Daniel 8:11
Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Original Language Analysis
וְעַ֥ד
H5704
וְעַ֥ד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
1 of 10
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
שַֽׂר
himself even to the prince
H8269
שַֽׂר
himself even to the prince
Strong's:
H8269
Word #:
2 of 10
a head person (of any rank or class)
הַצָּבָ֖א
of the host
H6635
הַצָּבָ֖א
of the host
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
3 of 10
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
הִגְדִּ֑יל
Yea he magnified
H1431
הִגְדִּ֑יל
Yea he magnified
Strong's:
H1431
Word #:
4 of 10
to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride)
וּמִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙
H4480
וּמִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
5 of 10
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הרּיַ֣ם
sacrifice was taken away
H7311
הרּיַ֣ם
sacrifice was taken away
Strong's:
H7311
Word #:
6 of 10
to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)
הַתָּמִ֔יד
and by him the daily
H8548
הַתָּמִ֔יד
and by him the daily
Strong's:
H8548
Word #:
7 of 10
properly, continuance (as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); elliptically the re
וְהֻשְׁלַ֖ךְ
was cast down
H7993
וְהֻשְׁלַ֖ךְ
was cast down
Strong's:
H7993
Word #:
8 of 10
to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Daniel 12:11And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.Ezekiel 46:14And thou shalt prepare a meat offering for it every morning, the sixth part of an ephah, and the third part of an hin of oil, to temper with the fine flour; a meat offering continually by a perpetual ordinance unto the LORD.Daniel 11:31And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.Daniel 8:25And 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.Revelation 17:14These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.Isaiah 37:23Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
Historical Context
On the 15th of Kislev, 167 BC (1 Maccabees 1:54), Antiochus erected a "desolating sacrilege" (likely a Zeus altar or image) in the Jerusalem temple and sacrificed pigs—unclean animals—on God's altar. This "abomination of desolation" (verse 31) represented total desecration. Daily sacrifices ceased for three years until Judas Maccabeus cleansed and rededicated the temple (December 164 BC), commemorated in Hanukkah. This 1,150-day period closely matches the 2,300 evenings/mornings of verse 14.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Antiochus's stopping of daily worship warn us that Satan's attacks often target regular spiritual disciplines and corporate worship?
- What does God's restoration of worship after Antiochus teach us about His commitment to His glory and people's spiritual life?
- In what ways does Christ's once-for-all sacrifice provide security that no earthly power can ultimately interrupt our access to God?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The little horn's pride reaches its zenith: "he magnified himself even to the prince of the host." This "prince of the host" is variously interpreted as the high priest, the angel Michael (referenced in 10:21, 12:1), or ultimately God Himself. Antiochus's actions demonstrated all three: he deposed legitimate high priests, opposed angelic protection of Israel, and blasphemed Yahweh by claiming divine status ("Epiphanes"—God manifest).
"By him the daily sacrifice was taken away" describes the historical cessation of temple worship. The Hebrew tamid (תָּמִיד, "daily") refers to the perpetual burnt offering (Exodus 29:38-42), central to covenant worship. Antiochus forbade this sacrifice, desecrating the temple in 167 BC. "The place of his sanctuary was cast down" means the temple's defilement—not physical destruction but religious pollution through pagan sacrifice and prostitution introduced into holy precincts.
This attack on worship prefigures the Antichrist's future actions (2 Thessalonians 2:4, Revelation 13) and points backward to earlier Babylonian temple destruction. Yet each interruption of worship was temporary—God always restored His people. Ultimately, Christ's sacrifice superseded all temple rituals, and His body became the true temple. Antiochus could stop animal sacrifices, but he couldn't prevent Christ's once-for-all atonement that eternally satisfies divine justice.