OET interlinear DAN 11:36

11:36a

Then the king will do as he pleases: This clause implies that the king will be successful and powerful. See the similar phrase in 11:3c. Here are some other ways to translate this:

the king shall act as he pleases. (NRSV)

the king shall do whatever he wants

The king of the north will be able to rule however he wants.

the king: This seems to be a reference to the king of the North. However, the events described do not all seem to have taken place at the time of Antiochus IV. It is recommended that you leave this phrase as general as possible. If it is not natural to say just the king, you may wish to use an expression that connects or compares him to the king of verse 21 and say:

the vile/despicable king

the evil king

the king of the north

11:36b

and will exalt and magnify himself above every god: This verse part indicates that this king will want people to view him as greater than the gods. He will demand that people give him more honor and respect than they give their gods. Here are some other ways to translate this:

He shall exalt himself and consider himself greater than any god (NRSV)

exalting himself and claiming to be greater than every god (NLT)

exalt and magnify himself above every god: The Hebrew verbs that the BSB translates as exalt and magnify himself are literally “raise himself” and “make himself great.” Here the verbs are synonyms and together mean that his king will give himself great honor. In some languages it may be natural to combine them. For example:

highly honor himself above every god (GW)

boast that he is greater than any god (GNT)

proudly claim to be greater than any god (CEV)

magnify himself: The Hebrew verb that the BSB translates as magnify himself means “make himself great” or “show himself to be great.” Here this means that this king will try to make himself look great. That is, he will try to look powerful and important. See also 8:11a where a different form of the same verb is used. See the note there on “it set itself up to be as great as…. ”

every god: The phrase every god refers in general to the false gods and idols worshiped by the pagan peoples of the time. Here is another way to translate this:

every deity (NET)

11:36c

and he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as monstrous things is more literally “extraordinary things.” In this context they are extraordinary in a very bad way. Translate this using an expression that indicates that these things were shocking, evil, and blasphemous. For example:

and shall speak horrendous things against the God of gods (NRSV)

even blaspheming the God of gods (NLT)

he will say awful/shocking things against the God of gods

the God of gods: This is a title for Yahweh, the God of Israel. It indicates that Yahweh is greater than the so-called gods and deities that the other nations worshiped. He is the supreme God. In your translation, avoid indicating that other gods have actual existence. See how you translated the Aramaic phrase in 2:47b and see the note there. See also the similar phrase in Psalm 136:2 and Joshua 22:22a. Here are some possible ways to translate this title:

the Supreme God (GNT)

the Most High God (GECL)

11:36d

He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed: This verse part indicates that there will be a limit to the success of the evil king. He will be successful for only a certain time, the time of wrath. Here are some other ways to translate this:

He shall prosper until the period of wrath is completed (NRSV)

He will succeed, but only until the time of wrath is completed. (NLT)

He will be able to do this until the time of wrath is over/finished

until the time of wrath is completed: This refers to a time that was still future when this was written. So in some languages it may be natural to use a future tense:

until the time of wrath will be completed

The phrase the time of wrath refers to God’s expression of his anger. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

until God is no longer angry (CEV)

11:36e

for what has been decreed must be accomplished: This verse part indicates that what God has planned must take place. The verb has been decreed is passive and there are at least two ways to translate it:

• using a passive verb. For example:

  for what is determined shall be done (NRSV)

  For what has been determined will surely take place (NLT)

• using an active verb. God is the implied subject. For example:

  God will do exactly what he has planned. (GNT)

Translate this using the form that is most natural in your language.