Daniel 7:18 (KJV)

What does Daniel 7:18 mean?

Daniel 7:18 says that the "saints of the most High" will receive the kingdom and will hold onto it forever, without end. This verse promises that God's faithful people will one day be given lasting authority and security, never to lose it.

Daniel is recording a vision where God reveals the future to him. In this part of the vision, Daniel hears about a time when God's people, called "saints," will finally be given a kingdom that will never be taken away. The verse stands in contrast to earlier parts of the vision where earthly kingdoms rise and fall, highlighting that the kingdom given to the saints is permanent and unshakable.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 7:18

• "saints" (קַדִּישִׁין, qaddishin): This word means "holy ones" or "set-apart people." Here, it refers to those who belong to God, emphasizing their special relationship with Him.
• "take" (קְבַל, qebal): This Aramaic word means "to receive" or "to take possession." It suggests that the saints are not seizing the kingdom by force, but are given it, likely by God Himself.
• "possess" (אֲחַסְנוּן, ḥasanun): This word means "to hold" or "to occupy." It highlights that the saints will not just receive the kingdom, but will actually dwell in it and rule.
• "for ever, even for ever and ever" (עַד־עָלְמָא וְעַד עָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא, ʿad-ʿalmah veʿad ʿalmei ʿalmayya): This phrase stacks up several words for "forever," stressing the absolute and unending nature of the saints' rule.

Why Daniel 7:18 matters

• Daniel 7:18 clarifies that the final victory and authority belong not to earthly empires, but to God's people, offering hope in the face of oppression or instability.
• The verse emphasizes the permanence of God's promise, contrasting the temporary nature of all previous kingdoms described in Daniel's vision.
• Daniel 7:18 connects to the larger theme of Daniel 7, where God's justice overturns the power of violent rulers and establishes a kingdom of holiness and peace for those loyal to Him.