Daniel 7:14 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Daniel 7:14 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.
Daniel 7:14 nkjv
Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.
Daniel 7:14 niv
He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Daniel 7:14 esv
And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
Daniel 7:14 nlt
He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal ? it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.
Daniel 7 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Messianic Rule & Authority | ||
| Psa 2:6 | "I have installed My King on Zion, My holy hill." | Divine appointment of Messiah as King. |
| Psa 8:6 | "You made him ruler over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet." | Man's delegated dominion, ultimately fulfilled in Christ. |
| Psa 72:8, 11 | "May he rule from sea to sea... All kings will bow down to him..." | Universal, expansive rule of the Messiah. |
| Isa 9:6-7 | "For to us a child is born... The increase of His government and peace there will be no end." | Messiah's eternal, growing government. |
| Zech 9:10 | "...He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea..." | Peaceful and global dominion. |
| Matt 28:18 | "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me." | Jesus' assertion of received universal authority. |
| Eph 1:20-22 | "...seated Him at His right hand... and placed all things under His feet..." | Christ's exalted, supreme dominion over all. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | "God exalted Him to the highest place... that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow..." | Universal homage and submission to Jesus' name. |
| Rev 1:6 | "To Him... has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father..." | Believers participate in His kingdom and priesthood. |
| Rev 5:12 | "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power... and glory and praise!" | Worthiness of the Lamb to receive all regal attributes. |
| Rev 11:15 | "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He will reign forever and ever." | Ultimate, eternal establishment of Christ's kingdom. |
| Universal Submission & Worship | ||
| Isa 2:2 | "...all nations will stream to it." | Nations drawn to God's dwelling/kingdom. |
| Jer 16:19 | "...nations will come to You from the ends of the earth..." | Gentiles' future coming to God. |
| Zech 8:22 | "Many peoples and powerful nations will come to seek the Lord Almighty..." | Global pilgrimage to seek God. |
| Acts 17:30 | "...God commands all people everywhere to repent." | Universal call for humanity's submission to God. |
| Rev 7:9-10 | "...a great multitude... from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne..." | Diverse nations worshiping the Lamb eternally. |
| Eternal & Indestructible Kingdom | ||
| Dan 2:44 | "In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed..." | Prophecy of God's eternal kingdom replacing all others. |
| Lk 1:32-33 | "The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end." | Angel Gabriel's prophecy of Christ's unending kingdom. |
| Jn 12:34 | "...Christ remains forever." | Messiah's everlasting, eternal nature. |
| Heb 12:28 | "...receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken..." | Believers inherit a secure, indestructible kingdom. |
Daniel 7 verses
Daniel 7 14 meaning
Daniel 7:14 vividly portrays the bestowal of universal and eternal sovereignty upon "one like a Son of Man." Following the divine judgment and overthrow of worldly, oppressive empires, this celestial figure receives supreme authority, honor, and an actual kingdom. This realm is destined to encompass all diverse human groups—every people, nation, and language—who will render service and homage to Him. Crucially, this dominion is declared to be everlasting, impervious to decline, and His kingdom eternally enduring, directly contrasting the temporary and destructive nature of earthly powers.
Daniel 7 14 Context
Daniel chapter 7 recounts Daniel's vision of four fierce, terrifying beasts emerging from the sea, symbolizing a succession of four powerful yet transient and oppressive worldly empires (Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome). These earthly kingdoms are characterized by their ambition, cruelty, and eventual judgment by "the Ancient of Days" (God). Amidst this divine court scene, a pivotal moment occurs where "one like a Son of Man" is presented. Verse 14 then describes the immense, lasting authority and universal worship bestowed upon this figure, marking the establishment of a divine and eternal kingdom that utterly supersedes the fallen human dominions, offering profound hope to God's persecuted people.
Daniel 7 14 Word analysis
- And to him:
- Original (Aramaic): Ulehôn (וְלֵהּ) – Connects the bestowal with the "one like a Son of Man" (Dan 7:13). Emphasizes that this individual is the recipient of sovereign authority.
- was given:
- Original (Aramaic): yĕhiyb (יְהִב) – A passive verb ("it was given"). This signifies divine initiation; the authority originates from God ("the Ancient of Days"), not seized by the "Son of Man."
- dominion:
- Original (Aramaic): šolṭan (שֻׁלְטָן) – Refers to rightful governmental authority, power, and the prerogative to rule. It is a legal and political mandate.
- and glory:
- Original (Aramaic): yĕqar (וִיקָר) – Denotes honor, majesty, splendor, and inherent worth. It means more than mere power; it implies revered status and divine dignity.
- and a kingdom:
- Original (Aramaic): ûmalḵû (וּמַלְכוּ) – Represents the sphere of rule, the royal authority, and the realm over which power is exercised. It is the practical manifestation of dominion.
