Lexical Summary Elyon: Highest One Original Word: עֶלְיוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Most high (Aramaic) corresponding to 'elyown; the Supreme -- Most high. see HEBREW 'elyown NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to Elyon Definition "high," a name of God NASB Translation Highest One (4). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Emphasis עֶלְיוֹן portrays God as “the Most High,” the One who is absolutely supreme, unrivaled, and enthroned above every earthly or spiritual power. The title draws attention to His transcendence and to His sovereign right to rule and to judge. It is not a distant abstraction; rather, it is a covenant name that guarantees the security, inheritance, and vindication of His people. Occurrences in Daniel 7 The term appears four times, each in Aramaic sections of Daniel that describe the rise and fall of empires and the final triumph of God’s kingdom. 1. Daniel 7:18 – “But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever—yes, forever and ever”. These verses bind together the identity of God and the destiny of His covenant people: the saints belong to the Most High, share His victory, and display His rule. Theological Themes • Divine Sovereignty. The title underscores that every earthly dominion is temporary and contingent upon God’s will. Kings and kingdoms rise only to be superseded by the everlasting dominion of the Most High. Relationship to Other Divine Titles Though Daniel employs Aramaic vocabulary, the concept parallels “El Elyon” in Genesis 14:19 and “Yahweh Most High” in Psalm 47:2, showing that God’s supremacy threads consistently through both Testaments, languages, and historical settings. The title also resonates with New Testament declarations of Christ’s exaltation (Philippians 2:9-11), indicating continuity in the divine plan. Historical Context Daniel and his fellow exiles lived under pagan imperial rule. By using עֶלְיוֹן, the Spirit-inspired writer confronted Babylonian and later Persian claims of deity, affirming that true dominion belongs to the God of Israel. For a displaced people, this title offered both comfort and courage: the Most High remained in control even when His temple lay in ruins. Ministry Significance • Assurance in Unstable Times. Believers can stand firm amid cultural upheaval, knowing that the Most High rules over human history. Messianic and Eschatological Outlook The transfer of kingdom authority to the saints anticipates the union of the Son of Man with His people (Daniel 7:13-14). Jesus identifies Himself with this figure, sharing His victory and reign with those united to Him (Luke 22:29-30; Revelation 3:21). The title עֶלְיוֹן therefore anchors both the person of Christ and the inheritance of the church within the unfolding revelation of God’s plan. Summary עֶלְיוֹן in Daniel 7 is far more than an abstract epithet. It is a divine declaration that the God who sits above all will bring every rival claim to an end, vindicate His saints, and establish an everlasting kingdom of righteousness and peace. Forms and Transliterations עֶלְיוֹנִ֑ין עֶלְיוֹנִ֖ין עליונין ‘el·yō·w·nîn ‘elyōwnîn elyoNinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 7:18 HEB: מַלְכוּתָ֔א קַדִּישֵׁ֖י עֶלְיוֹנִ֑ין וְיַחְסְנ֤וּן מַלְכוּתָא֙ NAS: But the saints of the Highest One will receive KJV: But the saints of the most High shall take INT: the kingdom the saints of the Highest and possess the kingdom Daniel 7:22 Daniel 7:25 Daniel 7:27 4 Occurrences |
    |