Daniel 7:26 — Word Study
WLCוְדִינָ֖א יִתִּ֑ב וְשָׁלְטָנֵ֣הּ יְהַעְדּ֔וֹן לְהַשְׁמָדָ֥ה וּלְהוֹבָדָ֖ה עַד־ סוֹפָֽא׃
BSABut the courtdîyn [judgment, seat of authority] will conveneyᵉthib [sit in judgment, be seated] and his dominionsholṭân [kingdom, empire, territory under control] will be taken awayʻădâʼ [removed, passed on] and completely destroyedshᵉmad△ [consumed, perish] foreverʻad [to the end, till the conclusion]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְדִינָ֖א | and court the | Conjunction, noun common both singular determined, particle |
| יִתִּ֑ב | it will sit | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| וְשָׁלְטָנֵ֣הּ | and dominion his | Conjunction, noun common both singular construct, suffix |
| יְהַעְדּ֔וֹן | they will remove | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| לְהַשְׁמָדָ֥ה | to annihilate | Preposition, verb hiphil infinitive construct common |
| וּלְהוֹבָדָ֖ה | and to destroy | Conjunction, preposition, verb hiphil infinitive construct common |
| עַד־ | until | Preposition |
| סוֹפָֽא׃ | end the | Noun common both singular determined, particle |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. |
| KJV | But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. |
| ASV | But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. |
| YLT | 'And the Judge is seated, and its dominion they cause to pass away, to cut off, and to destroy — unto the end; |
| WEB | “‘But the judgment will be set, and they will take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end. |
| BBE | But the judge will be seated, and they will put an end to his authority, to overcome it and send complete destruction on it. |
The translations agree on the rendering of dominion as שָׁלְטָן — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause introduces the court's action, followed by two subordinate phrases detailing the consequences for the dominion.
5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
verbיְתִב
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 8 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Daniel 7:26
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Judgment of the Oppressorgenerated
Daniel 7:26 describes a future time when a court will convene to judge the dominion of an oppressive ruler. This judgment signifies the end of that ruler's power, as outlined in the preceding verses that detail the oppression of the saints and the changing of times and laws. The passage emphasizes the ultimate authority of God's judgment over earthly powers, culminating in the restoration of His people, as seen in the following verse, Daniel 7:27.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel 7:10–11 | A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. |
| 2 | 2 Thessalonians 2:8 | And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival. |
| 3 | Revelation 11:13 | And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand were killed in the quake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. |
| 4 | Revelation 20:10–11 | And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שָׁלְטָן, shal.tangenerated
The noun שָׁלְטָן (shal.tan) refers to dominion or sovereignty, indicating control over a territory or people. It is derived from a root that emphasizes authority and governance, and it is used in contexts describing both the abstract concept of rule and the concrete realm under a ruler's control.
In this verse, it signifies the dominion of the oppressive ruler that will be taken away, highlighting the transition from human authority to divine judgment. The parsing as a singular construct with a suffix indicates that this dominion belongs specifically to the ruler mentioned in the context.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses dominion for שָׁלְטָן.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb יִתִּ֑ב (it will sit) governs the entire verse, with multiple phrases describing the actions that follow: the court convening, the dominion being taken away, and the destruction that follows. The structure emphasizes the sequence of judgment leading to the removal of power.
The order of the Hebrew words places emphasis on the court's action first, which sets the stage for the subsequent removal and destruction of the dominion, indicating a clear cause-and-effect relationship in the judgment process.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וְדִינָא as κρίσις (krisis), meaning judgment. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning but emphasizes the legal aspect of the court's convening.
The use of ἐχουσίαν for שָׁלְטָן indicates a focus on the possession of authority, which may suggest a broader interpretation of dominion as not just territory but also influence and control.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Daniel 7:26 tells us that a court will convene to judge the oppressive ruler, whose dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. This emphasizes the certainty of God's judgment over earthly powers and the ultimate restoration of His people.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The court convening signifies a formal judgment process where the actions of the oppressive ruler will be evaluated and condemned.
The dominion of the oppressor will be taken away and destroyed, indicating the end of their power and authority.
This verse reflects the biblical theme of divine judgment where God ultimately holds rulers accountable for their actions, as seen in other passages like 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
The term 'forever' indicates that the destruction of the oppressor's dominion is permanent, highlighting the finality of God's judgment.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How does understanding God's judgment in this verse impact my view of current leaders and authorities?
