Daniel 11:35
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. | Some of the wise will fall, so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. | And some of them that are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedAfter the "vile person" who takes the kingdom (11:21) sets his heart "against the holy covenant" and his forces pollute the sanctuary (11:28-31), the wise among God's people instruct many but fall by sword, flame and captivity (11:32-34). This verse gives the reason some of them fall: to try them, purge them and make them white. It also says the trial has a limit, because the end is "yet for a time appointed." Daniel 11:21Daniel 11:28Daniel 11:30Daniel 11:31Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:33Daniel 11:34Daniel 11:35
SpeakingThe one showing Daniel this vision is speaking. He says "now will I shew thee the truth" (11:2). The verses given here do not name him, and Daniel records this part of the book in the first person. Daniel 11:1Daniel 11:2Daniel overview
ToDaniel hears the vision directly ("shew thee," 11:2). The book is written for God's people in exile and after it, and is sealed "even to the time of the end." Daniel 11:2Daniel overview
Also involved"Them of understanding" are the wise among "the people that do know their God," who "instruct many" (11:32-33). They suffer under a king who has "indignation against the holy covenant" (11:30). Daniel 11:30Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:33
Some of the faithful teachers will fall under persecution. Their falls serve to try, purge and make white, a picture of metal being refined. The trial runs "to the time of the end," which is "yet for a time appointed." Daniel 12:10 says the same: "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried." Daniel 11:35Daniel 12:10Strong's H6884
Daniel served in Babylon under Babylonian and then Persian kings, and wrote from there. The events in this part of the vision center on "the glorious land" and its sanctuary (11:16, 11:31). Daniel overviewDaniel 11:16Daniel 11:31
The eventsIn the vision, this comes after the daily sacrifice is taken away and "the abomination that maketh desolate" is set up (11:31; compare 12:11). The suffering goes on "many days" (11:33) until the appointed end. Daniel 11:31Daniel 11:33Daniel 12:11
WrittenTraditional view: Daniel wrote the book in the 500s BC, and its events run to the third year of Cyrus, about 536 BC. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date the book's final form to about 167-164 BC, under the Greek king Antiochus IV, because chapter 11 describes those years in detail; others hold to the 500s BC date. Daniel overview
HereThe verse tells the faithful that their suffering is not pointless or endless. It works to refine them, and its end is already fixed, as the vision says earlier: "for yet the end shall be at the time appointed" (11:27). Daniel 11:35Daniel 11:27Strong's H4150G
In the whole of ScriptureDaniel's message is that "the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men." Even the proud king only "shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done" (11:36). Zechariah 13:9 also pictures God refining his people "as silver is refined," and Malachi 3:2 says the Lord "is like a refiner's fire." Daniel overviewDaniel 11:36Zechariah 13:9Malachi 3:2
For readersThe New Testament speaks the same way. In Revelation 2:10 the devil will cast some into prison "that ye may be tried," with tribulation "ten days," and they are told, "be thou faithful unto death." Believers may be in heaviness "for a season" (1 Peter 1:6), and those who came out of great tribulation have robes "made white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14). Revelation 2:101 Peter 1:6Revelation 7:14
Christians read this differently
No cited Scripture says exactly what "the time of the end" refers to here. Some Christians read it as the close of this persecution under the king of 11:21-34, an end set by God like "the end" in 11:27. Others read it as the final end of history, since the same phrase leads into 11:40 and the book is sealed "even to the time of the end" (12:4). Daniel 11:35Daniel 11:27Daniel 11:40Daniel overview
- them of understandingשָׂכַל
The word means to have insight or act wisely, and it can also mean to teach, as in "the teachers, the wise." That fits 11:33, where these people "instruct many," and 12:10: "the wise shall understand." Strong's H7919ADaniel 11:33Daniel 12:10
- fallכָּשַׁל
The word means to stumble, stagger or totter. Here it is said of "them of understanding," the faithful teachers of 11:33, not of those who "do wickedly against the covenant" (11:32). Strong's H3782Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:33Daniel 11:35
- tryצָרַף
