Daniel 11:28 · Bible study
Daniel 11:28 Commentary: Antiochus Turns Against the Holy Covenant
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Scholarly study of Daniel 11:28: Antiochus Epiphanes' return from Egypt, his violent attack on the Jewish covenant, and its theological meaning.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Antiochus IV returns from Egypt with wealth, then turns his rage against God's covenant people, attacking Jerusalem and desecrating the temple.
- Key words: 'Return' (שׁוּב, H7725), repeated twice to show his temporary retreat; 'holy covenant' (בְּרִית קֹדֶשׁ), the divine institution of Israel; 'heart' (לֵבָב), seat of will and hostility.
- Main debate: Whether the 'holy covenant' refers primarily to the people of Israel or the divinely established religious order; most commentators side with the latter (Calvin, Keil).
- Theological theme: God's sovereignty over oppressive rulers. Even Antiochus's rage serves God's appointed timetable. The covenant's holiness contrasts with the king's profanity.
- Best use: Preaching on the reality of persecution, God's control of history, and the cost of covenant faithfulness, with the hope that the appointed end will come (Dan 11:27, 35).
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
The king of the North will return to his land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant; so he will do damage and return to his own land.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Then he will return into his land with great wealth. His heart will be against the holy covenant. He will take action, and return to his own land.
KJV King James Version 1769
Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Then shall he return into his land with great substance; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do his pleasure, and return to his own land.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And he turneth back to his land with great substance, and his heart is against the holy covenant, and he hath wrought, and turned back to his land.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And he shall return into his land with great substance; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall practise, and return to his own land.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And he shall return into his land with much riches: and his heart shall be against the holy covenant, and he shall succeed, and shall return into his own land.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y volveráse á su tierra con grande riqueza, y su corazón será contra el pacto santo: hará pues, y volveráse á su tierra.
E voltará para sua terra com grande riqueza, e seu coração será contra o pacto santo; e ele fará o que decidir , e voltará a sua terra.
Il retournera dans son pays avec de grandes richesses; il sera dans son cœur hostile à l’ alliance sainte, il agira contre elle, puis retournera dans son pays.
Darnach wird er wiederum heimziehen mit großem Gut und sein Herz richten wider den heiligen Bund; da wird er es ausrichten und also heim in sein Land ziehen.
En hij zal in zijn land wederkeren met groot goed, en zijn hart zal zijn tegen het heilig verbond; en hij zal het doen, en wederkeren in zijn land.
E quegli tornerà al suo paese con grandi ricchezze; il suo cuore formerà dei disegni contro al patto santo, ed egli li eseguirà, poi tornerà al suo paese.
Przetoż się wróci do ziemi swojej z bogactwy wielkiemi, a serce jego obróci się przeciwko przymierzu świętemu; co uczyniwszy wróci się do ziemi swojej.
И отправится он в землю свою с великим богатством и враждебным намерением против святаго завета, и он исполнит его, и возвратится в свою землю.
北方王（原文是他）必帶許多 財寶 回往 本國，他的心 反對 聖 約，任意而行，回到 本地。
And he will go back to his land with great wealth; and his heart will be against the holy agreement; and he will do his pleasure and go back to his land.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Daniel 11:28
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Daniel 11:28 refers to Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid king, returning from his first Egyptian campaign laden with spoils. Barnes, Clarke, Keil, and others point to 1 Maccabees 1:19-24 as the historical record. The phrase 'his heart will be against the holy covenant' describes his hostile turn toward the Jewish theocracy. Antiochus, enraged by a false rumor of his own death that triggered a revolt in Jerusalem under Jason, attacked Jerusalem, slaughtered thousands, desecrated the temple, and plundered its treasures (2 Maccabees 5:5-14). The verse concludes with his return to Syria, having 'done exploits', a verb that carries a pregnant sense of accomplishing his malicious purpose against God's people. Calvin notes that 'covenant' refers to the divine institution rather than merely the people, so the attack is essentially war against God.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse refers to a specific historical king who, after gaining wealth from Egypt, turned violently against the Jewish religious order, massacring and plundering before returning to his own land.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the king | All supplied commentators identify the king as Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid ruler of Syria in the 2nd century BC. | Some later interpreters see Antiochus as a type of a future antichrist, but the historical consensus holds that the primary referent is Antiochus himself. The debate is about how far to extend typological readings. |
| Meaning of 'holy covenant' | It refers to God's covenant with Israel, the religious and national order established by divine law. | A minority reading understands it as the covenant people themselves, but Calvin and Keil argue it is the divine institution, including temple, priesthood, and law. |
| Interpretation of 'he shall do exploits' | All commentators take it as Antiochus's vicious acts against Jerusalem, massacre, plunder, temple desecration. | The Hebrew verb simply says 'he will do' (וְעָשָׂה), and translations vary: 'take action' (WEB), 'do exploits' (KJV), 'do damage' (BSB). The debate is about the nuance, but all agree it denotes carrying out his murderous intent. |
| Connection to end-times prophecy | The passage is a literal prophecy fulfilled in Antiochus; it also echoes in later scriptural imagery (e.g., the 'abomination that makes desolate'). | Some traditions (e.g., historicist) see Antiochus as a direct type of the final antichrist, while others (preterist) limit the fulfillment to the Maccabean period. Amillennial and premillennial positions differ on the scope of the typology. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Daniel 11:28 sits within the book's longest prophetic survey, detailing conflict between the 'king of the North' (the Seleucid empire) and the 'king of the South' (Ptolemaic Egypt). Antiochus IV Epiphanes (reigned 175, 164 BC) had launched a successful campaign against Egypt around 170 BC, capturing Memphis and much of the country. He returned with great wealth, the spoils of Egypt, including tribute extorted from the Ptolemies.
