Daniel 11:38
ESV
He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.
NIV
Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.
NASB
But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, precious stones, and treasures.
CSB
Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses—a god his fathers did not know—with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches.
NLT
Instead of these, he will worship the god of fortresses — a god his ancestors never knew — and lavish on him gold, silver, precious stones, and expensive gifts.
KJV
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.
NKJV
But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things.
What does Daniel 11:38 mean?
The king mentioned earlier in this section of prophecy is arrogant, to the point of outrageous blasphemy and self-glorification (Daniel 11:36–37). This is part of Daniel's prophetic view of the end times, a record which began in chapter 10. As with many references to yet-unfulfilled prophecy, interpreters differ on the identity of this person. Some associate this figure with the first "beast" of Revelation (Revelation 13:1–4). Others think this is the second "beast" (Revelation 13:11–17).In the book of Revelation, the two "beasts" take world control over political and religious concerns, respectively. In common use, the title "Antichrist" is usually associated with government control and political power. Those are the domain of the first beast (Revelation 13:1–4). However, the New Testament only uses the concept of "antichrist" in reference to apostasy and spiritual rebellion. Since the second beast's actions are more closely tied to worship and religion, the title "Antichrist" may apply more appropriately to him. In either case, Daniel's vision predicts the global leadership which will persecute believers in the last days before God's final judgments.
This verse mentions the predicted ruler giving respect to a "god of fortresses" by offering enormous wealth. This may imply this king relies on military power. If this figure is the second beast, it may mean receiving protection in return for worship and service. If this is the first beast, it may imply a heavy emphasis on force and violence to maintain control.
Daniel 11:36–45 is part of a prophecy given to Daniel; everything he was told was to occur after his own life. Viewed from the modern perspective, most of the predictions have been fulfilled in our past. In this passage, that viewpoint shifts to the future. In the last days before the final judgment, a time of tribulation, a notable figure will honor some kind of military god. He will be attacked by armies from the north, but the leader of those armies will hastily retreat to a location between the Mediterranean Sea and Israel, where he will perish.
This chapter is most easily understood in terms of the historical events which it predicts. These include the conflicts between Ptolemaic Egypt and the Seleucid Empire up through the second century BC. This mentions the infamous Antiochus IV Epiphanes and what eventually became the Maccabean Revolt. The last portion of prophecy looks to the end times: blasphemous rulers, an invasion from the north, and a major defeat.
