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Daniel 7:14

in Daniel 7

And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

KJV

And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

This verse in Daniel 7

Commentary

20 notes on this verse

A commentator

Hippolytus of Rome

Commentary on Daniel 4.11.1-5 · Written before 235.

And so as many of you all who reverently draw near to God, observe the person who long ago was shown to the people by Moses and was manifested on the mountain and was proclaimed by the prophets and was seen as a man by the blessed Daniel, concerning whom he says, "I was looking into the vision of the night, and behold, one was coming like a son of man with the clouds of heaven, and he reached the Ancient of Days and was brought near to him and to him was given power and honor and the kingdom and all peoples, tribes, and tongues served him.

This site's exposition

One like the Son of Man

on Daniel 7:13-14

One like the Son of Man comes “with the clouds of heaven”, and receives “an everlasting dominion that will not pass away”. Jesus took this title and answered Caiaphas with this verse (Mark 14:62; Matthew 26:64). Keil and the Christian tradition read His approach as a sign of shared glory.

This site's exposition

an everlasting dominion

Albert Barnes stressed that the dominion is received from the Ancient of Days, as the New Testament says of Christ. Adam Clarke heard its echo in Matthew 28:18. John Chrysostom pointed to the words every nation and language as embracing the whole world.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers5 voices

1. In speaking of a "lioness from the sea," he meant the rising of the kingdom of Babylon, and that this was the "golden head of the image." And in speaking of its "eagle wings," be meant that king Nebuchadnezzar was exalted and that his glory was lifted up against God. Then he says "its wings were plucked off," i.e., that his glory was destroyed; for he was driven out of his kingdom. And the words, "A man's heart was given it, and it was made stand upon the feet of a man," mean that he came to himself again, and recognised that he was but a man, and gave the glory to God. Then after the lioness he sees a second beast, "like a bear," which signified the Persians. For after the Babylonians the Persians obtained the power. And in saying that "it had three ribs in its mouth," he pointed to the three nations, Persians, Medes, and Babylonians, which were expressed in the image by the silver after the gold. Then comes the third beast, "a leopard," which means the Greeks; for after the Persians, Alexander of Macedon had the power, when Darius was overthrown, which was also indicated by the brass in the image. And in saying that the beast "had four wings of a fowl, and four heads," he showed most clearly how the kingdom of Alexander was parted into four divisions. For in speaking of four heads, he meant the four kings that arose out of it. For Alexander, when dying, divided his kingdom into four parts. Then he says, "The fourth beast (was) dreadful and terrible: it had iron teeth, and claws of brass." Who, then, are meant by this but the Romans, whose kingdom, the kingdom that still stands, is expressed by the iron? "for," says he, "its legs are of iron." 2. After this, then, what remains, beloved, but the toes of the feet of the image, in which "part shall be of iron and part of clay mixed together? […]

A commentator

Hippolytus of Rome

ON THE ANTICHRIST 44 · Written before 235.

proposed

For as two advents of our Lord and Savior are indicated in the Scriptures, the one being his first advent in the flesh, which took place without honor by reason of his being made nothing, as Isaiah spoke of him previously, saying, "We saw him, and he had no form or beauty." … But his second advent is announced as glorious, when he shall come from heaven with the host of angels and the glory of his Father, as the prophet said, "You shall see the King in glory," and, "I saw one like the Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven; and he came to the Ancient of Days" … and he was brought to him. And there were given him dominion and honor and glory.

A commentator

Eusebius of Caesarea

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 1:2 · Written before 339.

proposed

For instance, Daniel the prophet, under the influence of the divine Spirit, seeing his kingdom at the end of time, was inspired thus to describe the divine vision in language fitted to human comprehension.… It is clear that these words can refer to no one else than to our Savior, the Word who was in the beginning with God, and who was called the Son of man because of his final appearance in the flesh.

A commentator

Hilary of Poitiers

ON THE TRINITY 12:47 · Written before 367.

proposed

Glance over the whole course of time, and realize in what guise he appeared to Joshua the son of Nun, a prophet bearing his name, or to Isaiah, who relates that he saw him, as the gospel also bears witness, or to Ezekiel, who was admitted even to knowledge of the resurrection, or to Daniel, who confesses the Son of man in the eternal kingdom of the ages, or to all the rest to whom he presented himself in the form of various created beings, for the ways of God and for the works of God, that is to say, to teach us to know God and to profit our eternal state. Why does this method, expressly designed for human salvation, bring about at the present time such an impious attack on his eternal birth? The creation, of which you speak, dates from the commencement of the ages; but his birth is without end and before the ages. Maintain this by all means: we are doing violence to words, if a prophet, or the Lord, or an apostle or any oracle whatever has described by the name of creation the birth of his eternal divinity. In all these manifestations God, who is a consuming fire, is present, as created, in such a manner that he could lay aside the created form by the same power by which he assumed it, being able to destroy again that which had come into existence merely that it might be looked on.

