Daniel 7:18 kjv
But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Daniel 7:18 nkjv
But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.'
Daniel 7:18 niv
But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever?yes, for ever and ever.'
Daniel 7:18 esv
But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.'
Daniel 7:18 nlt
But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever."
Daniel 7 18 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Dan 7:22 | "...and judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." | Fulfilment of the vision's prophecy |
Dan 7:27 | "Then the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." | Explicit declaration of kingdom given to saints |
Psa 22:27-28 | "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations." | God's eternal sovereignty |
Psa 149:5-9 | "May the saints exult in glory; may they sing aloud on their beds. May the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands..." | Saints reigning and judging |
Isa 47:4 | "As for our Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel." | God as the redeemer and holy |
Jer 23:5-6 | "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch..." | Davidic lineage, righteous king |
Zech 14:9 | "Then the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one." | Universal reign of the LORD |
Matt 6:10 | "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." | Prayer for the coming of God's kingdom |
Matt 13:43 | "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear." | Righteous shining in the kingdom |
Matt 19:28 | "Jesus said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.'" | Apostles judging from thrones |
Luke 1:32-33 | "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." | Jesus' eternal kingdom |
Luke 22:29-30 | "...and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." | Jesus' disciples sharing his kingdom |
John 18:36 | "Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have fought, that I might not be delivered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the present world.'" | Jesus' kingdom's nature |
Rom 8:17 | "...and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him, so that we may also be glorified with him." | Heirs of God with Christ |
1 Cor 6:2-3 | "Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if by you the world is to be judged, are you incompetent to render even the smallest judgments?" | Saints judging the world |
1 Tim 6:12 | "Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." | Laying hold of eternal life |
Heb 12:22-24 | "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect..." | Heavenly Jerusalem, assembly of firstborn |
Rev 1:6 | "and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." | Christians as a kingdom of priests |
Rev 5:9-10 | "And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you purchased for us for God.'" | Purchased people in the kingdom |
Rev 11:15 | "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.'" | Christ's eternal kingdom declared |
Rev 20:4 | "Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom judgment was committed... They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years." | Reigning with Christ |
Rev 21:1-4 | "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth had passed away... He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more..." | New Jerusalem, no more death |
Daniel 7 verses
Daniel 7 18 Meaning
The saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, throughout all ages. This signifies the ultimate vindication and eternal reign of God's people, overcoming all earthly opposition.
Daniel 7 18 Context
Daniel chapter 7 describes a series of visions involving four great beasts symbolizing earthly empires that would rise and fall. The fourth beast, in particular, is described as having ten horns, one of which speaks arrogantly. However, the prophecy shifts to divine intervention where ancient kingdoms are overthrown, and a kingdom is given to "the saints of the Most High." Verse 18 clarifies who receives this kingdom. The immediate context focuses on the transition from the oppressive, anti-God powers represented by the beasts and the little horn to the everlasting dominion of God and His people. Historically, the original audience would have been the Jewish exiles in Babylon, who were enduring significant political and religious oppression from world empires. This vision offered them a powerful message of hope and future vindication.
Daniel 7 18 Word Analysis
- וְַסַּאנְיָא (vesaniyya): "and the saints"
- סַּאנְיָא (sanniya): Aramaic for "saints." This term refers to those set apart by God. In Daniel, it signifies the faithful people of God, both Israel in the Old Testament and believers in the New Testament era. It carries the idea of holiness and devotion to the Most High.
- דִּֽי־ (di-): "who" or "which" - A relative pronoun.
- עִלָּאָ֖ה (‘illaya): "Most High"
- This is a divine title for God, emphasizing His supreme sovereignty and transcendence over all earthly powers. It appears frequently in Daniel and speaks of God's ultimate authority.
- יְקִבְלוּן (yeqebbelun): "shall receive"
- From the root קְבַל (qabel), meaning "to receive," "to accept," or "to get." This is in the future tense, indicating a reception that is yet to come.
- מַלְכוּתָ֣א (malkuta): "kingdom"
- This refers to dominion, sovereignty, or reign. In this context, it signifies the rule and authority that God will bestow.
- וְַיֶיְחֶסְּנוּן (veyeḥessenun): "and shall possess"
- From the root חַסַּן (ḥassan), meaning "to possess," "to hold," or "to keep." It implies ownership and enduring control.
- לְעָלְמִ֣ין (le‘almeen): "forever" or "to ages"
- This prepositional phrase, coupled with the plural "ages," denotes an everlasting, eternal duration. It contrasts sharply with the temporary nature of the earthly kingdoms described earlier.
Daniel 7 18 Bonus Section
The concept of God's people inheriting a kingdom is a recurring theme throughout Scripture. In the Old Testament, it began with the covenant promises to Abraham and the nation of Israel, envisioned as inheriting the land and serving as a kingdom of priests. The New Testament expands this, identifying the Church as the spiritual inheritors of God's kingdom, reigning with Christ in an eternal reality. The assurance "forever" points towards the consummation of God's kingdom in the new heavens and new earth, where righteousness dwells. Scholars often interpret "the saints" here to encompass both the faithful of the Old Covenant and believers of the New Covenant, united in their future inheritance through God's redemptive plan.
Daniel 7 18 Commentary
This verse provides the crucial identification of who inherits the eternal kingdom. It is not a human political entity but "the saints of the Most High." These are God's people, those who have been set apart and are faithful to Him, even through severe persecution from the powers symbolized by the beasts. The receiving and possessing of the kingdom is an assurance of their ultimate victory and vindication under God's sovereign rule. The temporal aspect, "forever," highlights the absolute contrast with the transient nature of all human empires that Daniel witnessed and prophesied about. This truth serves as a foundational encouragement for believers facing opposition, assuring them that their ultimate destiny is to reign eternally with God.