How does Daniel 11:37 describe the king's attitude towards God and religion? Looking closely at Daniel 11:37 “He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers—or for the One desired by women—nor will he show regard for any other god, because he will exalt himself above them all.” What the verse actually says • No regard for ancestral gods – a deliberate break with whatever traditional worship shaped his upbringing. • No regard for “the One desired by women” – commonly understood as a reference to the long-awaited Messiah (cf. Isaiah 7:14); the king dismisses even the hope of the Redeemer. • No regard for any other god – a sweeping rejection of every deity, whether pagan or the true and living God. • Exalting himself above them all – instead of worshiping, he demands worship, placing himself in the position reserved for God alone. Echoes elsewhere in Scripture • 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 – “the man of lawlessness… exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship.” • Revelation 13:6-8 – the beast blasphemes God and is worshiped by the unbelieving world. • Isaiah 14:13-14 – Lucifer’s boast, “I will ascend… I will make myself like the Most High,” foreshadows the same self-exaltation. Key takeaways • The king embodies militant irreverence—he is not merely non-religious; he is anti-religious, reserving devotion for himself. • Scripture portrays such arrogance as the final expression of human rebellion, yet God remains sovereign (Daniel 11:45). • The passage encourages vigilance: any system or leader seeking worship in place of God repeats this prophetic pattern. |
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