Daniel 11 · Verse 21

Daniel 11:21

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.
Daniel 11:21, King James Version

Daniel 11:21 in other translations

BSBIn his place a despicable person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come in a time of peace and seize the kingdom by intrigue.
WEB“In his place a contemptible person will stand up, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom; but he will come in a time of security, and will obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
ASVAnd 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.
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.
DARBYAnd 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.
BBEAnd his place will be taken by a low person, to whom the honour of the kingdom had not been given: but he will come in time of peace and will get the kingdom by fair words.
WebsterAnd in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

What does Daniel 11:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. 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, the rightful heir, from the throne, he is termed "vile." they shall not give ... kingdom: but ... by flatteries--The nation shall not, by a public act, confer the kingdom on him, but he shall obtain it by artifice, "flattering" Eumenes and Attalus of Pergamos to help him, and, as he had seen candidates at Rome doing, canvassing the Syrian people high and low, one by one, with embraces [Livy, 41.20].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 In 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 the Romans, and sent ambassadors to court their favor, and pay them the arrears of the tribute. He flattered the Syrians, and gained their concurrence; and as he flattered the Syrians, so they flattered him, giving him the epithet of Epiphanes - the Illustrious. But that he was what the prophet here calls him, a vile person, is fully evident from what Polybius says of him, from Athenians, lib. v.: "He was every man's companion: he resorted to the common shops, and prattled with the workmen: he frequented the common taverns, and ate and drank with the meanest fellows, singing debauched songs," etc., etc. On this account a contemporary writer, and others after him, instead of Epiphanes, called him Epimanes - the Madman.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Daniel 11:1-30

The vision of the Scriptures of truth. Verses 1-30 The angel shows Daniel the succession of the Persian and Grecian empires. The kings of Egypt and Syria are noticed: Judea was between their dominions, and affected by their contests. From Dn 11:5-30, is generally considered to relate to the events which came to pass during the continuance of these governments; and from Dn 11:21, to relate to Antiochus Epiphanes, who…

Read the full comment on Daniel 11:1-30 →

Daniel 11:21 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְעָמַ֤דve.'a.Madand he will ariseH5975
עַל\־'al-onH5921
כַּנּוֹ֙ka.Noplace hisH3653
נִבְזֶ֔הniv.Zeha despicable [person]H959
וְלֹא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
נָתְנ֥וּna.te.Nupeople had givenH5414
עָלָ֖יו'a.Lavto himH5921
ה֣וֹדHod[the] honor ofH1935
מַלְכ֑וּתmal.KhutroyaltyH4438
וּבָ֣אu.Va'and he will comeH935
בְשַׁלְוָ֔הve.shal.Vahin quietnessH7962
וְהֶחֱזִ֥יקve.he.che.Zikand he will take hold ofH2388
מַלְכ֖וּתmal.KhutroyaltyH4438
בַּחֲלַקְלַקּֽוֹת\׃ba.cha.lak.la.Kotby intriguesH2519

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Daniel 11:21

  • Daniel 11:34

    Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.

  • Daniel 8:25

    And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

  • Judges 9:1-20

    And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh. And his mother’s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother. And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal–berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him. …

  • Psalms 55:21

    The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

  • Daniel 8:9

    And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.

  • Psalms 15:4

    In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

  • Daniel 8:23

    And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

  • 2 Samuel 15:2-6

    And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. …

  • Psalms 12:8

    The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

  • 1 Samuel 3:13

    For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

  • Daniel 11:20

    Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.

  • Daniel 11:32

    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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
estate. or, place.
7,20
shall stand.
7:8; 8:9,23,25
a vile person.Antiochus Epiphanes, called also {Epimanes,} or madman, for his despicable conduct.
1Sa 3:13; Ps 12:8; 15:4; Isa 32:5; Na 1:14
by flatteries.
32,34; Jud 9:1-20; 2Sa 15:2-6; Ps 55:21

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Daniel 11:20

    Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.

  • Daniel 11:21

    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.

  • Daniel 11:22

    And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.

Read all of Daniel 11

Daniel 11:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y sucederá en su lugar un vil, al cual no darán la honra del reino: vendrá empero con paz, y tomará el reino con halagos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et un homme méprisé s’élèvera à sa place, auquel on ne donnera pas l’honneur du royaume; mais il entrera paisiblement, et prendra possession du royaume par des flatteries;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und an seiner Statt wird ein Verachteter aufstehen, auf den man nicht die Würde des Königtums legen wird; und er wird unversehens kommen und durch Schmeicheleien sich des Königtums bemächtigen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et stabit in loco ejus despectus, et non tribuetur ei honor regius: et veniet clam, et obtinebit regnum in fraudulentia.