The Meaning of Daniel 11:35 Explained

Daniel 11:35

KJV: And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

YLT: And some of the teachers do stumble for refining by them, and for purifying, and for making white -- till the end of the time, for it is yet for a time appointed.

Darby: And some of the wise shall fall, to try them, and to purge and to make them white, to the time of the end: for it shall yet be for the time appointed.

ASV: And some of them that are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And [some] of them of understanding  shall fall,  to try  them, and to purge,  and to make [them] white,  [even] to the time  of the end:  because [it is] yet for a time appointed. 

What does Daniel 11:35 Mean?

Study Notes

the time of the end
Here the prophetic foreview, having traced the history of the two parts of Alexander's empire which had to do with Palestine and the Jews, viz. Syria and Egypt, to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, and having described his career, overleaps the centuries to "the time of the end," when he of whom Antiochus Epiphanes was a type, the "little horn" of Daniel 7:8 the "Beast out of the sea" of Revelation 13:4-10 shall appear (cf) . Prophecy does not concern itself with history as such, but only with history as it affects Israel and the Holy Land. Antiochus Epiphanes was insignificant as compared with historical personages whom the Bible does not mention, but he scourged the covenant people and defiled God's altar, thus coming into prophetic light. From Daniel 11:36 the "little horn" of Daniel 7:8 ; Daniel 7:24-26 fills the scene. His prosperity lasts until "the indignation" (the "time of trouble" of; Daniel 12:1 ; Matthew 24:21 is accomplished ( Daniel 11:36 ). This is parallel with; Revelation 17:10-14 ; Revelation 19:19-21 . Daniel 11:37-45 supply details not mentioned in the N.T. The expression "God of his fathers" ( Daniel 11:37 ) has been held to indicate that the "king" is an apostate Jew, but this does not accord with Daniel 9:26 which was fulfilled by the Gentile armies of Rome. The "little horn" is an apostate, but from Christianity, not Judaism (cf) 1 John 2:18 ; 1 John 2:19 . Daniel 11:38-45 describe his career. Substituting "the god of forces" (i.e. forces of nature) for the true God ( Daniel 11:38 ; Daniel 11:39 ), he soon presents himself as that god (cf) 2 Thessalonians 2:3 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:4 . While his career lasts he is an irresistible conqueror Daniel 11:40-44 ). He established his palace in Jerusalem, probably at the time of his supreme act of blasphemous impiety; Daniel 9:27 ; Daniel 12:11 ; Matthew 24:15 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:4 . From this time begins the great tribulation; Daniel 12:1 ; Matthew 24:21 which runs its course during the last half of Daniel's seventieth week, viz. three and one half years; Daniel 7:25 ; Daniel 12:7 ; Daniel 12:11 ; Revelation 13:5 . Scofield " Revelation 19:20 ".
little horn
The vision is of the end of Gentile world-dominion. The former Roman empire (the iron kingdom of Daniel 2:33-35 ; Daniel 2:40-44 ; Daniel 7:7 will have ten horns (i.e. kings, Revelation 17:12 corresponding to the ten toes of the image. As Daniel considers this vision of the ten kings, there rises up amongst them a "little horn" (king), who subdues three of the ten kings so completely that the separate identity of their kingdoms is destroyed. Seven kings of the ten are left, and the "little horn." He is the "king of fierce countenance" typified by that other "king of fierce countenance," Antiochus Epiphanes, Daniel 8:23-25 the "prince that shall come" of Daniel 9:26 ; Daniel 9:27 the "king" of Daniel 11:36-45 the "abomination" of; Daniel 12:11 ; Matthew 24:15 the "man of sin" of 2 Thessalonians 2:4-8 and the "Beast" of Revelation 13:4-10 . See "Beast"; Daniel 7:8 ; Revelation 19:20 .

