Daniel 11:31
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 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. | His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation. | And forces shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt-offering, and they shall set up the abomination that maketh desolate. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThis verse is the high point of a long forecast about wars between "the king of the north" and "the king of the south." Grieved when the ships of Chittim come against him, the northern king turns his anger on "the holy covenant" (11:30). His forces defile the sanctuary, take away the daily sacrifice, and set up "the abomination that maketh desolate." Daniel 11:29Daniel 11:30Daniel 11:31
SpeakingThe one who appears to Daniel in this vision speaks. He says he stood to confirm and strengthen Darius the Mede, and he now shows Daniel "the truth" about kings to come. Daniel 11:1Daniel 11:2
ToHe speaks to Daniel. The book is written for God's people in exile and after it, and Daniel is told to seal it "to the time of the end." Daniel 11:2Daniel overview
Also involvedThe "he" of this verse is the king described from 11:21 on, the "vile person" whose heart is against the holy covenant. Those hurt are the people of that covenant and their sanctuary. Some forsake the covenant, but "the people that do know their God shall be strong" (11:32), though many of them suffer (11:33). Daniel 11:21Daniel 11:28Daniel 11:30Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:33
The king's armed forces "stand on his part" and defile the sanctuary. They take away the daily sacrifice and set up a detestable thing that brings desolation. Daniel 8:11 and 12:11 also speak of the daily sacrifice being taken away, and Daniel 9:27 of the sacrifice made to cease with abominations that make desolate. Daniel 11:31Daniel 8:11Daniel 9:27Daniel 12:11Strong's H8251
The action centers on the sanctuary, the holy place of God's people. The northern king's campaigns reach into "the glorious land" (11:16, 11:41). Daniel lived in Babylon, serving under Babylonian and then Persian kings. Daniel 11:16Daniel 11:31Daniel 11:41Strong's H4720Daniel overview
The eventsIn the vision these events are still to come. They follow the Persian kings and the breakup of the mighty king's kingdom (11:2-4), late in the north-south wars. Daniel 12:11 counts 1,290 days from the time the daily sacrifice is taken away and the abomination set up. Daniel 11:2Daniel 11:3Daniel 11:4Daniel 11:21Daniel 12:11
WrittenTraditional view: Daniel wrote the book in the 500s BC; its events run to the third year of Cyrus, about 536 BC (10:1). Scholarly view: many critical scholars date the final form to about 167-164 BC under Antiochus IV, because chapter 11 describes those years in detail. Others hold the earlier date, citing Matthew 24:15 and the book's knowledge of the Babylonian court. Daniel overview
HereThe verse warns ahead of time that a hostile king will attack the worship of God itself. The chapter says the faithful will be strong, and that their suffering will try and purify them, for it comes "for a time appointed." Daniel 11:31Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:35
In the whole of ScriptureDaniel shows that "the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men." Even this king can only "prosper till the indignation be accomplished," and in the end "none shall help him." Daniel overviewDaniel 11:36Daniel 11:45
For readersJesus pointed to "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet," and told readers to understand it. In Mark he adds that when it is seen, those in Judaea should flee to the mountains. Matthew 24:15Mark 13:14
Christians read this differently
The text calls the king only "a vile person" and "the king of the north" and no cited Scripture names him. Some read the verse as fulfilled in a past king of the north who arose after the Greek kingdom was divided (11:3-4, 11:21). Others note that Jesus speaks of the abomination as still to be seen (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14) and that the chapter moves to "the time of the end" (11:40), so they see a later or end-time fulfillment; many hold both. Daniel 11:3Daniel 11:4Daniel 11:21Daniel 11:40Matthew 24:15Mark 13:14
- daily sacrificeתָּמִיד
The Hebrew word means "continuity" or "continually," and here names the perpetual offering. Its removal cuts off the regular worship of God, as Daniel 8:11 and 12:11 also describe. Strong's H8548Daniel 8:11Daniel 12:11