A commentator

Theodoret of Cyrus

COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 7:13-14 · Written before 458.

proposed

The blessed Daniel openly teaches what our Lord says in the Gospels: "You will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with his angels"; and the blessed apostle, "For the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice …
12 more voices on this verse

The Church Fathers8 voices

A commentator

Cosmas Indicopleustes

The Christian Topography, Book 2 · Written before 550.

proposed

And he came even to the Ancient of days and they brought him near before him—and there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom that …

A commentator

Cosmas Indicopleustes

The Christian Topography, Book 5 · Written before 550.

proposed

Behold one like unto the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven, and he came even unto the Ancient of days, and he was brought near before him. And there was given unto him dominion and glory and a kingdom, and all the …

A commentator

Justin Martyr

Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter XXXI · Written before 165.

proposed

But if so great a power is shown to have followed and to be still following the dispensation of His suffering, how great shall that be which shall follow His glorious advent! For He shall come on the clouds as the Son of man, so Daniel foretold, and His angels shall come with Him. These are the words: [quotes Daniel 7:9-28]

A commentator

Justin Martyr

Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter XXXI · Written before 165.

proposed

But if so great a power is shown to have followed and to be still following the dispensation of His suffering, how great shall that be which shall follow His glorious advent! For He shall come on the clouds as the Son of man, so Daniel foretold, and His angels shall come with Him.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 7:7 · Written before 407.

proposed

What, I ask, is more obvious than these words? "And all the peoples, tribes and tongues will serve him." See how he embraced every nation of the world. See how he took the judge's seat and power. Lest you should think that this is temporary, he says, "These things will not pass away, and his kingdom will not perish" but will stay and remain. But if you doubt, you can be persuaded by considering the matter. Do you see the equality of honor he has with the Father? Since the Son appeared after the Father, he says that the Son came with the clouds. But it is clear from the very clouds that he had existed before then, if indeed he came on them. "And honor was conferred on him," namely, the power that he had. "And the peoples, tribes and tongues will serve him." Indeed, he had dominion previously, but then he will take that dominion that he had obtained. For just as you understand the hair of the Father and the other aspects of the vision, so you must understand this part of the vision. When you hear "it was given" and other similar things, you will not think in human terms about the Son or think lowly of him. For though you saw an old man, you did not think that he was an old man, so also you must think about the other things. Do not seek crystal clarity among the prophets, where you will find instead shadows and riddles, just as you do not seek constant light in a thunderbolt. Instead, it suffices if light appears for just a bit.

A commentator

Cyril of Jerusalem

Catechetical Lecture 15:1 · Written before 386.

proposed

What we proclaim is not one single coming of Christ but a second as well, much fairer than the first. For the first presented a demonstration of longsuffering, but the second wears the crown of the kingdom of God. Most things about our Lord Jesus Christ are twofold. His birth is twofold, once of God before the ages, and once of the Virgin in the end of the ages. Twice he comes down, once all unseen like dew on a fleece, and a second time still future and manifest. When first he came, he was swaddled in a manger. When next he comes, he will "clothe himself with light as with a garment." At his first coming "he endured the cross, despising the shame";6 at his second, he comes surrounded with glory and escorted by hosts of angels. We do not therefore simply rest on Christ's first coming, by itself, but let us look forward also to his second.… The Savior comes again, but not to be judged again, for he will pass judgment on those who passed judgment on him, and he who previously kept silence as they judged him now reminds those lawless people who did their outrageous deeds to him on the cross and says, "these things you have done, and I kept silent." He adapted himself when he came then and taught humankind by persuasion, but this time it is they who will be forced to bow to his rule, whether they will or not.

A commentator

Jerome

St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER SEVEN · Written before 420.

proposed

Verses 13, 14. "And behold, there came One with the clouds of heaven like unto the Son of man."
"Which shall not pass away." He exhibited all the dominion given by the Father to His own Son, who is manifested as King of all in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and as Judge of all: of all in heaven, because He was born the Word, of the heart of the Father before all; and of all in earth, because He was made man, and created Adam anew of Himself; and of all under the earth, because He was also numbered among the dead, and preached to the souls of the saints, (and) by death overcame death.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

When he went to be glorified with his Father he had a power given him over all flesh, John xvii. With the prospect of this Daniel and his friends are here comforted, that not only the dominion of the church's enemies shall be taken away (

