Daniel 11:36 · Bible study
Daniel 11:36 Commentary: The Arrogant King and God's Decree
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study Daniel 11:36: a king who exalts himself above all gods, speaks against the God of gods, and the sovereignty of God's decreed plan.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A prophecy of a proud king who exalts himself above all gods and speaks against God, but whose success is limited by God's sovereign decree.
- Key words: Will (רָצוֹן), exalt (Hithpael), magnify (Hithpael), marvellous (נִפְלָאוֹת), indignation (זַעַם), decree (נֶחֱרָצָה)
- Main debate: Whether the king is solely Antiochus Epiphanes, a future antichrist, or a type of both.
- Theological theme: God's sovereignty over human arrogance; evil has limits set by God's preordained plan.
- Best use: Teaching on God's control in history, especially when evil seems triumphant.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then the king will do as he pleases and will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must be accomplished.
WEB World English Bible 2000
“The king will do according to his will. He will exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and will speak marvelous things against the God of gods. He will prosper until the indignation is accomplished, for that which is determined will be done.
KJV King James Version 1769
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`And the king hath done according to his will, and exalteth himself, and magnifieth himself against every god, and against the God of gods he speaketh wonderful things, and hath prospered till the indignation hath been completed, for that which is determined hath been done.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above everygod, and speak monstrous things against the God ofgods; and he shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished: for that which is determined shall be done.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the king shall do according to his will, and he shall be lifted up, and shall magnify himself against every god: and he shall speak great things against the God of gods, and shall prosper, till the wrath be accomplished. For the determination is made.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y el rey hará á su voluntad; y se ensoberbecerá, y se engrandecerá sobre todo dios: y contra el Dios de los dioses hablará maravillas, y será prosperado, hasta que sea consumada la ira: porque hecha está determinación.
E o rei fará a sua vontade; e se exaltará, e se engrandecerá sobre todo deus; ele falará coisas arrogantes contra o Deus dos deuses, e será próspero, até que a ira se complete; pois o que está determinado será feito.
Le roi fera ce qu’ il voudra; il s’ élèvera, il se glorifiera au-dessus de tous les dieux, et il dira des choses incroyables contre le Dieu des dieux; il prospérera jusqu’ à ce que la colère soit consommée, car ce qui est arrêté s’ accomplira.
Und der König wird tun, was er will, und wird sich erheben und aufwerfen wider alles, was Gott ist; und wider den Gott aller Götter wird er greulich reden; und es wird ihm gelingen, bis der Zorn aus sei; denn es muß geschehen, was beschlossen ist.
En die koning zal doen naar zijn welgevallen, en hij zal zichzelven verheffen, en groot maken boven allen God, en hij zal tegen den God der goden wonderlijke dingen spreken; en hij zal voorspoedig zijn, totdat de gramschap voleind zij, want het is vastelijk besloten, het zal geschieden.
E il re agirà a suo talento, si estollerà, si magnificherà al disopra d’ogni dio, e proferirà cose inaudite contro l’Iddio degli dèi; prospererà finché l’indignazione sia esaurita; poiché quello ch’è decretato si compirà.
Tak uczyni król według woli swojej, i podniesie się i wielmożnym się uczyni nad każdego boga, i przeciwko Bogu nad bogami dziwne rzeczy mówić będzie, i poszczęści mu się, aż się dokona gniew, ażby się to, co jest postanowiono, wykonało.
И будет поступать царь тот по своему произволу, и вознесется и возвеличится выше всякого божества, и о Боге богов станет говорить хульное и будет иметь успех, доколе не совершится гнев: ибо, что предопределено, то исполнится.
王 必任意 而行，自高 自大，超過 所有的 神，又用 奇異的話 攻擊 萬神 之神。他必行事亨通，直到 主的忿怒 完畢，因為 所定的事 必然成就。
And the king will do his pleasure; he will put himself on high, lifting himself over every god, and saying things to be wondered at against the God of gods; and all will be well for him till the wrath is complete; for what has been purposed will be done.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Daniel 11:36
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Scholars across traditions agree that this verse portrays a ruler who arrogantly asserts his own will (כִרְצוֹנוֹ), exalts himself above every god, and utters blasphemies against the God of gods. The Hebrew verb forms, reflexive Hithpaels (יִתְרוֹמֵם, יִתְגַּדֵּל) and the Niphal participle נִפְלָאוֹת ('extraordinary, marvellous things'), emphasize self-deification and audacious speech. Barnes points out that Antiochus Epiphanes fits this description, as he assumed divine honors and forced worship of Zeus. Gill and JFB see this as pointing to a future Antichrist, with Antiochus as a type. The king's success is limited: he prospers only until God's indignation (זַעַם) is exhausted. The perfect verbs נֶחֱרָצָה ('decreed') and נֶעֱשָׂתָה ('shall be done') affirm that the Lord's purpose is settled. Thus, while interpreters differ on the identity of the king, they agree that God's sovereignty governs even the most rebellious ruler.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: High
Main views:
- Antiochus Epiphanes alone: The immediate context describes Antiochus (v.21-35); no clear transition to a later figure is indicated.
