^11:30The ships of Kittim⁶⁷ will come against him, leaving him disheartened.⁶⁸ He will turn back and direct his indignation against the holy covenant. He will return and honor⁶⁹ those who forsake the holy covenant. ^11:31His forces⁷⁰ will rise up and profane the fortified sanctuary,⁷¹ stopping the daily sacrifice. In its place they will set up⁷² the abomination that causes desolation. ^11:32Then with smooth words he will defile⁷³ those who have rejected⁷⁴ the covenant. But the people who are loyal to⁷⁵ their God will act valiantly.⁷⁶

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Daniel 11:32: He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.

Footnotes

67 The name Kittim has various designations in extra-biblical literature. It can refer to a location on the island of Cyprus, or more generally to the island itself, or it can be an inclusive term to refer to parts of the Mediterranean world that lay west of the Middle East (e.g., Rome). For ships of Kittim the Greek OT () has “Romans,” an interpretation followed by a few English versions (e.g., ). A number of times in the Dead Sea Scrolls the word is used in reference to the Romans. Other English versions are more generic: “[ships] of the western coastlands” (, ); “from the west” (, ).
68 This is apparently a reference to the Roman forces, led by Gaius Popilius Laenas, which confronted Antiochus when he came to Egypt and demanded that he withdraw or face the wrath of Rome. Antiochus wisely withdrew from Egypt, albeit in a state of bitter frustration.
69 Heb “show regard for.”
70 Heb “arms.”
71 Heb “the sanctuary, the fortress.”
72 Heb “will give.”
73 Or “corrupt.”
74 Heb “acted wickedly toward.”
75 Heb “know.” The term “know” sometimes means “to recognize.” In relational contexts it can have the connotation “recognize the authority of, be loyal to,” as it does here.
76 This is an allusion to the Maccabean revolt, which struggled to bring about Jewish independence in the second century B.C.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall be afraid and withdraw, and shall turn back and be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant. Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.

“His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Ships of Kittim will come against him, and being intimidated, he will withdraw. Then he will rage against the holy covenant and take action. On his return, he will favor those who abandon the holy covenant. His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the regular sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation. With flattery he will corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will be strong and take action.

NLTNew Living Translation

For warships from western coastlands will scare him off, and he will withdraw and return home. But he will vent his anger against the people of the holy covenant and reward those who forsake the covenant.

“His army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration. He will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And the ships of Kittim will come against him, and he will lose heart, and he will turn back, and he will be enraged against the holy covenant, and he will take action, and he will turn back, and he will pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant. And military forces from him will occupy and will profane the sanctuary stronghold, and they will abolish the regular burnt offering, and they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.

“And those who violate the covenant he will seduce with flattery, but the persons who know their God will stand firm and will take action.

KJV 1900King James Version

For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. 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. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

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