Daniel 11:30
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. | Ships of Kittim will come against him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and rage against the holy covenant and do damage. So he will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. | For ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and shall return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and shall do his pleasure: he shall even return, and have regard unto them that forsake the holy covenant. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThe king of the north marches south again, but ships from Chittim come against him and he turns back disheartened. He then vents his anger on "the holy covenant," meaning God's people and their worship. He works with those among them who forsake that covenant, which leads to the polluting of the sanctuary in the next verse. Daniel 11:29Daniel 11:30Daniel 11:31Daniel 11:28
SpeakingAn unnamed speaker who says he stood to confirm and strengthen Darius the Mede now shows Daniel "the truth" about coming kings. The cited verses do not say who he is. Daniel 11:1Daniel 11:2
ToDaniel, who is told what will happen to "thy people." The book is written for God's people in exile and after it. Daniel 11:2Daniel 11:14Daniel overview
Also involvedThe king of the north, the "vile person" who took the kingdom by flatteries, turns on the holy covenant. Those who forsake the covenant side with him. Those who know their God stand firm and suffer for it. Daniel 11:21Daniel 11:28Daniel 11:30Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:33
Stopped by ships from Chittim, the king is disheartened and turns back. He pours out indignation against the holy covenant and pays close attention to those who abandon it. Verse 28 already said his heart was set against the covenant. Here that hostility becomes action, carried out with help from insiders. Daniel 11:30Daniel 11:28Strong's H3512AStrong's H0995Strong's H5800A
The king turns back from his campaign toward the south, which the chapter links with Egypt. The ships come from Chittim, identified as Cyprus, an island. His anger then falls on the holy covenant, and in the next verse on the sanctuary. Daniel 11:29Daniel 11:8Daniel 11:30Daniel 11:31KittimStrong's H3794H
The eventsThe text puts these events in the future from Daniel's day, "at the time appointed" (11:29). It does not name the king. The book's scholarly dating holds that chapter 11 describes the years of the Greek king Antiochus IV in detail. Daniel 11:29Daniel 11:27Daniel overview
WrittenTraditional view: Daniel wrote in the 500s BC, and this vision falls in the third year of Cyrus, about 536 BC. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date the book's final form to about 167-164 BC. Others keep the traditional date, citing Matthew 24:15. Daniel overview
HereThe verse explains why the king turns on God's people: his setback abroad makes him angry. It also warns that some within the covenant people will abandon it and help him. Daniel 11:30Daniel 11:32
In the whole of ScriptureEven this king's movements run on God's schedule: "the end shall be at the time appointed." The book teaches that the most High rules in the kingdom of men and sets up and removes kings. Daniel 11:27Daniel 11:29Daniel 11:35Daniel overview
For readersPressure on God's people can come from rulers and from those who walk away from the faith. Jesus also warned that many would be offended and betray one another. The answer the chapter gives is that "the people that do know their God shall be strong." Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:33Matthew 24:10Daniel overview
- Chittimאֱלִישָׁה
Kittim is a descendant of Javan and is tied to Cyprus, an island. Other Scripture speaks of "the isles of Chittim" and foresees that "ships shall come from the coast of Chittim." So the ships come from across the sea, not from the king's enemy in the south. Strong's H3794HGenesis 10:4Jeremiah 2:10Numbers 24:24Kittim
- grievedכָּאָה
The word means to be sad, disheartened or cowed. The king is not only sorrowful but beaten back, and his anger at that setback falls on God's people. Strong's H3512ADaniel 11:30
- have intelligenceבִּין
The word means to discern, observe or give heed to. The king pays close attention to the deserters and makes use of them, as verse 32 says he corrupts them by flatteries. Strong's H0995Daniel 11:32
- forsakeעָזַב
The word means to leave, abandon or forsake, and can mean to apostatise, that is, to fall away from the faith. Those helping the king are insiders who have abandoned the covenant. Strong's H5800ADaniel 11:32
- covenantבְּרִית
The word covers agreements between people and the covenant between God and man. Here it is called "holy," marking it as God's covenant with his people. The king's rage is aimed at that covenant and at the sanctuary. Strong's H1285Strong's H6944GDaniel 11:31
Takeaway
A frustrated ruler turned his anger on God's people, helped by those who had abandoned the faith. Yet his course stayed within God's "time appointed." Those who know their God would stand firm. Daniel 11:29Daniel 11:30Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:35
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
About 605-536 BC. King of Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC). Where Daniel lived and served for about seventy years. The capital of the Babylonian empire, on the Euphrates south of modern Baghdad, in the land the Bible calls Shinar and Chaldea.
