Proud is the spirit of Zeus-fostered kings—their honor comes from Zeus, and Zeus, god of council, loves them.

The line expresses a central idea of Homeric political theology: kingship is not merely a human arrangement but a status “fostered” and sanctioned by Zeus. A ruler’s timē (honor, prestige, due portion) is portrayed as divinely sourced, which both elevates the king’s authority and explains his characteristic “pride” as an expected social posture rather than a personal flaw. By calling Zeus “god of council,” the passage also links legitimate rule to deliberation and wise judgment, not brute force alone. In epic terms, this ideology underwrites obedience to leaders while also implying that challenges to rightful authority risk impiety, since the king’s standing participates in Zeus’s order.