Verse Meaning

Even though many godly Jews died, the struggle against the Syrians (Greeks) purified the Jews. John Hyrcanus, the son of Simon Maccabeus, eventually founded a strong Jewish kingdom. His Song of Solomon , Alexander Jannaeus, enlarged it to its fullest extent in the last part of the first century B.C. [1]
Daniel received assurance that the predicted persecution would run its course and end. The purification of his people came eventually, though not completely, through the turmoil just described. There would be a final end later.
Mention of "the end time" ( Daniel 11:35) prepares for the revelation to follow, which concerns events not yet fulfilled in history. "The appointed time" ( Daniel 11:27; Daniel 11:29; Daniel 11:35; Daniel 12:7) reminds the reader that all these predicted events would be the outworking of divine control and purpose, even though they would involve suffering for the Israelites.
"The amazingly detailed prophecies of the first thirty-five verses of this chapter, containing as they do approximately one hundred and thirty-five prophetic statements, all now fulfilled, constitute an impressive introduction to the events that are yet future, beginning in Daniel 11:36.... The fact is that there is no supported evidence which can contradict any statement made in these thirty-five verses.... From the divine viewpoint, the accuracy of this prophetic word is supporting evidence that prophecy yet unfulfilled will have the same precise fulfillment in the future." [2]
We can understand why critics who deny the possibility of predictive prophecy believe these verses must have been written after they occurred.

Context Summary

Daniel 11:30-45 - Arrogance Overthrown
The career of Antiochus Epiphanes, in persecuting the people of God and plotting against Jehovah and His sanctuary, is so described as to suggest that it also includes further fulfillments, and especially that last Antichrist, of whom Antiochus was the pre-figurement. So accurate is the correspondence between this prophecy and its historical fulfillment that Porphyry, the opponent of Christianity, maintained that this description was written after the event. The abomination of Daniel 11:31 refers to the idolatrous image or emblem, which in succession has been erected on Mount Zion under the auspices of Antiochus, of the Romans, the Moslems, and shall be set up yet once more by Antichrist. The last clause of Daniel 11:32 was marvelously realized in Judas Maccabaeus and his brethren; but it represents the perennial source of strength for all who suffer or serve. The anguish of those who fail under trial has often tended to their greater purification, Daniel 11:35, and the white robe is the mark of final victory, Revelation 7:9. God will not allow His people to suffer beyond the determined time, Daniel 11:36; Matthew 24:22. [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 11:35 mean?

And [some] of those of understanding shall fall to refine them and purify [them] and make [them] white [until] the time of the end because [it is] still for the appointed time
וּמִן־ הַמַּשְׂכִּילִ֣ים יִכָּֽשְׁל֗וּ לִצְר֥וֹף בָּהֶ֛ם וּלְבָרֵ֥ר וְלַלְבֵּ֖ן עַד־ עֵ֣ת קֵ֑ץ כִּי־ ע֖וֹד לַמּוֹעֵֽד

וּמִן־  And  [some]  of  those 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
הַמַּשְׂכִּילִ֣ים  of  understanding 
Parse: Article, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural
Root: שָׂכַל 
Sense: to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper.
יִכָּֽשְׁל֗וּ  shall  fall 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: כָּשַׁל  
Sense: to stumble, stagger, totter.
לִצְר֥וֹף  to  refine 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: צָרַף  
Sense: to smelt, refine, test.
וּלְבָרֵ֥ר  and  purify  [them] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: בָּרוּר 
Sense: to purify, select, polish, choose, purge, cleanse or make bright, test or prove.
וְלַלְבֵּ֖ן  and  make  [them]  white 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: לָבַן 
Sense: to be white.
עַד־  [until] 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
עֵ֣ת  the  time 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
קֵ֑ץ  of  the  end 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֵץ  
Sense: end.
כִּי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
ע֖וֹד  [it  is]  still 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
לַמּוֹעֵֽד  for  the  appointed  time 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹועֵד  
Sense: appointed place, appointed time, meeting.