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

And there was given him dominion - This also is applied to our Lord Jesus by himself, after his resurrection, Mat 28:18. His dominion is an everlasting dominion - Christianity shall increase, and prevail to the end of the world. See the parallel passages in the margin.
And there was given him dominion - That is, by him who is represented as the “Ancient of days.” The fair interpretation of this is, that he received the dominion from him. This is the uniform representation in the New Testament. Compare Mat 28:18; Joh 3:35; 1Co 15:27. The word dominion here means rule or auhority - such as a prince exercises. He was set over a kingdom as a prince or ruler. And glory - That is the glory or honor appropriate to one at the head of such an empire. And a kingdom - That is, he would reign. He would have sovereignty. The nature and the extent of this kingdom is immediately designated as one that would be universal and perpetual. What is properly implied in this language as to the question whether it will be literal and visible, will be appropriately considered at the close of the verse. All that is necessary to be noticed here is, that it is everywhere promised in the Old Testament that the Messiah would be a king, and have a kingdom. Compare Psa 2:1-12; Isa 9:6-7. That all people, nations, and languages should serve him - It would be universal; would embrace all nations. The language here is such as would emphatically denote universality. See the notes at Dan 3:4; Dan 4:1. It implies that that kingdom would extend over all the nations of the earth, and we are to look for the fulfillment of this only in such a universal reign of the Messiah. His dominion is an everlasting dominion ... - The others, represented by the four beasts, would all pass away, but this would be permanent and eternal. Nothing would destroy it. It would not have, as most kingdoms of the earth have had, any such internal weakness or source of discord as would be the cause of its destruction, nor would there be any external power that would invade or overthrow it. […]

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

And He gave him dominion And to that man He gave dominion over the nations, for the heathens he likens to beasts, and Israel he likens to a man because they are humble and innocent.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Daniel 7:14:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

21 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וְלֵ֨הּand to him

    veleh

  • יְהִ֤יבit was given

    yehivH3052 →28 times

  • שָׁלְטָן֙dominion

    shaltanH7985 →14 times

  • וִיקָ֣רand honor

    vikarH3367 →7 times

  • וּמַלְכ֔וּand a kingdom

    umalkhuH4437 →57 times

  • וְכֹ֣לand all

    vekholH3606 →82 times

  • עַֽמְמַיָּ֗אpeoples the

    ʾamaiya'H5972 →15 times

  • אֻמַיָּ֛אnations the

    ʾumaiya'H524 →8 times

  • וְלִשָּׁנַיָּ֖אand languages the

    velishanaiya'H3961 →7 times

  • לֵ֣הּto him

    leh

  • יִפְלְח֑וּןthey will pay reverence

    yiflechunH6399 →10 times

  • שָׁלְטָנֵ֞הּdominion his

    shaltanehH7985 →14 times

  • שָׁלְטָ֤ן[was] a dominion of

    shaltanH7985 →14 times

  • עָלַם֙perpetuity

    ʾalamH5957 →20 times

  • דִּֽי־which

    di-H1768 →345 times

  • לָ֣אnot

    la'H3809 →82 times

  • יֶעְדֵּ֔הit will pass away

    ye'dehH5709 →9 times

  • וּמַלְכוּתֵ֖הּand kingdom his

    umalkhutehH4437 →57 times

  • דִּי־which

    di-H1768 →345 times

  • לָ֥אnot

    la'H3809 →82 times

  • תִתְחַבַּֽל׃ פit will be destroyed

    titchabalH2255 →6 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Daniel 7:27

    Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all…

    it leads to

    • Revelation 11:15

      Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign…

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Psalms 72:11

      May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

    • Luke 1:33

      and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

  • Through

    Daniel 2:44

    In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms…

    it leads to

    • Matthew 28:18

      Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Luke 1:32–33

      He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,

  • Through

    Revelation 11:15

    Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign…

    it leads to

    • Revelation 12:10

      And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our…

    • Daniel 7:27

      Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all…

    • Revelation 10:7

      But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, just as He proclaimed to His servants the…

Where this verse is studied

By subject

Kingdom of God35 verses

Everything on Kingdom of God

About Daniel

Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
This page draws on 19 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Carl Friedrich Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Daniel; Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 2; Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 5; Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 15:1; Eusebius of Caesarea, ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 1:2; Hilary of Poitiers, ON THE TRINITY 12:47; Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on Daniel 4.11.1-5; Hippolytus of Rome, Hippolytus Exegetical Fragments - Of the visions of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar; Hippolytus of Rome, ON THE ANTICHRIST 44; Hippolytus of Rome, Hippolytus Exegetical Fragments, Scholia on Daniel; Jerome, St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER SEVEN; John Calvin, Commentary on the Prophet Daniel; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 7:7; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter XXXI; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 7:13-14.