It's easy to read this verse as simply God's ultimate triumph, but notice how the power and glory aren't just given to God, but to his people, the "saints." This highlights that God's reign is inextricably tied to the vindication and exaltation of His faithful, transforming them into co-inheritors of His everlasting kingdom.
And the kingdom and the 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.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Daniel has just received a vision of four beasts representing earthly kingdoms, culminating in a powerful little horn that wages war against God's people. This verse brings the vision to its climax, revealing the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom over all earthly powers. It assures Daniel and the faithful that despite present suffering and the apparent strength of oppressive regimes, God's justice will prevail, and His people will inherit an eternal kingdom.
Who are these 'saints' who will inherit the ultimate kingdom? It's not just about a select few, but about God's people.
This verse makes a breathtaking declaration: the ultimate kingdom, dominion, and greatness 'under the whole heaven' will be given to 'the people of the saints of the Most High.' This isn't a kingdom for a detached, angelic host, but for God's people – those set apart and devoted to Him.
Who are 'the Saints'?
Think of them as God's chosen community, both from Israel's history and from all nations who put their faith in Him. They are recognized by their loyalty to the Most High God. This inheritance isn't about their own merit, but about God's sovereign plan to exalt His people.
A Shared Inheritance
The language emphasizes that this kingdom is a gift to a collective people, not just an individual. It signifies a shared rule and a communal experience of God's reign, echoing the idea that we are 'joint heirs' with Christ.
The verse speaks of an 'everlasting kingdom.' What does that mean for a world that seems constantly in flux?
Daniel 7:27 powerfully declares that the kingdom given to the saints is an 'everlasting kingdom.' This is a crucial point that distinguishes God's rule from all human empires.
Beyond Earthly Power
While earthly kingdoms rise and fall, characterized by power struggles and finite reigns, this kingdom is eternal. It's not bound by geographical limits or the passage of time. It transcends the political and military might that defines earthly dominion.
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Serving and Obeying Him
The verse concludes by stating, 'all dominions shall serve and obey him.' This points to the ultimate sovereignty of God, and by extension, His people in His eternal kingdom. It’s a reign characterized by perfect harmony and submission to God’s will, a stark contrast to the rebellion and chaos often seen in human history.
Understand the original words
malḵû · Aramaic Noun
A term used to describe a political entity or reign; in biblical prophecy, it often refers to world powers or the ultimate, eternal rule of God.
qaddîsh · Aramaic Noun
Those set apart for God; in this context, it refers to the faithful people of God who will inherit the Messianic kingdom.
‘illāyā’ · Aramaic Noun/Adjective
A title for God emphasizing His supremacy, sovereignty, and transcendence above all earthly rulers and spiritual powers.
‘ālam · Aramaic Adjective
Lasting for an infinite period; used in Scripture to describe the eternal nature of God and His kingdom, which will never end or be destroyed.
Daniel's vision, revealed during the Babylonian exile, assures God's people that despite the rise and fall of earthly empires, their ultimate destiny is an everlasting kingdom given by God, a truth that resonated deeply with those facing oppression and offered hope for divine justice.
c. 553 BC— this verse
Daniel's Vision
Daniel, a Jewish exile in Babylon, receives a profound vision of four beasts representing future empires and the ultimate triumph of God's eternal kingdom.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon
The Babylonian empire, the first of the great powers symbolized in Daniel's vision, falls to the Medes and Persians, marking the beginning of a shift in world dominance.
538 BC
Cyrus' Decree
Cyrus the Great allows the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, a pivotal moment in the history of God's people.
334-323 BC
Alexander's Conquests
Alexander the Great's Hellenistic empire rises and then fractures, ushering in a new era of Greek influence across the ancient Near East.
c. 167-160 BC
Maccabean Revolt
The Jewish people revolt against Seleucid rule, a period of intense conflict that highlights the struggle for religious and political freedom.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus Christ, the 'Son of Man' from Daniel's vision, begins his ministry, teaching about the Kingdom of God and ultimately dying and rising again.
c. AD 40-70
Spread of the Gospel
The apostles and early followers of Jesus spread the message of his kingdom throughout the Roman Empire, fulfilling the vision of an everlasting kingdom given to the saints.
This New Testament passage echoes Daniel's vision, stating that believers will 'reign on the earth' with Christ, directly connecting the future kingdom promised to the 'saints of the Most High' with present-day believers.
Isaiah 43:3Calvin references this passage, highlighting that God's elect people are of greater consequence than earthly kingdoms, a theme that underpins the promise of divine authority being given to the saints in Daniel 7:27.
Daniel 7:14This verse describes the 'one like a son of man' receiving dominion and glory, which Daniel 7:27 clarifies will be ultimately entrusted to 'the people of the saints of the Most High,' showing a progression of the divine bestowal of kingship.
1 Peter 2:9This verse declares believers to be a 'royal priesthood,' directly aligning with the concept in Daniel 7:27 that the saints will not only possess a kingdom but will also actively rule and serve within it.
Luke 1:33The angel's declaration that Jesus 'shall reign over the house of Jacob forever' is a New Testament echo of the everlasting kingdom promised in Daniel 7:27, connecting the earthly reign of God's people to the eternal reign of the Messiah.
ellicottDaniel 7:27: "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him."
(27) Comp. Daniel 7:14 ; Daniel 7:18 .
clarkeDaniel 7:27: "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him."
The kingdom and dominion - The people of the saints of the Most High, or the people who are the supereminent saints, shall have the kingdom. Whatever name they may be distinguished by among men, these are the people, and theirs is the Church, that no…
It's easy to read this verse as simply God's ultimate triumph, but notice how the power and glory aren't just given to God, but to his people, the "saints." This highlights that God's reign is inextricably tied to the vindication and exaltation of His faithful, transforming them into co-inheritors of His everlasting kingdom.
Daniel has just received a vision of four beasts representing earthly kingdoms, culminating in a powerful little horn that wages war against God's people. This verse brings the vision to its climax, revealing the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom over all earthly powers. It assures Daniel and the faithful that despite present suffering and the apparent strength of oppressive regimes, God's justice will prevail, and His people will inherit an eternal kingdom.
Daniel has just received a vision of four beasts representing earthly kingdoms, culminating in a powerful little horn that wages war against God's people. This verse brings the vision to its climax, revealing the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom over all earthly powers. It assures Daniel and the faithful that despite present suffering and the apparent strength of oppressive regimes, God's justice will prevail, and His people will inherit an eternal kingdom.
"And the kingdom and the 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 dominio…" — It's easy to read this verse as simply God's ultimate triumph, but notice how the power and glory aren't just given to God, but to his people, the "saints." This highlights that God's reign is in…
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Last reviewed October 2026