- Antiochus as type of Antichrist: Some features exceed Antiochus, but he serves as a pattern (JFB, many Reformed interpreters).
- Antichrist directly: The exaltation above every god and blasphemy matches 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Antiochus still worshipped Zeus.
What is clear: The king exalts himself arrogantly against God and will be stopped only when God's decreed judgment is complete.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the king | The description fits a proud, blasphemous ruler who exalts himself against God. | Some see only Antiochus Epiphanes (Barnes, Cambridge). Others see Antiochus as a type of a future Antichrist (Gill, JFB). Still others read the passage as directly referring to Antichrist (Keil & Delitzsch). |
| Extent of self-exaltation | The king magnifies himself above every god and claims ultimate authority. | Antiochus identified himself with Zeus, but continued to honor other gods. Some argue this points beyond him to a figure who claims absolute divinity (2 Thessalonians 2:4). |
| Nature of the indignation | The indignation (זַעַם) is God's wrath against His people for their sins. | Is this limited to the Maccabean period (ca. 167 BC) or does it extend to an eschatological time of trouble? Matthew Henry applies it to the Jewish rejection of Christ; others see it as ongoing. |
| Role of divine decree | God's decree is fixed and unstoppable; the king's success is temporary. | All traditions affirm God's sovereignty here, but they differ on whether this implies a specific endpoint in history or a general principle of divine control. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Daniel 11 offers one of the most detailed prophecies in Scripture, spanning Persian, Greek, and Seleucid history before turning to the end times. Verse 36 stands near the climax of the chapter. The preceding verses (21, 35) describe Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175, 164 BC), a Seleucid king who desecrated the Jerusalem temple and persecuted the Jewish faithful. Antiochus called himself 'Epiphanes' (God Manifest) and issued coins with his image crowned with rays, claiming divine honors. He set up an altar to Zeus Olympius in the Temple, an act Daniel calls 'the abomination that makes desolate' (Dan 11:31; 12:11). The phrase 'do according to his will' echoes earlier descriptions of Alexander (Dan 11:3) and reflects absolute autocracy.
The Cambridge Bible notes that Antiochus magnified himself above every god by selecting which deities to honor and assuming divine titles. Yet commentators like Keil and Delitzsch argue that Antiochus did not truly exalt himself above all gods, since he still worshipped Zeus. They see the language as better fitting a future figure who claims ultimate authority. The 'indignation' (זַעַם) refers to God's disciplinary wrath against Israel for their sins, a theme from Isaiah 10:25. The verse ends with a declaration of God's fixed decree (נֶחֱרָצָה), assuring readers that even this tyrant's power has limits set by the Lord.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts.
Reception History
Early Christian interpreters, including Jerome, viewed Daniel 11:36 as referring both to Antiochus Epiphanes and to a future Antichrist, seeing Antiochus as a type. During the Reformation, Protestant commentators like Gill and the Geneva Bible applied the passage to the Papacy, identifying the 'man of sin' (2 Thessalonians 2) with the pope. Jewish tradition has varied, with some rabbis linking the king to the Roman Empire. In modern scholarship, many critical commentators read the verse as referring solely to Antiochus, while conservative interpreters often maintain a dual reference. The verse has been used in hymns and liturgies dealing with God's sovereignty over oppressive powers.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Arrogance of the King. He acts entirely by his own will, exalting and magnifying himself above every god. His self-will becomes a form of idolatry, placing himself at the center of all things.
- The Blasphemy of the King. He speaks 'marvellous things' against the God of gods, not merely insults, but claims that rival the Creator's authority. This mirrors the 'little horn' of Daniel 7.
- The Limits of the King. He prospers only until God's indignation is exhausted. The decree is irreversible: what God has determined will be done. The tyrant's time is measured.
Five-point outline
- Self-will as the root of rebellion (v.36a)
- Self-exaltation above every god (v.36b)
- Blasphemy against the Most High (v.36c)
- Temporary success under divine restraint (v.36d)
- The certainty of God's sovereign decree (v.36e)
Illustration hooks
- A modern dictator erects statues and controls all media, demanding absolute loyalty. His ambition seems unstoppable. But history shows such towers of pride always fall, as Nebuchadnezzar learned.
- A corporate executive who believes he answers to no one, making decisions that harm others for personal gain. Eventually, his empire collapses. The biblical pattern holds.
- The shock of hearing someone openly mock God. This verse names that reality: the king speaks 'extraordinary' (נִפְלָאוֹת) things, so outrageous they stun even the cynical.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can God allow evil rulers to prosper and persecute His people?
- Is this verse about a specific historical person, or does it point to a future antichrist? Does it matter?
- What comfort does this verse give when political powers seem to defy God openly?
Leading a Discussion
This passage confronts us with the reality of human pride and the certainty of God's sovereign plan. When evil leaders seem to succeed, how do we hold onto faith? Daniel's prophecy assures us that even the most arrogant king operates within boundaries set by God. These questions will help your group explore the text and apply its truths.
Discussion questions
- What specific actions does the king take in Daniel 11:36? List the verbs used in the verse.
- The Hebrew uses reflexive verb forms for 'exalt himself' and 'magnify himself.' What does this language suggest about the king's self-perception?
- How does the phrase 'marvellous things' (נִפְלָאוֹת) relate to the description of the 'little horn' in Daniel 7:8, 25?
- In what sense does the king 'prosper' only temporarily? What limits his success?
- Read Isaiah 10:25. How does the term 'indignation' (זַעַם) connect God's judgment on Israel with the actions of this king?
- The verse ends with 'for that which is determined shall be done.' How does this affect how you view current events and world leaders?
- If this king represents both a historical figure and a future pattern, what does that teach about the nature of evil and God's response to it?
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)
| Deuteronomy 10:17 | For Yahweh your God, he is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t respect persons or take bribes. |
| Joshua 22:22 | “The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, the Mighty One, God, Yahweh, he knows; and Israel shall know: if it was in rebellion, or if in trespass against Yahweh (don’t save us today), |
| Job 23:13 | But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does. |
| Job 23:14 | For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him. |
| Psalms 33:10 | Yahweh brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. He makes the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect. |
| Psalms 136:2 | Give thanks to the God of gods, for his loving kindness endures forever. |
| Proverbs 19:21 | There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail. |
| Isaiah 10:25 | For yet a very little while, and the indignation against you will be accomplished, and my anger will be directed to his destruction.” |
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
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke reads the king who does according to his will as referring not only to Antiochus but also to an antichristian power that arose within the church, seen in both the Greek emperors and the bishops of Rome. He connects the continuation of this power to the end of God's indignation against the Jews, a period that will finish when Rome is destroyed and Israel restored.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes argues that the king in this passage is Antiochus Epiphanes himself, not a later Antichrist figure. He sees no clear shift in the text and points out that the word "king" is never applied to Antichrist elsewhere. For Barnes, Antiochus's pride, blasphemy, and temporary success exactly fulfilled what is described.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin refuses to follow the common interpretations that identify the figure with Antiochus, the Romans, or Antichrist. He finds all these views flawed or confused. Instead he sets aside the competing opinions entirely and insists on simply asking what the angel himself meant.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentary firmly identifies the king as Antiochus IV Epiphanes, not a future Antichrist. It rejects older views that see a transition to a different figure, insisting the description runs continuously from earlier verses. Antiochus’s self-deification and blasphemy against the God of gods are confirmed by historical evidence from his coins.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes stress that this king's arrogant self-exaltation and blasphemy against God are not ultimate; they proceed only as far as God's decreed wrath requires. His prosperity continues precisely until that wrath is completed, showing that even the worst rebellion operates within God's sovereign plan.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill identifies the king not as Antiochus but as the Roman papacy, the antichrist. He argues that the pope claims infallibility, does whatever he pleases, and sets himself above all earthly rulers and God himself, speaking blasphemies until God's appointed time of judgment is complete.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argue that the king's self-exaltation above every god, not just Israel's God, does not fit Antiochus Epiphanes, who promoted Zeus worship. This detail points instead to Antichrist, who speaks astonishing, impious things against the true God until divine anger runs its course.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the remarkably detailed historical predictions in this chapter were likely expanded by later Maccabean-era writers. He considers the opening and closing verses genuine prophecy, but the central section a pious insertion to comfort Jewish readers 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 sees Antiochus as a distinct prophetic type of antichrist, so the passage applies primarily to the Syrian king but also by extension to the final enemy of God's people. He stresses that everything Antiochus does and everything that happens to him is exactly what God has determined and decreed.