Who ruled
- King of BabylonNebuchadnezzar605-562 BC
The king who besieged Jerusalem, carried Daniel and the temple vessels to Babylon, and later destroyed the city and temple. His own building inscriptions boast of the Babylon he built. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 24:12 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 25:1Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- Last king of Babylon, and his son who ruled in his placeNabonidus and Belshazzar556-539 BC
Nabonidus spent about ten years at the oasis of Tema in Arabia and left his son Belshazzar to rule in Babylon. That is why Belshazzar could only offer Daniel the place of "third ruler in the kingdom": he was himself second. Daniel 5:1Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:29Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Verse Account of Nabonidus
- Received the kingdom after Babylon fellDarius the MedianFrom 539 BC
Daniel says he "took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old" and set 120 princes over it. Records outside the Bible do not name him; he has been identified with Gubaru, the governor Cyrus set over Babylon, or with Cyrus himself. Daniel 5:31Daniel 6:1Daniel 9:1Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)
- King of PersiaCyrus559-530 BC
He united the Medes and Persians, took Babylon in 539 BC, and let the exiles go home to rebuild the temple, as Isaiah had named him beforehand. Daniel 1:21Daniel 6:28Daniel 10:1Ezra 1:1-4Isaiah 44:28-45:1Cyrus Cylinder
- King of JudahJehoiakim609-598 BC
Judah's king when Daniel was taken. Jeremiah warned him and his people that the land would serve Babylon seventy years. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 23:36-24:6Jeremiah 25:1-11
What was happening, 612 BC to 167 BC
- 612 BCWarNineveh falls
Babylon and the Medes destroyed Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as Nahum and Zephaniah had foretold. Babylon became the great power of the region. Nahum 3:7Zephaniah 2:13Fall of Nineveh Chronicle (ABC 3)
- 605 BCWarBattle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Carchemish on the Euphrates, in Jehoiakim's fourth year. The same year he came against Jerusalem and took the first captives, Daniel among them. Jeremiah 46:2Daniel 1:1-4Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 597 BCWarJerusalem surrenders
Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiachin, his nobles and craftsmen to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel went into exile with them. 2 Kings 24:10-17Ezekiel 1:2Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 586 BCWarJerusalem and the temple destroyed
Babylon's army burned the temple and the city and broke down its walls. Daniel later prays over "the desolations of Jerusalem" and asks God to shine on his "sanctuary that is desolate." 2 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 52:12-14Daniel 9:2Daniel 9:17
- c. 575 BCBuildingBabylon rebuilt in splendor
Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon with great walls, palaces and the blue-glazed Ishtar Gate, and his inscriptions praise his own work. Compare his boast: "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?" Daniel 4:30Nebuchadnezzar's East India House InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 1.178-183
- 562 BCRulersNebuchadnezzar dies
His son Evil-merodach became king and released Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 2 Kings 25:27-30Jeremiah 52:31-34
- c. 553-543 BCRulersNabonidus leaves Babylon to Belshazzar
King Nabonidus stayed at Tema in Arabia for about ten years, and the yearly New Year festival in Babylon was not held. Belshazzar governed in Babylon. Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Daniel 5:1Daniel 7:1
- 550 BCWarCyrus unites the Medes and Persians
Cyrus of Persia defeated Astyages king of the Medes, joining the two peoples in one kingdom. Daniel's vision names the ram's two horns as "the kings of Media and Persia," the higher coming up last. Daniel 8:3Daniel 8:20Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.127-130
- October 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus's army entered Babylon without a long siege. Herodotus says the people were feasting when the city was taken. Daniel records that "in that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain." Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.191Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleCyrus lets the exiles return
In his first year over Babylon, Cyrus proclaimed that the Jews could go back and build the LORD's house in Jerusalem. Daniel "continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus." Ezra 1:1-42 Chronicles 36:22-23Daniel 1:21Cyrus Cylinder
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe temple's foundation is laid
The returned exiles rebuilt the altar and laid the foundation of the temple. In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel was still in the east, mourning and praying. Ezra 3:1-11Daniel 10:1-3
- 334-331 BCWarAlexander the Great conquers Persia
Alexander of Macedon crossed into Asia and overthrew the Persian empire within four years. Daniel 8:21 names the rough goat as "the king of Grecia" and its great horn as "the first king." Daniel 8:5-8Daniel 8:21Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 1-3
- 323-301 BCWarAlexander's empire is divided
Alexander died young, and after twenty years of war his generals divided his empire, chiefly into four kingdoms. Daniel 8:22 says "four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." Daniel 8:8Daniel 8:22Daniel 11:4Diodorus Siculus, Library 18-20Plutarch, Demetrius 28-30
- 167 BCWarAntiochus IV defiles the temple
The Greek king Antiochus IV banned Jewish worship and set up a pagan altar on the altar of burnt offering. 1 Maccabees calls it "the abomination of desolation." Two centuries later Jesus spoke of "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" as still to come. 1 Maccabees 1:54-59Josephus, Antiquities 12.5.4Matthew 24:15
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records of these years (the Babylonian Chronicles, the Cyrus Cylinder, Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Diodorus, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Where
- Kittim islandMapAbout this place
Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and they will come | וּבָ֨אוּ | u-VA-'u | H0935G | to come (in): comeבּוֹא (bo) : come/go_in 1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to enter, come in 1a2) to come 1a2a) to come with 1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy) 1a2c) to come to pass 1a3) to attain to 1a4) to be enumerated 1a5) to go 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to lead in 1b2) to carry in 1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon 1b4) to bring to pass 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be brought, brought in 1c2) to be introduced, be put |
| the ships of | צִיִּ֤ים | tzi-YIM | H6716 | shipצִי (tsi) ship |
| Kittim | כִּתִּים֙ | ki-TIM | H3794H | Elishahאֱלִישָׁה (e.li.shah) Elishah = "God of the coming (one)" descendant of Noah, son of Javan; perhaps ancestor of the Aeolians Another name of kit.ti (כִּתִּי "Cyprus" H3794H) |
| and he will be disheartened | וְנִכְאָ֔ה | ve-nikh-'AH | H3512A | be disheartenedכָּאָה (ka.ah) 1) to be sad, be disheartened 1a) (Niphal) to be disheartened, be cowed 1b) (Hiphil) to make sad |
| and he will turn back | וְשָׁ֛ב | ve-SHAV | H7725G | to return: returnשׁוּב (shuv) : return 1) to return, turn back 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn back, return 1a1a) to turn back 1a1b) to return, come or go back 1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back 1a1d) of dying 1a1e) of human relations (fig) 1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig) 1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise 1a1f2) to turn away (of God) 1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent 1a1f4) turn back (from evil) 1a1g) of inanimate things 1a1h) in repetition 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to bring back 1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig) 1b3) to lead away (enticingly) 1b4) to show turning, apostatise 1c) (Pual) restored (participle) … |
| and he will direct indignation | וְזָעַ֥ם | ve-za-'AM | H2194 | be indignantזָעַם (za.am) 1) to denounce, express indignation, be indignant 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to have indignation, be indignant, be angrily indignant, be defiant 1a2) to be abhorrent 1a3) to express indignation in speech, denounce, curse 1b) (Niphal) to show indignation, show anger |
| towards | עַל־ | 'al- | H5921A | uponעַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) … |
| [the] covenant of | בְּרִֽית־ | be-rit- | H1285 | covenantבְּרִית (be.rit) 1) covenant, alliance, pledge 1a) between men 1a1) treaty, alliance, league (man to man) 1a2) constitution, ordinance (monarch to subjects) 1a3) agreement, pledge (man to man) 1a4) alliance (of friendship) 1a5) alliance (of marriage) 1b) between God and man 1b1) alliance (of friendship) 1b2) covenant (divine ordinance with signs or pledges) 2) (phrases) 2a) covenant making 2b) covenant keeping 2c) covenant violation |
| holiness | ק֖וֹדֶשׁ | KO-desh | H6944G | holinessקֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) 1) apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness 1a) apartness, sacredness, holiness 1a1) of God 1a2) of places 1a3) of things 1b) set-apartness, separateness |
| and he will act | וְעָשָׂ֑ה | ve-'a-SAH | H6213J | No entry |
| and he will turn back | וְשָׁ֣ב | ve-SHAV | H7725G | to return: returnשׁוּב (shuv) : return 1) to return, turn back 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn back, return 1a1a) to turn back 1a1b) to return, come or go back 1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back 1a1d) of dying 1a1e) of human relations (fig) 1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig) 1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise 1a1f2) to turn away (of God) 1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent 1a1f4) turn back (from evil) 1a1g) of inanimate things 1a1h) in repetition 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to bring back 1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig) 1b3) to lead away (enticingly) 1b4) to show turning, apostatise 1c) (Pual) restored (participle) … |
| and he will pay attention | וְיָבֵ֔ן | ve-ya-VEN | H0995 | to understandבִּין (bin) 1) to discern, understand, consider 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to perceive, discern 1a2) to understand, know (with the mind) 1a3) to observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider 1a4) to have discernment, insight, understanding 1b) (Niphal) to be discerning, intelligent, discreet, have understanding 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to understand 1c2) to cause to understand, give understanding, teach 1d) (Hithpolel) to show oneself discerning or attentive, consider diligently 1e) (Polel) to teach, instruct 2) (TWOT) prudent, regard |
| on | עַל־ | 'al- | H5921A | uponעַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) … |
| [those who] forsake | עֹזְבֵ֖י | 'o-ze-VEI | H5800A | to leave: forsakeעָזַב (a.zav) 1) to leave, loose, forsake 1a) (Qal) to leave 1a1) to depart from, leave behind, leave, let alone 1a2) to leave, abandon, forsake, neglect, apostatise 1a3) to let loose, set free, let go, free 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be left to 1b2) to be forsaken 1c) (Pual) to be deserted |
| of [the] covenant of | בְּרִ֥ית | be-RIT | H1285 | covenantבְּרִית (be.rit) 1) covenant, alliance, pledge 1a) between men 1a1) treaty, alliance, league (man to man) 1a2) constitution, ordinance (monarch to subjects) 1a3) agreement, pledge (man to man) 1a4) alliance (of friendship) 1a5) alliance (of marriage) 1b) between God and man 1b1) alliance (of friendship) 1b2) covenant (divine ordinance with signs or pledges) 2) (phrases) 2a) covenant making 2b) covenant keeping 2c) covenant violation |
| holiness | קֹֽדֶשׁ׃ | KO-desh | H6944G | holinessקֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) 1) apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness 1a) apartness, sacredness, holiness 1a1) of God 1a2) of places 1a3) of things 1b) set-apartness, separateness |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.