Daniel 12:11 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Daniel 12:11 kjv
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
Daniel 12:11 nkjv
"And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.
Daniel 12:11 niv
"From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.
Daniel 12:11 esv
And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days.
Daniel 12:11 nlt
"From the time the daily sacrifice is stopped and the sacrilegious object that causes desecration is set up to be worshiped, there will be 1,290 days.
Daniel 12 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 24:15 | "So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place..." | Jesus' direct prophecy linking to Daniel's abomination. |
| Mk 13:14 | "But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not to be (let the reader understand)..." | Mark's account, echoing Matthew, emphasizes understanding. |
| Dan 9:27 | "Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering..." | The covenant-breaker (Antichrist) stopping sacrifices in Daniel's 70-week prophecy. |
| Dan 8:11 | "He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; And by him the daily sacrifices were taken away..." | Vision of a "little horn" (Antiochus/Antichrist) ceasing sacrifices. |
| Dan 8:13 | "How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?" | Connects the daily sacrifice, transgression, and desecration. |
| 2 Thess 2:3-4 | "...the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." | The Antichrist's ultimate desecration and self-exaltation. |
| Rev 13:5 | "And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months." | The beast's authority for 42 months (1260 days), similar timeframe. |
| Rev 11:2-3 | "...the holy city they will tread underfoot for forty-two months. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days..." | Prophetic timeline related to trampling and witness's ministry. |
| Rev 12:6 | "Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days." | Another mention of 1260 days, focusing on protection during tribulation. |
| Lk 21:20-21 | "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains..." | Jesus' warning, linking military action with desolation in Jerusalem. |
| Isa 66:3 | "He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog’s neck..." | A polemic against empty sacrifice; context for acceptable/unacceptable worship. |
| Jer 7:10-11 | "Have you stolen, murdered, committed adultery, sworn falsely, burned incense to Baal... and then come and stand before Me in this house... Has this house... become a den of thieves in your eyes?" | God's rejection of ritual when spiritual purity is absent. |
| Psa 40:6 | "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required." | Highlights that true devotion is more than ritual, foreshadowing New Covenant. |
| Heb 10:1-14 | "For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect." | Jesus' final sacrifice makes temple sacrifices obsolete for salvation. |
| 1 Cor 8:4 | "...we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one." | Emphasizes the nothingness of idols and false gods in contrast to the true God. |
| Rom 1:22-23 | "Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man..." | Describes idolatry and rejection of God leading to spiritual desolation. |
| Dan 11:31 | "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." | Parallel passage in Daniel, giving details of the 'little horn's actions. |
| Dan 7:25 | "He shall speak pompous words against the Most High... and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time." | Reference to Antichrist's opposition and another 3.5-year period (1260 days). |
| Exo 29:38-42 | "Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually..." | Institution of the daily sacrifice (Olat HaTamid) in Mosaic law. |
| Num 28:3-8 | "And you shall say to them, ‘This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to the LORD: two male lambs in their first year without blemish day by day as a continual burnt offering.’" | Reinforcement and details of the continual daily sacrifice. |
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple..." | The coming of the Lord to His temple, implicitly assuming its existence. |
| Ez 24:21 | "Speak to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I will profane My sanctuary, your boastful pride, the delight of your eyes...’" | God allows desecration as judgment; context for future desecration. |
| Dan 12:7 | "...for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished." | Another mention of a 3.5-year period (1260 days), linked to end of persecution. |
| Rev 14:13 | "Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’" | Blessings promised to those who endure during the tribulation, implicitly connected to enduring till the end. |
Daniel 12 verses
Daniel 12 11 meaning
Daniel 12:11 describes two pivotal events that initiate a specific end-time duration: the cessation of the continual daily sacrifice and the subsequent setting up of the abomination that causes desolation. These actions mark a period of intense tribulation and desecration, preceding a final stage of prophecy that concludes with a blessed outcome for the faithful. The verse points to a clear sequence of events signifying the ultimate usurpation and spiritual affront by a power hostile to God's covenant and temple worship, spanning exactly 1290 days.
Daniel 12 11 Context
Daniel 12:11 stands at the culmination of the extended prophetic vision revealed to Daniel from chapter 10 onwards, a vision particularly focused on the "time of the end." The immediate chapter context speaks of a unique time of trouble, the resurrection of the dead, and the sealing of these profound prophecies until the end. Michael the archangel's role in the "great tribulation" is introduced, setting a dire tone. Verse 11 directly follows a declaration of a time, times, and half a time (3.5 years) for the crushing of the holy people. The verse then specifies a different but related duration (1290 days), directly linked to the initiation of specific desecratory acts in Jerusalem.
Historically, aspects of Daniel's prophecies, particularly concerning the daily sacrifice and an "abomination," found a partial fulfillment or foreshadowing in the actions of Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 167 BC. He stopped the sacrifices in the Jerusalem temple and erected an altar to Zeus within it, initiating the Maccabean Revolt. However, the comprehensive scope, the detailed time periods (like 1290 days), and the reference by Jesus point to a more significant, future fulfillment, a prophetic 'Antichrist' who will ultimately manifest these acts in the eschatological temple.