- that all peoples:
- Original (Aramaic): kol ʿammayāʾ (כָּל־עַמַּיָּא) – Refers to distinct ethnic or tribal groups. It begins the comprehensive description of humanity.
- nations:
- Original (Aramaic): ûmmayyāʾ (וְאֻמַּיָּא) – (This is the expected term; Daniel uses this elsewhere.) This broader term signifies gentilic groups, nations, or peoples often defined by common descent or political boundaries, emphasizing an international scope.
- and languages:
- Original (Aramaic): wĕliššānayyāʾ (וְלִשָּׁנַיָּא) – Specifically indicates diverse linguistic groups. Combined with "peoples" and "nations," this forms a comprehensive biblical expression for all humanity across every culture and tongue.
- should serve him:
- Original (Aramaic): pĕlaḥun (יִפְלְחוּן) – Carries the meaning of serving, worshiping, rendering homage, or doing obeisance. It suggests devoted allegiance and spiritual submission, not merely political subjugation.
- his dominion is an everlasting dominion:
- Original (Aramaic): šolṭānēh šolṭan ʿālam (שֻׁלְטָנֵהּ שָׁלְטַן עָלַם) – Directly contrasts with the temporary reigns of earthly empires. ʿālam signifies eternal, perpetual, and unending, underscoring permanence.
- which shall not pass away:
- Original (Aramaic): dî lāʾ yēʿdê (דִּי לָא יֶעֱדֵא) – Literally, "that will not remove" or "not vanish." This emphasizes the enduring nature, assuring it will not be supplanted or cease to exist.
- and his kingdom one which shall not be destroyed:
- Original (Aramaic): ûmalḵûtēh dî lāʾ titḥabbēl (וּמַלְכוּתֵהּ דִּי לָא תִתְחַבֵּל) – "That will not be ruined" or "not be corrupted." This further guarantees the absolute stability and invincibility of this divine kingdom, making it immune to ruin or collapse.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom": This tripartite declaration denotes the fullness of the "Son of Man's" royal investiture. The passive construction "was given" (y'hiyb) emphatically highlights that this supreme authority and regal splendor are divinely bestowed, originating from God rather than earned or seized. This counters the self-aggrandizing power dynamics of the preceding beastly kingdoms.
- "that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him": This phrase details the universal scope and worshipful nature of this kingdom's subjects. The specific trio—"peoples, nations, and languages"—is a comprehensive, almost formulaic expression in biblical prophecy, signifying humanity in its entirety, encompassing all cultural and linguistic diversity. The "serving" (pĕlaḥun) implies a willing, respectful homage and allegiance, signifying profound submission to this universal sovereign.
- "his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one which shall not be destroyed": This powerful, repeated affirmation of permanence is the critical contrast to the temporal and destructive nature of the beastly empires described earlier. The strong negations ("not pass away," "not be destroyed") emphasize the kingdom's unassailable and eternal stability, promising an unshakeable and endless reign of justice and peace, directly opposing the ephemerality and corruption inherent in human rule.
Daniel 7 14 Bonus section
The Aramaic phrase "one like a Son of Man" (kĕbar ʾĕnāš) from Daniel 7:13 is crucial; while it indicates a human-like form, the context and its subsequent reception of divine-level authority strongly suggest a unique, supra-human identity. This Messianic title, more than any other, was adopted by Jesus in the Gospels, highlighting both His full humanity and His unique divine authority, linking His ministry and eschatological role directly to this Danielic vision. This verse stands as a powerful polemic against any empire, culture, or ruler claiming ultimate, unquestionable, and eternal authority, declaring all human powers ultimately transient and subject to divine judgment. The emphasis on all "peoples, nations, and languages" also foreshadows the inclusive nature of the Gospel and the global mission of the Church, drawing every segment of humanity into worship of the King.
Daniel 7 14 Commentary
Daniel 7:14 represents a foundational prophecy for the universal and eternal reign of God's Messiah, personified by the "Son of Man." The investiture is entirely divine, as God (the Ancient of Days) grants this unique figure absolute dominion, unparalleled glory, and a kingdom destined to encompass all humanity, irrespective of ethnic or linguistic background. The global, worshipful allegiance ("serve him") indicates not merely political control but spiritual submission to a just and divine King. Most importantly, the steadfast declaration of an "everlasting dominion" and a kingdom "which shall not be destroyed" starkly contrasts the fleeting, violent human empires detailed earlier in the vision. This prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who continually referred to Himself as the Son of Man, thereby claiming this prophesied, eternal, and universal rule—a kingdom established in His first advent, progressing through the Church, and to be fully consummated at His glorious return.