And 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.

DANIEL 12:11KJV
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Daniel 12:11 (KJV)

What does Daniel 12:11 mean?

Daniel 12:11 says that from the time the daily sacrifice is stopped and an “abomination that maketh desolate” is set up, there will be 1,290 days. This verse marks a specific period tied to the removal of regular worship and the appearance of something deeply offensive to God.

The angel is speaking to Daniel near the end of his visions, explaining what will happen in the future concerning God’s people. The “daily sacrifice” refers to regular offerings at the temple, and the “abomination” points to something set up in its place that defiles or desecrates it. The mention of 1,290 days gives a precise timeframe for these troubling events, connecting to the larger themes of endurance and hope in Daniel’s final chapter.

The Hebrew behind Daniel 12:11

  • “Daily” (תָּמִיד, tamid): This word means something continual or regular, here referring to the ongoing sacrifices at the temple. The stopping of the “tamid” signals a major disruption in Israel’s worship life.
  • “Abomination” (שִׁקּוּץ, shiqquts): This word means something detestable or disgusting, especially in a religious sense. In Daniel, it often points to an object or act that desecrates what is holy.
  • “Desolate” (שָׁמֵם, shamem): This verb means to lay waste or make desolate. It emphasizes the destructive impact of the “abomination” on the sacred place.
  • “Days” (י֥וֹם, yom): The use of “days” here (1,290 days) stresses a literal period, rather than a symbolic one, highlighting the specificity of the prophecy.

Why Daniel 12:11 matters

  • Daniel 12:11 clarifies that the prophecy is not just about a vague future hardship, but about a concrete event tied to worship and a set period of time.
  • The verse connects to earlier parts of Daniel (like Daniel 8 and 9), where similar language about sacrifices and abominations is used, helping readers see the continuity in Daniel’s visions.
  • By naming a precise number of days, Daniel 12:11 invites careful attention to the timing and sequence of these events, which has led to much discussion about their historical and future fulfillment.

Where else these words appear

“ninety” Hebrew H8673 · used in 20 verses

  • Genesis 5:9 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:
  • 1 Samuel 4:15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.
  • Nehemiah 7:21 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.

“abomination” Hebrew H8251 · used in 26 verses

  • Deuteronomy 29:17 And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:)
  • Jeremiah 7:30 For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it.
  • Ezekiel 20:7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

“desolate” Hebrew H8074 · used in 87 verses

  • Leviticus 26:22 I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.
  • Isaiah 54:1 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.
  • Ezekiel 27:35 All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, they shall be troubled in their countenance.

“daily” Hebrew H8548 · used in 103 verses

  • Exodus 25:30 And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.
  • Deuteronomy 11:12 A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.
  • Psalms 74:23 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.