Daniel 11:8
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north. | He will take even their gods captive to Egypt, with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold. For some years he will stay away from the king of the North, | And also their gods, with their molten images, and with their goodly vessels of silver and of gold, shall he carry captive into Egypt; and he shall refrain some years from the king of the north. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedDaniel 11 foretells a long contest between "the king of the south" and "the king of the north." In verse 7 one "out of a branch of her roots" storms the northern king's fortress, and verse 8 says he carries their gods, images and treasure back to Egypt as spoil. He also outlasts the king of the north for some years. Daniel 11:6Daniel 11:7Daniel 11:8Daniel 11:9
SpeakingThe one speaking to Daniel, who says "I" stood to strengthen Darius the Mede and now will "shew thee the truth." Daniel 11:1Daniel 11:2
ToDaniel, who records the vision, and through him God's people in exile and after it. Daniel 11:2Daniel overview
Also involvedThe king of the north and his people, whose gods, images and costly vessels are taken. The text does not name this king or the king of the south. It ties the southern king to Egypt. Daniel 11:7Daniel 11:8Daniel 11:9
The victorious southern king takes the northern people's gods into captivity in Egypt, along with their molten images and their desirable vessels of silver and gold. He then outlives his northern rival. Verse 9 adds that he returns to his own land. Daniel 11:8Daniel 11:9Strong's H7628AStrong's H5257AStrong's H2532A
The spoil is taken from the fortress of the king of the north and carried south into Egypt, the southern king's own land. Daniel 11:7Daniel 11:8Daniel 11:9EgyptNorth
The eventsThese events are foretold as coming after three more Persian kings, a fourth rich king, and a mighty king whose kingdom is divided "toward the four winds of heaven." The vision itself belongs to the third year of Cyrus, about 536 BC. Daniel 11:2Daniel 11:3Daniel 11:4Daniel overview
WrittenTraditional: written by Daniel in the 500s BC. Scholarly: many critical scholars date the book's final form to about 167-164 BC, because chapter 11 is so detailed. Others keep the 500s BC date, pointing to Matthew 24:15. Daniel overview
HereThe verse shows one turn in the wars of the north and south. It is told ahead of time so that God's people know the course of events is already known and set by him. Daniel 11:2Daniel 11:27Daniel 11:36Daniel overview
In the whole of ScriptureDaniel teaches that God sets up and removes kings and that his kingdom will never be destroyed. Here even a nation's gods are hauled off as plunder, as Isaiah says of Bel and Nebo, who "could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity." Daniel overviewIsaiah 46:1Isaiah 46:2
For readersGods made of metal cannot even save themselves. Scripture says such gods are "no gods, but the work of men's hands." The LORD alone rules over kings and their idols, as he did over Egypt's gods. Isaiah 37:19Jeremiah 43:12Jeremiah 46:25Numbers 33:4
- molten imagesנָסִיךְ
The lexicon gives "molten images" here. The word means something poured out: a drink-offering or a cast image. The list is about the conquered people's idols and worship objects. Strong's H5257A
- captivityשְׁבִי
The word means captivity or captives. The gods themselves are led off like prisoners of war, matching Isaiah 46:2 and Jeremiah 43:12, where gods are carried away captive. Strong's H7628AIsaiah 46:2Jeremiah 43:12
- desire (precious)חֶמְדָּה
The word means desire, or that which is desirable. The vessels of silver and gold are the treasures the conquered people valued most. Strong's H2532AStrong's H3627
- stand (continue)עָמַד
This verb means to stand, remain or endure. It is the same "stand up" used for kings rising throughout the chapter. Here the southern king "stands" longer than the king of the north. Strong's H5975GDaniel 11:2Daniel 11:3Daniel 11:7
Takeaway
Daniel 11:8 describes a southern king hauling a defeated people's gods and treasure into Egypt. It is one step in a history God revealed before it happened. The idols that nations trusted became plunder, while the Most High rules over every king. Daniel 11:8Isaiah 46:2Daniel overview
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
- Egypt regionMapAbout this place
- North regionMapAbout 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 also | וְגַ֣ם | ve-GAM | H1571 | alsoגַּם (gam) 1) also, even, indeed, moreover, yea 1a) also, moreover (giving emphasis) 1b) neither, neither...nor (with negative) 1c) even (for stress) 1d) indeed, yea (introducing climax) 1e) also (of correspondence or retribution) 1f) but, yet, though (adversative) 1g) even, yea, yea though (with 'when' in hypothetical case) 2) (TWOT) again, alike |
| gods their | אֱֽלֹהֵיהֶ֡ם | 'elo-hei-HEM | H0430J | Godאֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| with | עִם־ | 'im- | H5973A | withעִם (im) 1) with 1a) with 1b) against 1c) toward 1d) as long as |
| molten images their | נְסִֽכֵיהֶם֩ | ne-si-khei-HEM | H5257A | libationנָסִיךְ (ne.sikh) 1) poured out, libation, molten image 1a) libation, drink-offering 1b) molten image |
| with | עִם־ | 'im- | H5973A | withעִם (im) 1) with 1a) with 1b) against 1c) toward 1d) as long as |
| [the] vessels of | כְּלֵ֨י | ke-LEI | H3627 | article/utensilכְּלִי (ke.li) 1) article, vessel, implement, utensil 1a) article, object (general) 1b) utensil, implement, apparatus, vessel 1b1) implement (of hunting or war) 1b2) implement (of music) 1b3) implement, tool (of labour) 1b4) equipment, yoke (of oxen) 1b5) utensils, furniture 1c) vessel, receptacle (general) 1d) vessels (boats) of paper-reed |
| desire their | חֶמְדָּתָ֜ם | chem-da-TAM | H2532A | desireחֶמְדָּה (chem.dah) desire, that which is desirable |
| silver | כֶּ֧סֶף | KE-sef | H3701G | silver: moneyכֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) : money/payment/silver 1) silver, money 1a) silver 1a1) as metal 1a2) as ornament 1a3) as colour 1b) money, shekels, talents |
| and gold | וְזָהָ֛ב | ve-za-HAV | H2091 | goldדְּהַב (de.hav) gold Aramaic of za.hav (זָהָב "gold" H2091) |
| in the captivity | בַּשְּׁבִ֖י | ba-she-VI | H7628A | captivityשְׁבִי (she.vi) 1) captivity, captives 1a) (state of) captivity 1b) (act of) capture 1c) captives |
| he will take | יָבִ֣א | ya-VI' | H0935P | 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 |
| Egypt | מִצְרָ֑יִם | mitz-RA-yim | H4714G | Egyptמָצוֹר (ma.tsor) "Matsor", a name for Egypt Another spelling of mits.ra.yim (מִצְרַ֫יִם "Egypt" H4714G) This name means siege, entrenchment |
| and he | וְהוּא֙ | ve-HU' | H1931 | he/she/itהוּא (hu) pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article) |
| years | שָׁנִ֣ים | sha-NIM | H8141 | yearשְׁנָה (she.nah) year Aramaic of sha.neh (שָׁנָה "year" H8141) |
| he will stand | יַעֲמֹ֔ד | ya-'a-MOD | H5975G | 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 … |
| away from [the] king of | מִמֶּ֖לֶךְ | mi-ME-lekh | H4428G | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) 1) king Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430) |
| the north | הַצָּפֽוֹן׃ | ha-tza-FON | H6828G | northצָפוֹן (tsa.phon) 1) north (of direction), northward 1a) north 1b) northward |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.