Lexical Summary sholtan: Dominion, Authority, Sovereignty Original Word: שָׁלְטָן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance dominion (Aramaic) from shlet; empire (abstractly or concretely) -- dominion. see HEBREW shlet NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) from shelet Definition dominion NASB Translation dominion (13), dominions (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שָׁלְטָן (K§ 61. 3, Belsp, a)) noun masculineDaniel 7:6 dominion; — ׳שׁ absolute Daniel 7:6,14, construct Daniel 6:27 +; emphatic שָׁלְטָנָא Daniel 7:27; suffix שָׁלְטָנָח Daniel 4:19, נֵהּ- Daniel 3:33 +, נְהוֺן- Daniel 7:12; plural emphatic שָׁלְטָנַיָּא Daniel 7:27; — 1 dominion, sovereignty (usually of God): Daniel 3:33; Daniel 4:19; Daniel 4:31 (twice in verse); Daniel 6:27b; Daniel 7:6,12,14 (3 t. in verse); Daniel 7:26,27 (twice in verse). 2 realm Daniel 6:27a. Topical Lexicon Scope of the Term in Daniel The word occurs exclusively in the Aramaic sections of Daniel and always describes royal or divine “dominion” that is exercised with unquestioned authority. Whether referring to the Most High or to earthly rulers, the word conveys an unassailable rule that reaches “to the ends of the earth” (Daniel 4:22) and “will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14). Dominion Attributed to God Nebuchadnezzar confesses, “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation” (Daniel 4:34). In the face of Babylonian greatness, God’s rule remains superior, eternal, and morally righteous. Daniel 6:26 records Darius echoing the same truth after experiencing the miracle in the lions’ den: “His dominion shall never be destroyed.” The recurring formula underscores that every human empire is provisional under the absolute reign of God. Dominion Granted to the Son of Man Daniel 7:14 declares that “He was given dominion, glory, and kingship; that the peoples, nations, and men of every language should serve Him.” The passage anticipates the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ, whose universal lordship fulfills the prophetic vision. The repeated use of the term in Daniel 7:14 emphasizes that the Messiah receives not a temporary kingdom but the very same everlasting dominion earlier reserved for God alone, demonstrating the unity of divine purpose across both Testaments. Dominion Removed or Limited for Beasts and Empires In Daniel 7:12 the dominion of the first three beasts is “taken away,” although “their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.” Dominion is thus portrayed as something granted and withdrawn by divine decree. Daniel 7:26 announces that the final blasphemous ruler’s dominion “will be removed and destroyed forever,” contrasting sharply with the eternal dominion of God and His Anointed. Historical Background in the Exile Writing from Babylon, Daniel and his companions lived under successive Gentile rulers who wielded near-absolute authority. By employing a word that the Aramaic‐speaking court would readily recognize, Daniel affirms to the exiles that even the loftiest imperial sovereignty is derivative. The term becomes a theological counter-statement to Babylonian and Medo-Persian claims of divinely sanctioned rule. Eschatological Implications The shifting of dominion from beasts to the Son of Man unveils God’s redemptive timeline: present powers rise and fall, but the climactic transfer of dominion is irreversible. Revelation 11:15 echoes Daniel’s theme: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” Daniel’s use of the term therefore invites believers to interpret history through the lens of God’s eschatological sovereignty. Application for Christian Ministry 1. Worship: The term invites the church to exalt God’s unending dominion in corporate praise (Psalm 145:13). Key References Daniel 4:3; Daniel 4:22; Daniel 4:34; Daniel 6:26; Daniel 7:6; Daniel 7:12; Daniel 7:14; Daniel 7:26; Daniel 7:27 Forms and Transliterations וְשָׁלְטָ֖ן וְשָׁלְטָנֵ֖הּ וְשָׁלְטָנֵ֣הּ וְשָׁלְטָנָ֖ךְ וְשָׁלְטָנָ֜א ושלטן ושלטנא ושלטנה ושלטנך שָׁלְטָ֣ן שָׁלְטָ֣נַיָּ֔א שָׁלְטָ֤ן שָׁלְטָן֙ שָׁלְטָנְה֑וֹן שָׁלְטָנֵ֞הּ שָׁלְטָנֵהּ֙ שלטן שלטנה שלטנהון שלטניא šā·lə·ṭā·nay·yā šā·lə·ṭā·nə·hō·wn šā·lə·ṭā·nêh šā·lə·ṭān šāləṭān šāləṭānayyā šāləṭānêh šāləṭānəhōwn shalTan shalTanaiYa shaltaNeh shaltaneHon veshalTan veshaltaNa veshaltaNach veshaltaNeh wə·šā·lə·ṭā·nā wə·šā·lə·ṭā·nāḵ wə·šā·lə·ṭā·nêh wə·šā·lə·ṭān wəšāləṭān wəšāləṭānā wəšāləṭānāḵ wəšāləṭānêhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 4:3 HEB: מַלְכ֣וּת עָלַ֔ם וְשָׁלְטָנֵ֖הּ עִם־ דָּ֥ר NAS: kingdom And His dominion is from generation KJV: kingdom, and his dominion [is] from INT: kingdom is an everlasting and his dominion from generation Daniel 4:22 Daniel 4:34 Daniel 4:34 Daniel 6:26 Daniel 6:26 Daniel 7:6 Daniel 7:12 Daniel 7:14 Daniel 7:14 Daniel 7:14 Daniel 7:26 Daniel 7:27 Daniel 7:27 14 Occurrences |
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