Daniel 12 11 Word analysis
- And from the time (`ūmē'ēṯ` וּמֵעֵת): This phrase establishes a distinct starting point for the prophetic countdown. `מֵעֵת` (`me'et`) means "from the time of" or "at the time when," emphasizing temporal precision and marking the beginning of a specific prophetic period.
- the daily sacrifice (`hattāmîd` הַתָּמִיד): This refers to the regular, prescribed burnt offerings presented continually each morning and evening in the Temple. In Exodus 29:38-42 and Numbers 28:3-8, the Lord commanded the children of Israel to offer two lambs daily, a symbol of their covenant relationship with God and atonement. Its cessation is a direct assault on the divinely instituted worship and signifies extreme apostasy or persecution that halts religious observances.
- shall be taken away (`hūs̄ar` הוּסַר): A Hophal stem of `sūr` (סוּר), meaning "to be removed," "to cease," "to be suspended." It implies an active, forceful, and intentional removal, not a passive stopping. This removal indicates a direct hostile intervention against legitimate worship.
- and the abomination (`wehaššiqṣûṣ` וְהַשִּׁקּוּץ): From `šāqaṣ` (שָׁקַץ) "to be detestable." `Šiqûṣ` (שִׁקּוּץ) denotes something vile, repugnant, or abominable in God's sight, usually referring to idols, idolatrous practices, or something profaning sacred space. It is deeply offensive to Yahweh, breaking the sanctity of the covenant. It can involve idol worship, pagan symbols, or acts of extreme desecration.
- that makes desolate (`mšômēm` מְשֹׁמֵם): A Piel participle of `šāmam` (שָׁמֵם), meaning "to make desolate," "to cause horror," "to lay waste," or "to appall." This action brings spiritual and possibly physical ruin, causing the sanctuary or the people to become desolate, empty, and spiritually barren due to profanation. It leads to utter ruin and marks a total repudiation of God's presence.
- is set up (`nitten` נִתַּן): A Niphal imperfect of `nātan` (נָתַן), meaning "to be given," "to be placed," "to be set up," or "to be established." This implies an active, deliberate placement of the detestable object or act in the holy place. It's a definitive, formal installation.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "from the time the daily sacrifice shall be taken away": This phrase precisely defines the starting point of the prophetic 1290-day period. The interruption of the
hattāmîd—the constant, prescribed worship ritual—is the key trigger. This indicates a drastic end to covenant worship, an ultimate act of defiance against God. It echoes Dan 8:11, 11:31, confirming a patterned desecration. - "and the abomination that makes desolate is set up": These are two interconnected events, presented almost as cause and effect or concurrent acts. The taking away of the daily sacrifice paves the way for the setting up of the
šiqqûṣ mšōmēm(abomination of desolation). The "setting up" emphasizes the active establishment of an object or an act that causes horror and profanation in a sacred place. Jesus' reference to this in Mt 24:15 specifically ties it to the "holy place," often understood as the Temple or Jerusalem itself, indicating a renewed desecration in an ultimate future context. - "there shall be one thousand two hundred ninety days": This specifies a distinct, finite duration for a period commencing with the acts of desecration. It is exactly 30 days longer than the "time, times, and half a time" (3.5 years or 1260 days) mentioned elsewhere in Daniel and Revelation. This extra 30 days likely signifies either a short extension for judgment or for further preparations before a final event, suggesting a slightly protracted period of trial or transition.
Daniel 12 11 Bonus section
The concept of the "abomination of desolation" has had dual historical and future applications. While partially fulfilled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the references by Jesus in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 make it unequivocally clear that a greater, end-time fulfillment is yet to occur, involving a future holy place (presumably a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem). This future abomination will not simply be a pagan altar but is interpreted by scholars as the Antichrist taking his seat in the temple and demanding worship as God (2 Thess 2:3-4), thereby utterly defiling the sacred space with his blasphemous presence. The 1290 days are critically debated among scholars regarding their precise starting and ending points, especially when compared to the 1260 days of great tribulation and the 1335 days (D.12:12) that promise a blessing for those who endure. Many propose the 1290 days might account for a period of purification or final judgment leading into the millennium, with the 1260 days marking the core of the Great Tribulation and the 1335 days encompassing events extending to the actual establishment of the Messianic kingdom or Christ's glorious return and subsequent purification process. This timeframe emphasizes divine control over the most chaotic events of the end times.
Daniel 12 11 Commentary
Daniel 12:11 provides a crucial prophetic benchmark for the "time of the end." It describes the immediate events leading into a specific timeframe: the forceful termination of the daily sacrificial worship and the erection of an abomination in its place. These two acts—halting divinely ordained worship and introducing a defiling, detestable element—signify a direct attack on God and His people, reflecting an ultimate apostasy and anti-God stance by the final world ruler, often identified as the Antichrist. This period of intense sacrilege lasts exactly 1290 days. The extra 30 days beyond the common 1260-day tribulation period (mentioned in D.7:25, 12:7, Rev 11:3, 12:6, 13:5) indicates either an extension of the tribulation itself, or perhaps a transitionary period following the worst of the great tribulation but prior to the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom, or judgment on the wicked before blessing for the righteous. It defines a very specific segment of eschatological events, urging vigilance and understanding from God's people.