Daniel 11:38 Meaning: The God of Fortresses
But in their place, he will honor the god of fortresses. He will honor a god whom his fathers didn’t know with gold, silver, and with precious stones and pleasant things.
But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
But in his place shall he honor the god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones and pleasant things.
And to the god of strongholds, on his station, he giveth honour; yea, to a god whom his fathers knew not he giveth honour, with gold, and with silver, and with precious stone, and with desirable things.
And in his place will he honour thegod of fortresses; and agod whom his fathers knew not will he honour with gold and silver, and with precious stones and pleasant things.
Meaning in one sentence
Who is the 'god of fortresses' in Daniel 11:38? Discover the meaning of Mauzzim and why a king lavishes gold on a deity unknown to his fathers.
Context
This verse sits inside one of the longest prophetic passages in Scripture, Daniel chapter 11, a detailed vision of conflicts between the kings of the north and south that would shape Israel's world for centuries. By verse 36 the focus narrows to a single arrogant ruler who exalts himself above every god. He rejects the gods of his fathers, the desire of women, and any deity. Yet here in verse 38, a twist appears: he will honor a god of fortresses, a deity neither he nor his ancestors knew. The king pours gold, silver, precious stones and pleasant things into this new devotion. The prophet is showing that even a man who despises all religion will worship something, in this case, raw military power itself.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words open the meaning here. The phrase "god of fortresses" translates eloah mauzzim. Mauzzim (H4581) means strongholds, places of safety, or protectors, the same word used elsewhere for God as refuge (Psalm 27:1). But this king honors a counterfeit: power that defends through force alone.
The verb yekhabbed (from kaved, H3513) means "to honor" in the sense of giving weight or value. It is the same root as kavod, glory. This king bestows glory on his chosen god using tangible treasures: gold, silver, precious stones.
Finally, the phrase "pleasant things" (chamuddot, H2530) describes objects that are desired, coveted, delightful. It reveals that this worship is not reluctant, it is lavish, driven by genuine attraction. The heart that rejects the true God still craves something to adore.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse differently across the centuries. Many Protestant interpreters, including Calvin and the annotators of the Geneva Bible, understood the "god of fortresses" as Jupiter Capitolinus, the patron deity of Rome whom Antiochus Epiphanes honored. Other Protestant commentators (such as Adam Clarke and John Gill) saw here a prophecy of later practices in the Roman Catholic Church: the veneration of saints and angels as protectors, adorned with gold and jewels. Still others, from the early church onward, have seen in this king a type of the Antichrist, whose devotion to military power and wealth prefigures the final rebellion against God. Each tradition seeks to be faithful to the text, even as they draw different pictures from it.
A common misunderstanding
A common mistake is to assume that the "god of fortresses" refers to a specific named pagan deity like Zeus or Jupiter. In fact, mauzzim is a descriptive term, not a proper name. The point is that this king worships whatever gives him military strength, whether a patron god, the army itself, or the fortresses he controls. The warning is about misplaced devotion to power, not about identifying an obscure god.
Living This Out
This week, you might notice what you really rely on for safety. Maybe it is a strong savings account, a stable job, or relationships that feel secure. Those things are not evil, but the passage asks you to check your heart: are you honoring those fortresses with your best time, your worry, your treasure? The king poured gold and silver on his god of power. You might pour worry and trust into yours. Consider one small shift, a moment of prayer instead of fretting, a gift given instead of saved, that turns your honor back to the God who is your true refuge.
Main takeaway: When we lavish our wealth and worship on human power and security, we are honoring a god our fathers never knew.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
This king liked strong forts and pretty things more than God. He gave gold and jewels to his made-up god. We can give our best love to the real God instead.
For ages 9, 12
The king in this verse trusted in military power and wealth instead of the God his ancestors knew. He spent all his treasure on something that could not save him. It is easy to trust in things like popularity, money, or being strong. But God wants us to give our hearts, and our best, to Him. What is something you treasure? You can thank God for it today, and ask Him to help you trust Him more than your stuff.
Questions People Ask
Who is the king in Daniel 11:38?
Most scholars identify this king as Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid ruler who persecuted the Jewish people and desecrated the temple in the second century BC. The description in Daniel 11 fits his historical actions: he rejected the gods of his fathers, exalted himself, and then honored a foreign god of military power.
What does 'god of fortresses' mean?
The Hebrew phrase 'eloah mauzzim' means a god of strongholds, protectors, or military might. It is not the name of a single deity but a description, the king worships whatever gives him military strength. Some interpreters think he honored Jupiter Capitolinus, the Roman god of the capitol fortress; others see it as a symbol of trusting in human power itself.
Is this verse about Antiochus Epiphanes or the Antichrist?
Interpreters divide on this. Many read Daniel 11 as a straightforward prophecy of Antiochus Epiphanes, whose actions are described in detail. Others see Antiochus as a 'type' or foreshadowing of a future Antichrist figure, based on how the New Testament uses similar language (e.g., 2 Thessalonians 2). The text itself does not specify which interpretation is correct.
Why does this king honor a god his fathers didn't know?
The phrase shows a break with ancestral religion. Antiochus rejected the traditional gods of Syria and adopted a new deity, probably Jupiter Capitolinus, associated with Roman military power. This highlights his arrogance: he creates his own religion based on what will serve his ambitions, rather than honoring the gods of his heritage.
What is the significance of gold, silver, and precious stones in this verse?
These treasures represent the best of human wealth and value. The king pours them into the worship of his chosen god, showing that his devotion is wholehearted and extravagant. It is a contrast to true worship: when people honor the true God, they bring gifts out of gratitude; this king gives lavish offerings to a god that represents his own power.
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