- abominationשִׁקּוּץ
The word means a detestable thing or idol, an abominable or detested thing. What is set up in the sanctuary is such a detested thing. Strong's H8251
- maketh desolateשָׁמֵם
The word means to make desolate or ravage, and also to appall or cause horror. Daniel 8:13 links the "transgression of desolation" with the sanctuary being trodden under foot. Strong's H8074GDaniel 8:13
- strengthמָעוֹז
The word means a stronghold, refuge or place of safety. So "the sanctuary of strength" is the people's holy place and refuge. Ezekiel 24:21 likewise calls the sanctuary "the excellency of your strength." Strong's H4581Ezekiel 24:21
Takeaway
A proud ruler may defile the sanctuary and stop its worship for a time. Yet the time is appointed, and those who know their God stand firm. Jesus took up this warning and told his hearers to understand it. Daniel 11:31Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:35Matthew 24:15
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.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and forces | וּזְרֹעִ֖ים | u-ze-ro-'IM | H2220 | forceאֶדְרַע (ed.ra) strong, force, arm, power Aramaic of ze.ro.a (זְרוֹעַ "arm" H2220) |
| from him | מִמֶּ֣נּוּ | mi-ME-nu | H4480A | fromמִן־ (min) prep 1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than 1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of 1b) out of 1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling) 1b2) (of material from which something is made) 1b3) (of source or origin) 1c) out of, some of, from (partitively) 1d) from, since, after (of time) 1e) than, more than (in comparison) 1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or 1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons) 1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive) conj 2) that … |
| they will arise | יַעֲמֹ֑דוּ | ya-'a-MO-du | H5975I | to stand: standעָמַד (a.mad) : stand/stop/establish 1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of 1a2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease 1a3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast 1a4) to make a stand, hold one's ground 1a5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright 1a6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against … |
| and they will profane | וְחִלְּל֞וּ | ve-chi-le-LU | H2490H | No entry |
| the sanctuary | הַמִּקְדָּ֤שׁ | ha-mik-DASH | H4720 | sanctuaryמִקְדָּשׁ (miq.dash) 1) sacred place, sanctuary, holy place 1a) sanctuary 1a1) of the temple 1a2) of the tabernacle 1a3) of Ezekiel's temple 1a4) of Jehovah |
| the stronghold | הַמָּעוֹז֙ | ha-ma-'OZ | H4581 | securityמָעוֹז (ma.oz) 1) place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold 1a) place of safety, fastness, harbour, stronghold 1b) refuge (of God) (fig.) 1c) human protection (fig.) |
| and they will abolish | וְהֵסִ֣ירוּ | ve-he-SI-ru | H5493G | departedיָסוּר (ya.sur) those departing, revolting |
| the perpetual [offering] | הַתָּמִ֔יד | ha-ta-MID | H8548 | continuallyתָּמִיד (ta.mid) 1) continuity, perpetuity, to stretch 1a) continually, continuously (as adverb) 1b) continuity (subst) |
| and they will set up | וְנָתְנ֖וּ | ve-na-te-NU | H5414H | to give: giveנָתַן (na.tan) : give/deliver/send/produce 1) to give, put, set 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend 1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate 1a3) to make, constitute 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned 1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted … |
| the abomination | הַשִּׁקּ֥וּץ | ha-shi-KUTZ | H8251 | abominationשִׁקּוּץ (shiq.quts) detestable thing or idol, abominable thing, abomination, idol, detested thing |
| desolating | מְשׁוֹמֵֽם׃ | me-sho-MEM | H8074G | be desolate: destroyedשָׁמֵם (sha.mem) : destroyed/deserted 1) to be desolate, be appalled, stun, stupefy 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be desolated, be deflowered, be deserted, be appalled 1a2) to be appalled, be awestruck 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be desolated, be made desolate 1b2) to be appalled 1c) (Polel) 1c1) to be stunned 1c2) appalling, causing horror (participle) 1c2a) horror-causer, appaller (subst) 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to devastate, ravage, make desolated 1d2) to appal, show horror 1e) (Hophal) to lay desolate, be desolated 1f) (Hithpolel) 1f1) to cause to be desolate 1f2) to be appalled, be astounded … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.