Daniel 7:27 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Daniel's vision ends farther from despair than it began. The beasts seemed to devour, crush, and prevail, yet their rule is neither permanent nor ultimate. This verse describes the positive destination of God's judgment: a kingdom shared with his holy people under the everlasting rule of the Most High.
After God judges the beastly powers, he gives enduring kingdom, dominion, and greatness to the people of the saints of the Most High. Their kingdom is everlasting, and every dominion will serve and obey him.
The Context of Daniel 7:27
The angelic interpreter has explained Daniel's vision of the four beasts and the little horn. The horn opposes the Most High and wears out the saints for a limited period. In verse 26 the heavenly court removes and destroys its dominion. Verse 27 follows as the promised outcome, expanding the earlier statement in verse 18 that the saints will take and possess the kingdom forever. It also echoes verses 13-14, where one like the Son of man receives everlasting dominion from the Ancient of days. Daniel closes by saying the vision greatly troubled him.
What Does Daniel 7:27 Mean?
The verse gathers three royal terms: "kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven." The scope is comprehensive. Daniel has watched kingdoms rise from the sea and exercise destructive power over the earth; now rightful rule under the whole heaven is given to "the people of the saints of the most High." The language is corporate. God grants his holy people a real share in the kingdom's possession and rule. Their future is not merely escape from the beasts. It is the reception of a kingdom whose greatness exceeds the violent dominions that came before. The gift comes after God's judgment, showing that it rests on his authority.
The phrase "whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom" can grammatically point to the Most High, whose saints are named just before it. The ending, "all dominions shall serve and obey him," likewise centers the final allegiance on God. This fits the chapter's repeated insistence that the Most High rules over the outcome. At the same time, verse 27 does not erase the promise to the saints. Verse 18 says they will possess the kingdom forever, and verse 22 says judgment is given to them and the time comes for them to possess it. God's everlasting kingship and the saints' promised inheritance belong together in Daniel's vision.
Verses 13-14 provide the chapter's decisive connection to the Son of man. One like the Son of man comes before the Ancient of days and receives an everlasting dominion served by all peoples. Verse 27 then speaks of the saints receiving kingdom under that same everlasting rule. Jesus repeatedly used the title Son of man, and his words before the high priest explicitly recall Daniel 7:13. The chapter therefore presents a kingdom given through God's appointed human-like ruler and shared with the saints. Its end is not another beastly empire. It is enduring service and obedience to the one whose dominion cannot be destroyed.
Bible Verses Related to Daniel 7:27
“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
“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
“Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”
- Daniel 7:22
“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”
- Revelation 11:15
Where Daniel 7:27 Echoes in Scripture
Revelation 11:15 echoes Daniel's expectation that the kingdom over the world belongs finally to God and his Christ, whose reign endures forever. John does not repeat Daniel 7:27 word for word, yet the shared vision is clear: temporary hostile dominions yield to God's everlasting reign. This echo helps locate Daniel's promise within the Bible's final hope.
How to Apply Daniel 7:27 Today
This promise reshapes how we measure success. The kingdoms most visible now can appear final because their influence is immediate, yet Daniel directs our hope toward the kingdom God gives and preserves. We may practice its character in present life through loyalty to God, patient endurance, truthful speech, mercy, and service. The verse also strengthens communal hope. It speaks of a people, inviting us to seek the good and steadfastness of God's holy people together. Our labor for what is good is held within a future where oppressive dominion does not have the last word.
Reflection & Prayer
How might the promise of an everlasting kingdom change the way we respond to temporary power, disappointment, or fear? We can ask God to make our loyalties clearer and our hope steadier. Suggested prayer: "Most High God, form us as a faithful people, and teach us to live under your everlasting kingdom."