The word means to smelt, refine or test. It is the picture of metal in a furnace, like "refine them as silver is refined" (Zechariah 13:9) and the "refiner's fire" (Malachi 3:2). Strong's H6884Zechariah 13:9Malachi 3:2
- make them whiteלָבֵן
The word means to make white or purify, including in a moral sense. Daniel 12:10 uses the same picture ("made white"), and Revelation 7:14 speaks of robes "made white." Strong's H3835ADaniel 12:10Revelation 7:14
- time appointedמוֹעֵד
The word means an appointed time or season. It shows the trial has a set limit, in line with 11:27, where "the end shall be at the time appointed." Strong's H4150GDaniel 11:27
Takeaway
When God's faithful people suffer, the suffering is not wasted, and it has an end. It works to refine and cleanse them, and its end is set at a time already appointed. Daniel 11:35Daniel 12:10Zechariah 13:9
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 some of | וּמִן־ | u-min- | 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 … |
| those [who] have insight | הַמַּשְׂכִּילִ֣ים | ha-mas-ki-LIM | H7919A | be prudentשָׂכַל (sa.khal) 1) to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper 1a) (Qal) to be prudent, be circumspect 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to look at or upon, have insight 1b2) to give attention to, consider, ponder, be prudent 1b3) to have insight, have comprehension 1b3a) insight, comprehension (subst) 1b4) to cause to consider, give insight, teach 1b4a) the teachers, the wise 1b5) to act circumspectly, act prudently, act wisely 1b6) to prosper, have success 1b7) to cause to prosper Aramaic equivalent: se.khal (שְׂכַל "to contemplate" H7920) |
| they will stumble | יִכָּֽשְׁל֗וּ | yi-ka-she-LU | H3782 | to stumbleכָּשַׁל (ka.shal) 1) to stumble, stagger, totter 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stumble 1a2) to totter 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to stumble 1b2) to be tottering, be feeble 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to stumble, bring injury or ruin to, overthrow 1c2) to make feeble, make weak 1d) (Hophal) to be made to stumble 1e) (Piel) bereave |
| to refine | לִצְר֥וֹף | litz-ROF | H6884 | to refineצָרַף (tsa.raph) 1) to smelt, refine, test 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to smelt, refine 1a2) to test 1a3) to test (and prove true) 1a4) smelter, refiner, goldsmith (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be refined 1c) (Piel) to be a refiner 1c1) refiner (participle) |
| and to purge [them] | וּלְבָרֵ֥ר | u-le-va-RER | H1305 | to purifyבָּרַר (ba.rar) 1) to purify, select, polish, choose, purge, cleanse or make bright, test or prove 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to purge, purge out, purify 1a2) to choose, select 1a3) to cleanse, make shining, polish 1a4) to test, prove 1b) (Niphal) to purify oneself 1c) (Piel) to purify 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to purify 1d2) to polish arrows 1e) (Hithpael) 1e1) to purify oneself 1e2) to show oneself pure, just, kind |
| and to purify [them] | וְלַלְבֵּ֖ן | ve-lal-BEN | H3835A | to whitenלָבֵן (la.ven) 1) to be white 1a) (Hiphil) 1a1) to make white, become white, purify 1a2) to show whiteness, grow white 1b) (Hithpael) to become white, be purified (ethical) |
| until | עַד־ | 'ad- | H5704 | tillעַד (ad) prep 1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as 1a) of space 1a1) as far as, up to, even to 1b) in combination 1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from) 1c) of time 1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end 1d) of degree 1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like conj 2) until, while, to the point that, so that even Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705) |
| [the] time of | עֵ֣ת | 'et | H6256 | timeעֵת (et) 1) time 1a) time (of an event) 1b) time (usual) 1c) experiences, fortunes 1d) occurrence, occasion |
| [the] end | קֵ֑ץ | Ketz | H7093 | endקֵץ (qets) 1) end 1a) end, at the end of (of time) 1b) end (of space) |
| for | כִּי־ | ki- | H3588A | forכִּי (ki) 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore |
| [it is] still | ע֖וֹד | od | H5750 | stillעוֹד (od) subst 1) a going round, continuance adv 2) still, yet, again, besides 2a) still, yet (of continuance or persistence) 2b) still, yet, more (of addition or repetition) 2c) again 2d) still, moreover, besides Aramaic equivalent: od (עוֹד "still" H5751) |
| to the appointed time | לַמּוֹעֵֽד׃ | la-mo-'ED | H4150G | meeting: time appointedמוֹעֵד (mo.ed) : time_appointed 1) appointed place, appointed time, meeting 1a) appointed time 1a1) appointed time (general) 1a2) sacred season, set feast, appointed season 1b) appointed meeting 1c) appointed place 1d) appointed sign or signal 1e) tent of meeting |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.