God’s Word Translation
Daniel 11:21
21“A contemptible person will take his place. He will not be given royal splendor. He will invade when people are feeling secure, and he will seize the kingdom using false promises.
Daniel 11:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
- New International Version (NIV)“He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue.
- English Standard Version (ESV)In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue.
Context of Daniel 11:21
19He will turn back toward the fortresses in his own country, but he will stumble, fall, and disappear. 20“Another king will take his place. He will have a cruel official go out in royal splendor. But in a few days the king will be destroyed, although not in anger or war. “A contemptible person will take his place. He will not be given royal splendor. He will invade when people are feeling secure, and he will seize the kingdom using false promises. 22He will overwhelm large forces and defeat them, including the prince of the promise. 23After an alliance has been made with him, he will act deceitfully and rise to power with only a few people.
Read all of Daniel 11Daniel 11:21 word by word
וְעָמַ֤ד עַל־כַּנּוֹ֙ נִבְזֶ֔ה וְלֹא־נָתְנ֥וּ עָלָ֖יו ה֣וֹד מַלְכ֑וּת וּבָ֣א בְשַׁלְוָ֔ה וְהֶחֱזִ֥יק מַלְכ֖וּת בַּחֲלַקְלַקּֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And in his estateכֵּןkên · standH3653
- shall stand upעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: riseH5975
- a vile personבָּזָהbâzâh · to despiseH959
- to whom they shall not giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- the honourהוֹדhôd · splendorH1935
- of the kingdomמַלְכוּתmalkûth malkûth malkûyâh · royaltyH4438
- but he shall comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- in peaceablyשַׁלְוָהshalvâh · easeH7962
- and obtainחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: prevail overH2388
- by flatteriesחֲלַקְלַקּוֹתchălaqlaqqâh · smoothnessH2519
Cross-references for Daniel 11:21
- Daniel 11:7“At that time a shoot will grow from her roots to replace her father. He will attack the northern army, enter the stronghold of the northern king, fight against them, and be victorious.
- Daniel 7:8While I was thinking about the horns, another horn, a little horn, came up among them. It uprooted three of the other horns. This horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that spoke impressive things.
- Daniel 8:9Out of one of the horns came a small horn. It gained power over the south, the east, and the beautiful land.
- 1 Samuel 3:13I told him that I would hand down a permanent judgment against his household because he knew about his sons’ sin—that they were cursing God —but he didn’t try to stop them.
- Psalms 12:8Wicked people parade around when immorality increases among Adam’s descendants.
- Psalms 15:4The one who despises those rejected by God but honors those who fear the Lord. The one who makes a promise and does not break it, even though he is hurt by it.
- Isaiah 32:5Godless fools will no longer be called nobles, nor will scoundrels be considered gentlemen.
- Nahum 1:14The Lord has given this command about you, Nineveh: You will no longer have descendants to carry on your name. I will remove the wooden and metal idols from the temple of your gods. I will prepare your grave because you are worthless.
- Daniel 11:32With flattery he will corrupt those who abandon the promise. But the people who know their God will be strong and take action.
- Judges 9:1Abimelech, son of Jerubbaal [Gideon], went to Shechem to see the uncles on his mother’s side of the family. He spoke to them and his mother’s whole family.
- 2 Samuel 15:2Absalom used to get up early and stand by the road leading to the city gate. When anyone had a case to be tried by King David, Absalom would ask, “Which city are you from?” After the person had told him which tribe in Israel he was from,
- Psalms 55:21His speech is smoother than butter, but there is war in his heart. His words are more soothing than oil, but they are like swords ready to attack.
Commentaries on Daniel 11:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21In his estate shall stand up a vile person - This was Antiochus, surnamed Epiphanes - the Illustrious. They did not give him the honor of the kingdom: he was at Athens, on his way from Rome, when his father died; and Heliodorus had declared himself king, as had several others. But Antiochus came in peaceably, for he obtained the kingdom by flatteries. He flattered Eumenes, king of Pergamus, and Attalus his brother, and got their assistance. He flattered…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21And in his estate - In his place. See the notes at Daniel 11:7, Daniel 11:20. Shall stand up a vile person - There shall succeed to the throne. The reference here is to Antiochus Epiphanes, who reigned from 175 b.c. to 163 b.c. The epithet “vile” here given him was one which his subsequent history showed was eminently appropriate to him in all respects, as a man and as a prince. The Hebrew word rendered “vile” - נבזה nı̂bezeh - properly means one despised…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-39Antiochus IV Epiphanes came to power next, ruling from 175 to 163 BC. He is the small horn mentioned in Daniel 8:9–14, 23–26. His story is vividly described in 1 Maccabees 1:7–6:16; 2 Maccabees 1:1–10:5; 4 Maccabees 4:15–18:5. Antiochus was considered despicable because he seized the throne and for his actions as king. He was not in line for royal succession and took the throne from his brother’s son.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. vile--Antiochus called Epiphanes, that is, "the illustrious," for vindicating the claims of the royal line against Heliodorus, was nicknamed, by a play of sounds, Epimanes, that is, "the madman," for his mad freaks beneath the dignity of a king. He would carouse with the lowest of the people, bathe with them in the public baths, and foolishly jest and throw stones at passers-by [Polybius, 26.10]. Hence, as also for his crafty supplanting of Demetrius…Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 11:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Daniel 11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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