus Olympios, and sacrificed pigs on the altar.

Daniel 11 31 Word analysis

• And forces (וּזְרֹעוֹת – uzěroʻôt):
  • Literally "arms" or "strengths," commonly referring to military power or troops.
  • Significance: Highlights the military might employed by the "king of the North" (Antiochus IV Epiphanes) to execute his oppressive agenda, emphasizing the physical, coercive nature of his actions.
• shall be mustered by him (מִמֶּ֥נּוּ יַעֲמֹ֖דּוּ – mimmémmunû yaʻamōdû):
  • Indicates these forces will be raised and commanded by the preceding figure, the king of the North.
  • Significance: Links the military actions directly to Antiochus's will, not merely an act of his generals, showing his personal responsibility and active role in the defilement.
• and they shall profane (וְחִלְּל֤וּ – wěḥillělû):
  • Meaning "to desecrate," "degrade," "treat as common or unholy." It implies the removal of sanctity.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the severe theological offense of treating God's sacred space as profane. This action breaks covenant and directly attacks the very identity of Israel.
• the sanctuary fortress (מִקְדָּשׁ֮ מָעוֹז֒ – miqdaš māʻôz):
  • "Sanctuary" (miqdaš): Refers unequivocally to the holy Temple in Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God's presence.
  • "Fortress" (maʻôz): Can mean a strong, fortified place or a place of safety/refuge.
  • Significance: Highlights the Temple's dual role: as God's sacred abode and a perceived stronghold for the Jewish people. Its desecration was both a spiritual defilement and an assault on national security and identity. This could also allude to the fortified nature of the Temple complex or a citadel like the Acra near it.
• and they shall take away (וְהֵסִ֧ירוּ – wěhêsîrû):
  • Meaning "to remove," "put away," "cease."
  • Significance: A direct act of suppression. It wasn't merely neglect but an active intervention to stop worship.
• the daily sacrifices (הַתָּמִ֛יד – hattāmîd):
  • "The Tamid": Refers specifically to the regular, perpetual morning and evening burnt offerings commanded in the Torah (Exo 29:38-42, Num 28:3).
  • Significance: This was the heart of the daily worship and atonement system. Its cessation was the most potent symbol of Israel's spiritual desolation and a direct attack on their relationship with God.
• and place there (וְנָתְנוּ֮ – wěnātnû):
  • Meaning "to set up," "establish," "give."
  • Significance: Indicates an active installation or replacement of one thing with another, not just leaving a void.
• the abomination of desolation (שִׁקּוּץ֙ מְשׁוֹמֵם֙ – šiqqûṣ měšômēm):
  • "Abomination" (šiqqûṣ): Denotes something detestable or abhorrent, often an idol or an idolatrous practice (Deut 29:17, 1 Kings 11:5, 2 Kings 23:13).
  • "Desolation" (měšômēm): Signifies that which appalls, devastates, causes ruin or makes desolate.
  • Significance: This crucial phrase denotes an idolatrous object or act (like an idol of Zeus or a pig sacrifice) that renders the sacred place defiled and desolate for legitimate worship. It foreshadows not just a physical act but a profound spiritual crisis. The phrase itself points to a deliberate act designed to provoke, defile, and make the sanctuary unfit for its intended holy purpose, bringing spiritual barrenness.

Words-group analysis:

• "And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall profane": This links the military power of the persecuting ruler directly to the desecration of the sacred. The power is not for protection but for destruction and defilement.
• "profane the sanctuary fortress": This phrase underlines the sacrilegious nature of the act. The place meant to be holy and secure, symbolizing God's presence, is specifically targeted for dishonor and defilement. It attacks both the spiritual and communal core of Israel.
• "take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation": This is a dual, climactic act of religious tyranny. First, the stopping of the divinely commanded perpetual offering – severing the daily ritual connection with God. Second, the active substitution of this worship with something utterly detestable and devastating, turning a place of holy worship into one of idolatry and ruin. This progression shows a comprehensive assault on faith.

Daniel 11 31 Bonus section

• The defilement of the "sanctuary fortress" directly attacked Jewish national identity, which was deeply intertwined with the Temple and its rituals. The actions were designed to force Hellenistic assimilation, removing any distinctiveness of the Jewish faith.
• The "abomination of desolation" points to a deeper spiritual warfare where evil seeks to not just destroy but to pervert and occupy sacred spaces and traditions, turning them into instruments of anti-God worship.
• The meticulous detail of Daniel's prophecy regarding these events affirmed God's sovereign control over history, demonstrating that even the most heinous acts of oppressive rulers fall within His foreknowledge and ultimate plan. It served to assure the beleaguered faithful during times of persecution that God knew their suffering and had already announced their ultimate deliverance.

Daniel 11 31 Commentary

Daniel 11:31 presents a stark and highly significant prophecy with profound implications. Historically, it was precisely fulfilled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes (167 BC) during his intense persecution of the Jews. His actions included dispatching forces, violently suppressing Jewish practice, seizing control of the Temple, and notably, stopping the Tamid, the essential daily burnt offering. To replace this worship, he erected an altar to Zeus Olympios within the Temple court and offered swine on it, thereby setting up the "abomination of desolation"—an act utterly detestable and polluting under Mosaic Law, rendering the Temple unusable for true worship and causing profound spiritual desolation.

The significance of this verse extends beyond its historical fulfillment. The phrase "abomination of desolation" is picked up by Jesus in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14, referring to a future event—often understood as the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple in 70 AD, or even a future eschatological event related to the Antichrist (as potentially paralleled in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). This suggests a prophetic pattern where the defilement of God's holy place by a tyrannical power serves as a type for future spiritual apostasy and end-time events. It underscores that spiritual desolation is often initiated by the cessation of true worship and the introduction of idolatry or rebellion against God in the most sacred spaces.