On his way back to Syria, a false report of his death reached Judea. Jason, who had been high priest but had been supplanted by his brother Menelaus, led a coup against Jerusalem, hoping to reclaim his office. Menelaus fled to the citadel, and Jason slaughtered many citizens (2 Maccabees 5:5-6). When news reached Antiochus, he assumed the entire Jewish nation had revolted. Furious, he detoured to Jerusalem with his army.
The 'holy covenant' embodies the entire religious order of Israel: the temple, the priesthood, the law, and the people as God's chosen. Antiochus entered the sanctuary, removed the golden altar, lampstand, and other sacred vessels, and sacrificed swine on the altar, the ultimate desecration. The Cambridge Bible notes that the phrase 'and he shall do' (v. 28) is used in a pregnant sense, meaning he will carry out his malicious intent. The verse ends with his return to his own land, but the narrative continues in verses 29-30 with a second Egyptian campaign thwarted by Rome, leading to further rage against the covenant.
Historical sources, 1 Maccabees 1:20-24, 2 Maccabees 5:11-21, and Josephus, confirm the massacre of 80,000 people and the sale of 40,000 into slavery. This persecution sparked the Maccabean revolt, a defining moment of Jewish resistance and hope.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Daniel 11:28. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, with no major differences between the Masoretic Text and the versions. Some translations render the final clause 'he shall do his pleasure' (ASV) or 'he will take action' (WEB), but the foundational verb (עָשָׂה) is consistent. The repetition of 'return' (יָשֹׁב, שָׁב) in the verse is original and intentional, marking the circular movement of Antiochus's campaign.
Reception History
Daniel 11:28 has been read in Jewish and Christian traditions primarily as a prediction of Antiochus's persecution. The first-century Jewish historian Josephus (Antiquities 12.5) and the books of Maccabees were used by early interpreters to confirm the prophecy's literal fulfillment. In Christian reception, Antiochus became a stock figure of the proud persecutor, a type of the antichrist. Early church fathers like Jerome saw in this passage a warning about the final enemy of God's people. The Reformation-era commentators (Calvin, Geneva Notes) stressed God's sovereignty over the king's rage. In modern scholarship, the verse is a key text for historical-critical study of Daniel's prophecies, confirming the book's Maccabean-era setting for many critics, while conservative scholars affirm predictive prophecy. The verse also features in discussions of typology, contrasting the temporary success of evil with the enduring covenant.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Wealth from the world, rage against God. Antiochus returns rich but hostile; earthly success does not produce humility. Success can harden the heart against God.
- The holy covenant under attack. The covenant people suffer not because God abandoned them but because evil stands against God's purposes. Suffering for faithfulness is not defeat.
- God's sovereign timeline. The verse twice says Antiochus 'returns to his own land', a framing that shows God sets limits on evil. The king's rage leads him where God permits, not where he intends forever.
Five-point outline
- Antiochus returns from Egypt with great wealth (v. 28a)
- His heart is set against the holy covenant (v. 28b)
- He takes violent action against Jerusalem and the temple (v. 28c)
- He returns to his own land, a temporary retreat (v. 28d)
- The pattern repeats: again in v. 30 he rages against the covenant, showing relentless opposition to God's people
Illustration hooks
- A business leader who gains a fortune but then turns against former friends or faith commitments. Success can become a platform for hostility.
- A false rumor that divides a church or family. Antiochus reacted to a rumor; his response escalated into tragic violence. How we handle unverified reports matters.
- The experience of a minority group that becomes scapegoated when a ruler needs distraction from failures. Antiochus used the Jews as a lightning rod for his anger.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this verse mean God's people will always face persecution from powerful rulers?
