Original Word: אַפֶּדֶן
Part of Speech: Noun
Transliteration: appeden
Pronunciation: ap-peh-den
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-peh'-den)
KJV: palace
NASB: royal pavilion
Word Origin: [(Persian)]

1. a pavilion or palace-tent

palace

Apparently of foreign derivation; a pavilion or palace-tent -- palace.

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
a palace
NASB Translation
royal pavilion (1).

אַמֶּ֫דֶן noun [masculine] palace (Syriac ; both from Persian apadâna compare Spieg^{Altpers. Keilschr. 128}, but this = treasury, armoury, M. Schultze^{ZMG 1885, 48 f} **Dieulafoy^{RÉJ xvi {1888}, p. cclxxvf.} makes apadâna, more precisely, throneroom, compare Dr^{Du 11, 45}.) אָהֳלֵי אַמַּדְֿנוֺDaniel 11:45 of the 'king of the north', i.e. Antiochus Epiphanes.

Meaning and General Sense

אַפֶּדֶן denotes a sumptuous, temporary royal residence—“royal tents” or “palatial pavilion”—set up by a king while on campaign. It conveys splendor, mobility, and the projection of sovereignty outside the permanent capital.

Only Scriptural Occurrence

Daniel 11:45: “He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain; yet he will come to his end with no one to help him.”

Historical Setting

Daniel 11:40-45 portrays the final military thrust of the northern king. Most conservative interpreters identify him with Antiochus IV Epiphanes, whose Syrian-Selucid forces threatened Judea in the second century B.C. Others see a yet-future antichristic ruler previewed by Antiochus. Either way, the verse depicts a conqueror erecting an opulent field headquarters near Jerusalem—“between the seas” (the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea) by “the beautiful holy mountain” (Mount Zion or its environs). The sudden appearance of אַפֶּדֶן underscores the king’s confidence and display of majesty at the brink of what he assumes will be final victory.

Prophetic and Theological Significance

1. Transient Glory of Earthly Power
• The magnificent pavilion contrasts with its fleeting existence: “he will come to his end with no one to help him.” Human pomp collapses before God’s decree (Psalm 33:10; Isaiah 40:23).
2. Encroachment upon the Sacred
• Planting luxurious tents near the “holy mountain” illustrates arrogance toward the covenant people and the sanctuary. The episode anticipates the “abomination that causes desolation” (Daniel 11:31; Daniel 12:11) and foreshadows the rebellion of the man of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
3. Assurance of Divine Sovereignty
• While the pavilion manifests royal self-assurance, its destruction affirms that “the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:17). The episode strengthens trust in God’s unfailing oversight of history.

Cultural and Military Background

Ancient Near Eastern monarchs routinely carried elaborate tent complexes constructed of dyed fabrics, precious metals, and cedar frames. These mobile palaces served as command centers, throne rooms, and places of worship. Greek and Roman writers describe the lavish field pavilions of Persian and Hellenistic kings, complete with courtyards, guards, and treasure chambers—exactly the kind of structure invoked by אַפֶּדֶן.

Literary Links to Other Biblical Imagery

• Royal residences: compare the “ivory palace” of Psalm 45:8 and the temporary “booths” of Genesis 33:17.
• Military encampments: see the Assyrian siege camp in 2 Kings 19:35.
• Divine dwelling: earthly pavilions parody the LORD’s true “dwelling place” (Psalm 90:1) and the “tabernacle of God with men” (Revelation 21:3).

Ministry Applications

1. Guard Against Pride

Leaders and believers alike must remember that outward success, even when orchestrated with strategic brilliance, cannot secure lasting dominion apart from the LORD (Proverbs 16:18).
2. Persevere Under Oppression

Daniel’s audience faced powerful regimes; the fall of the royal pavilion assures God’s people that no persecutor—ancient or eschatological—will prevail indefinitely (Romans 16:20).
3. Fix Hope on the Eternal Kingdom

The collapse of the ornate אַפֶּדֶן directs the faithful to “a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28). It calls the Church to invest in enduring treasures rather than transient displays (Matthew 6:19-21).

Related Hebrew Concepts

• הֵיכָל (palace/temple): permanent grandeur versus temporary splendor of אַפֶּדֶן.
• סֻכָּה (booth): humble dwelling for pilgrimage, contrasting the proud royal pavilion.
• מִשְׁכָּן (tabernacle): God’s appointed movable sanctuary, the true center of worship.

Summary

אַפֶּדֶן, though occurring only once, furnishes a vivid snapshot of human pomp confronting divine authority. Its presence in Daniel 11:45 crystallizes the message that earthly thrones—no matter how ostentatious—stand or fall at the pleasure of the Almighty, urging every generation to seek refuge in His unshakeable reign.

אַפַּדְנ֔וֹ אפדנו ’ap·paḏ·nōw ’appaḏnōw appadNoInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts