The Meaning of Daniel 11:21 Explained

Daniel 11:21

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.

YLT: 'And stood up on his station hath a despicable one, and they have not given unto him the honour of the kingdom, and he hath come in quietly, and hath strengthened the kingdom by flatteries.

Darby: And in his place 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.

ASV: And in his place shall stand up a contemptible person, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in time of security, and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Daniel 11:21 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Seleucid king who succeeded Seleucus IV was the younger son of Antiochus III, namely, Antiochus IV Epiphanes ("Illustrious One," 175-164 B.C.). Antiochus IV honored himself by taking on the name "Epiphanes." As mentioned previously, he linked "Epiphanes" with "Theos" on coins that he minted and so claimed to be "God manifest." However, he proved so untrustworthy that many people made a play on his name and called him "Epimanes" ("Madman"). The throne rightly belonged to one of the sons of Seleucus IV, the former king and brother of Antiochus IV, but Antiochus IV seized it for himself and had himself proclaimed king. He persuaded the leaders of Syria to allow him to rule since Demetrius, the eldest son of Seleucus IV, was being held hostage in Rome. In this way, through scheming to gain power, he secured the throne for himself.

Context Summary

Daniel 11:15-29 - The Despoiler Triumphs For A Time
What a picture is presented in this paragraph of the tangled web of earthly politics. They have been too much, and for too long, in the hands of those who sought only their own aggrandizement to attain which they have been willing to sacrifice their honor, their families, their daughters, their people. The time has arrived when the people themselves, at first hand, must determine their destinies. These intrigues between the kings of Syria on the north and the kings of Egypt on the south have little interest for us, and are recorded here only as affecting the history of the Chosen People. This enables us to realize that the events of the present hour are being overruled by divine Providence in the interests of the Church of Christ. This alone abides; all else is of secondary importance and is rapidly passing away. The eternal purpose stands forever sure-that the Father has committed the empire of the world to our Lord, and is about to sum all things up in Him, who is the Head. [source]

Chapter Summary: Daniel 11

1  The overthrow of Persia by the king of Grecia
5  Leagues and conflicts between the kings of the south and of the north
30  The invasion and tyranny of the Romans

What do the individual words in Daniel 11:21 mean?

And shall arise in his place a vile person and not they will give to whom the honor of royalty but he shall come in peaceably and seize the kingdom by intrigue
וְעָמַ֤ד עַל־ כַּנּוֹ֙ נִבְזֶ֔ה וְלֹא־ נָתְנ֥וּ עָלָ֖יו ה֣וֹד מַלְכ֑וּת וּבָ֣א בְשַׁלְוָ֔ה וְהֶחֱזִ֥יק מַלְכ֖וּת בַּחֲלַקְלַקּֽוֹת

וְעָמַ֤ד  And  shall  arise 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
כַּנּוֹ֙  his  place 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: base, stand, pedestal, office, foot, place, estate.
נִבְזֶ֔ה  a  vile  person 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּזָה 
Sense: to despise, hold in contempt, disdain.
וְלֹא־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
נָתְנ֥וּ  they  will  give 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
עָלָ֖יו  to  whom 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: 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.
ה֣וֹד  the  honor 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הֹוד  
Sense: splendour, majesty, vigour.
מַלְכ֑וּת  of  royalty 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַלְכוּת  
Sense: royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom, sovereign power.
וּבָ֣א  but  he  shall  come  in 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
בְשַׁלְוָ֔ה  peaceably 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שַׁלְוָה  
Sense: quietness, ease, prosperity.
וְהֶחֱזִ֥יק  and  seize 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
מַלְכ֖וּת  the  kingdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַלְכוּת  
Sense: royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom, sovereign power.
בַּחֲלַקְלַקּֽוֹת  by  intrigue 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: חֲלַקְלַק  
Sense: flattery, slipperiness, fine promises, smoothness.