- How can we see God's control when evil people seem to succeed?
- What does 'holy covenant' mean for Christians today, are we under that same covenant?
Leading a Discussion
Daniel 11:28 shows a moment when secular power turns deliberately against God's order. As you read the verse together, notice the sequence: wealth first, hostility second. Antiochus's heart is 'against the holy covenant', not just against a people, but against God's arrangement with Israel. This discussion helps the group see both the historical event and its lasting warning.
Discussion questions
- What does the verse tell us about the character of Antiochus? How does the mention of 'great wealth' before the attack shape your impression?
- What is 'the holy covenant' in the context of Daniel? How is it different from a political alliance? (See Acts 3:25 for a New Testament link.)
- Why would a ruler turn against religion in general or the Jewish faith in particular? What pressures might lead to this? (Consider the historical rumor of revolt.)
- Verse 28 says Antiochus 'will take action.' What actions did he take according to the commentaries? How do those actions match or exceed what you expected?
- How does God's sovereignty appear in this verse? Look at the phrase 'he will return to his own land', what does that framing imply about limitations on evil?
- If you were a Jewish believer living through Antiochus's attack, how would this prophecy have helped you? Would it feel like comfort or more pressure?
- What does this verse teach us about how Christians should view government power? Can rulers ever be trusted with the things of God?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Daniel 8:24 | His power will be mighty, but not by his own power. He will destroy awesomely, and will prosper in what he does. He will destroy the mighty ones and the holy people. |
| Daniel 11:22 | The overwhelming forces will be overwhelmed from before him, and will be broken. Yes, also the prince of the covenant. |
| Daniel 11:30 | For ships of Kittim will come against him. Therefore he will be grieved, and will return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and will take action. He will even return, and have regard to those who forsake the holy covenant. |
| Daniel 11:32 | He will corrupt those who do wickedly against the covenant by flatteries; but the people who know their God will be strong and take action. |
| Acts 3:25 | You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘All the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring.’ |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke identifies the prophecy as fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphanes, who returned from Egypt loaded with plunder and then attacked Jerusalem. He cites historical accounts of the king slaughtering thousands, selling survivors as slaves, defiling the temple by boiling swine's flesh and sprinkling its broth, and looting sacred treasures.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes keys in on the historical trigger: a false rumor of Antiochus's death prompted Jason's revolt, making the king think all Jews had rebelled. This explains why Antiochus, already enriched from Egypt, turned his fury on the covenant people and devastated Jerusalem on his way home.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin reads Antiochus's attack on the holy covenant as motivated by frustration: denied the spoils he expected from Egypt, he turned his anger against Jerusalem and the temple. This is no mere political raid but war against God himself, since Antiochus could not enrich himself as planned.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator observes that the Hebrew text does not indicate a strict chronological order in this verse. The return to his own land is mentioned before the actions against the holy covenant, even though historically it occurred after them, and this return is then repeated in its proper place at the end.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note emphasizes that the king's return with great wealth is directly motivated by his enmity toward the holy covenant. His hostility drives his actions, so he plunders and then returns to his own land.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill identifies the "great riches" as Antiochus's spoils from Egypt, and his "heart against the holy covenant" as rage kindled by a false rumor of his own death, which sparked a Jewish revolt. He then details the massacre and temple plunder that followed, reading the verse as a precise prophecy of these events.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB identifies Jerusalem as the metropolis of God's covenant people and ties the attack on it directly to the phrase against the holy covenant. He notes that Antiochus accomplished his purpose by entering the sanctuary guided by the high priest Menelaus, then committing specific blasphemies including sacrificing swine on the altar.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch insists that "the holy covenant" in this verse means the divine institution of the Old Covenant itself, not merely the covenant people. By naming the covenant rather than the people, the text portrays Antiochus's actions as a direct assault on the kingdom of God. The Hebrew verb form hints that this very undertaking is what brings about his destruction by divine decree.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the remarkably detailed predictions of conflicts between the Seleucid and Ptolemaic kingdoms were likely added later by a Maccabean writer. Only the broader framework covering Persia, Alexander, and the final antichrist-like king is genuinely Danielic. The precise historical correspondences serve to strengthen Israel's trust during the Antiochian persecution.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry focuses on the character of Antiochus Epiphanes as a "vile person" who seizes power through flattery and deceit rather than rightful honor. He observes that Antiochus directs his treachery especially against the holy covenant, using lies and betrayal to attack God's people, yet all his schemes remain under God's sovereign timetable and ultimately do not prosper.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley identifies the returning figure as Antiochus Epiphanes carrying plunder from Egypt. He then clarifies that acting against the holy covenant means opposing God’s law and attacking the people who worship God according to His will.