Bible Strands
Daniel 11:30
Ships of Kittim will come against him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and rage against the holy covenant and do damage. So he will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The text delivers a prophetic declaration concerning a king’s reaction to external naval intervention, positioned between accounts of a southern campaign and the subsequent desecration of the temple.
The words — כִּתִּים (ki.Tim) denotes Kittim, and נִכְאָה (nikh.'Ah) literally means he will be disheartened.
The thread — The term Kittim appears in Genesis 10:4 as a descendant line, in Numbers 24:24 and Isaiah 23:12 as a maritime power associated with Cyprus.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that political pressure forces rulers to abandon their stated commitments and align with opponents of the covenant.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King 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.
Cross-references
- Genesis 10:4 And the sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites.
- Numbers 24:24 Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever.”
- Isaiah 23:12 He said, “You shall rejoice no more, O oppressed Virgin Daughter of Sidon. Get up and cross over to Cyprus—even there you will find no rest.”
- Jeremiah 2:10 Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and take a look; send to Kedar and consider carefully; see if there has ever been anything like this:
- Daniel 11:28 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.
- Isaiah 23:1 This is the burden against Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor. Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus.
- Daniel 7:25 He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.
- Matthew 24:10 At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another,
- Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.”
- 1 Chronicles 1:7 And the sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites.