Daniel 11 37

Daniel 11:37 kjv

Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

Daniel 11:37 nkjv

He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all.

Daniel 11:37 niv

He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all.

Daniel 11:37 esv

He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all.

Daniel 11:37 nlt

He will have no respect for the gods of his ancestors, or for the god loved by women, or for any other god, for he will boast that he is greater than them all.

Daniel 11 verses

Daniel 11 37 meaning

Daniel 11:37 describes the absolute defiance and supreme arrogance of a powerful, idolatrous king. This figure will show contempt for all traditional deities, including those revered by his own ancestors and even that which is held most precious or spiritually significant to devout women. His ultimate ambition is to enthrone himself, rejecting all forms of external divine authority to stand alone in self-magnification.

Daniel 11 37 Context

Daniel chapter 11 details a long and precise prophetic vision concerning kings of the North (Seleucid Dynasty) and kings of the South (Ptolemaic Dynasty). This chapter outlines conflicts, alliances, and betrayals, culminating in the reign of a specific "vile person" (Dan 11:21) — Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Verses 36-45 focus primarily on this figure, describing his unparalleled arrogance and actions against God and His people. Daniel 11:37, therefore, describes the spiritual rebellion and self-deification that characterize this king, providing a historical prophecy primarily fulfilled by Antiochus IV but also foreshadowing the ultimate Antichrist figure in the end times. Historically, Antiochus IV epitomized this, as he desecrated the Jerusalem Temple, sought to enforce Hellenization, and explicitly attempted to portray himself as a divine manifestation ("Epiphanes," meaning "manifest god").

Daniel 11 37 Word analysis

• He will show no regard for (וְעַל־... לֹא יָבִין - wə'al-... lō' yāvîn): The phrase לֹא יָבִין literally means "he will not understand," but in this context, it signifies a deep disdain, contempt, or an unwillingness to consider. It's a complete dismissal of, or indifference to, the specified entities. This isn't merely ignorance but a willful rejection motivated by arrogance.
• the gods of his fathers (אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתָיו - ʾĕlōhê ʾăḇōṯāw): This refers to the traditional deities of his ancestors. For Antiochus IV, these were the Hellenistic gods like Zeus, Apollo, and other Greco-Roman pantheons worshipped by the Seleucid kings before him. His disregard implies a revolutionary spiritual break, not out of true monotheism, but for personal ambition, possibly deeming them insufficient for his own grandeur.
• or for the one desired by women (וְעַל־חֶמְדַּת נָשִׁים - wə'al-ḥemdaṯ nāšîm): This phrase is highly debated and rich in interpretative possibility.
  • חֶמְדַּת (ḥemdaṯ): Meaning "desire," "delight," "precious object," or "that which is longed for."
  • נָשִׁים (nāšîm): Meaning "women."
  • Possible interpretations:
    • Literal desire for family/children: Some interpret this as the universal human desire for offspring, marriage, or family — things traditionally precious to women. The king's disregard would signify his indifference to the sanctity of family or even his rejection of procreation, focusing entirely on his own power.
    • A specific deity worshipped by women: This could refer to pagan goddesses associated with fertility, or male deities that had cultic followings predominantly among women (e.g., Tammuz/Adonis cults).
    • The God of Israel/Messiah: This interpretation suggests that the "desire of women" refers to the long-anticipated Messiah, especially among pious Israelite women who longed for redemption and a Savior. Pious women often exemplified faith in God's promises. Disregarding "the one desired by women" would thus be an ultimate blasphemy against God's promises and the true divine authority.
    • Any human love or sentiment: Less specific, but could imply that his self-focus leaves no room for tender affections or common human bonds.
  • Given Antiochus IV's historical actions, he demonstrated extreme cruelty and disregarded the most fundamental human decencies, including the lives and dignity of women, making his indifference to any 'desire' or 'object of value' fitting.
• nor will he show regard for any god (וְעַל־כָּל־אֵל - wə'al-kol-ʾēl): This emphasizes the comprehensive nature of his rebellion. He does not simply abandon his ancestral gods but rejects every god, foreign or domestic, pagan or true. His worship is entirely egocentric.
• for he will exalt himself above all (כִּי עַל־כָּל יִתְגַּדָּל׃ - kî ‘al-kol yiṯgadāl):
  • כִּי (kî): "For," "because," indicating the reason for his previous actions.
  • יִתְגַּדָּל (yiṯgadāl): The Hithpael form of the verb גָדַל (gadal), meaning "to be great, to magnify oneself." This reflexively means "he will make himself great," "he will behave proudly," or "he will show himself great." This is the pinnacle of his pride – self-deification. He desires to be the sole object of worship and allegiance.

Daniel 11 37 Bonus section

The profound pride of the figure in Daniel 11:37 echoes Satan's original sin as described in Isaiah 14:13-14, where he declared, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God... I will make myself like the Most High." This ancient pattern of exalting oneself above God is the root of all idolatry, where the created becomes the object of worship instead of the Creator. This verse thus stands as a foundational description for all subsequent "antichrist" figures throughout history, who challenge divine authority and attempt to place themselves at the center of human allegiance. While primarily fulfilled by Antiochus IV, its language remains highly resonant with predictions of the ultimate man of lawlessness in the end times, pointing to a culmination of such defiant pride.

Daniel 11 37 Commentary

Daniel 11:37 succinctly captures the absolute spiritual rebellion of the "king" discussed in the preceding verses. Historically, this king is widely understood as Antiochus IV Epiphanes, whose reign was marked by extreme arrogance and contempt for both his traditional Greek deities and, most vehemently, the God of Israel. He sought to impose Hellenistic cults and proclaimed himself "god manifest," demonstrating a profound disdain for all other forms of worship, ultimately prioritizing his own self-exaltation. This pattern serves as a prophetic type for the ultimate Antichrist of the end times, whose characteristics mirror this hubris and blasphemy.

The king's rejection of "the gods of his fathers" is striking, indicating a break from established religious norms not out of genuine reform, but out of an ambition that even his own pantheon could not satisfy. His contempt for "the one desired by women" highlights his pervasive impiety. This obscure phrase can be interpreted as his disregard for procreation, family values, specific female cults, or more profoundly, a rejection of the long-hoped-for Messiah — a core desire of pious women in Israel. This king is hostile to all divine authority and traditional piety, instead promoting his own authority and, as elaborated in Dan 11:38, perhaps worshipping a "god of fortresses" or military power, aligning with his self-centered strength. Ultimately, his motivation is purely self-serving: he will magnify himself above all.