- In what ways can I prepare myself for the ultimate judgment that God will bring?
- What does it mean to me that the dominion of the oppressor will be destroyed forever?
- How can I find comfort in God's promise of justice as described in this verse?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators reference this verse to discuss divine judgment and the fate of oppressive rulers. Quotations from Aphrahat, Ephrem, and Theodoret are included.
For the judgment came on Antiochus, a judgment from heaven; and he became sick with a grievous and evil sickness, and on account of the smell of him as he rotted, no one could approach him,Early Church Fathers on Daniel 7 →
“Then the court shall sit in judgment” in order to revenge the tribulations of the holy ones and of the righteous ones, who preserved the law of the Most High, and in order to punish and destroy Antiochus, the little horn,Early Church Fathers on Daniel 7 →
The blessed Paul also teaches more clearly to … the Thessalonians, and through them he teaches all lovers of godliness. He says that we should not think that the enemy of truth will appear now, for first the error of the idols,Early Church Fathers on Daniel 7 →
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Daniel 7:26 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBut the judgment shall sit,.... As in Daniel 7:10, the court shall sit, the Judge shall take the bench, and all things be prepared for the arraignment, trial, condemnation, and punishment, of the
Read John Gill on Daniel 7 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBut the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
Read Robert Jamieson on Daniel 7 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsDaniel 7:26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end.Ver. 26. But the judgment shall sit.] And then an end of him howsoever.
Read John Trapp on Daniel 7 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(26) The judgment.—The language is similar to that in Daniel 7:10. The destruction of the beast recorded in Daniel 7:11 is here omitted. Unto the end.—Comp. Daniel 6:26.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Daniel 7 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible26. See notes Daniel 7:10. This does not refer to the General Judgment, but to the punishment of Antiochus by divinely directed agents after the close of the period represented by the “time, times,
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Daniel 7 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.
“‘But the judgment will be set, and they will take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end.
But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.
But the court will convene, and his ruling authority will be removed – destroyed and abolished forever!
Tyndale line
But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion to consume and to destroy it to the end.
But the iudgement shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it vnto the ende.
Strictly literal
And the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
'And the Judge is seated, and its dominion they cause to pass away, to cut off, and to destroy — unto the end;
And judgment is set, and they cause his dominion to pass away, to perish, and to be destroyed—to the end;
But they will sit down to hold judgment, and they will take away his dominion, to destroy and to annihilate it unto the end.
But the court will be in session, and they will take his royal power away to be consumed and destroyed at the end.
From the Latin
And judgment shall sit, that his power may be taken away, and be broken in pieces, and perish even to the end.
Simplified
Then the court will execute judgment and take away his power, destroying it forever.
But the judge will be seated, and they will put an end to his authority, to overcome it and send complete destruction on it.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text states, "וְדִינָ֖א יִתִּ֑ב וְשָׁלְטָנֵ֣הּ יְהַעְדּ֔וֹן לְהַשְׁמָדָ֥ה וּלְהוֹבָדָ֖ה עַד־ סוֹפָֽא׃" The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, as all eight words match in a word-by-word correspondence. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q112 and 4Q113) contain partial texts that align with the Masoretic Text, but they include several editor-supplied words, indicating some differences in preservation. Overall, the primary message about the court convening and the destruction of dominion is consistent across these witnesses, with the Masoretic Text being the most complete.
וְדִינָ֖א יִתִּ֑ב וְשָׁלְטָנֵ֣הּ יְהַעְדּ֔וֹן לְהַשְׁמָדָ֥ה וּלְהוֹבָדָ֖ה עַד־ סוֹפָֽא׃
8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ודינ [א] יתב [ושלטנ׳ה] [יהעדון] [להשמדה] [ולהובדה] עד סופ א
2 words on the leather — 3 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
[ודינ] [א] [יתב] [ושלטנ׳ה] [יהעדון] [להשמדה] [ולהובדה] [עד] [סופ] א
1 word on the leather — 9 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Daniel 7:26
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
דִּין (diyn) means 'judgment' and is related to the Aramaic term for the same concept. The entries consistently define it as a noun referring to judgment, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
דִּין n.m. judgment
base
H1780 דִּין
1780 diyn deen
(Aramaic) corresp. to 1779:--judgement.
see HEBREW for 01779
דִּין (din) — judgment.
judgment
Aramaic of din (דִּין "judgment" H1779)
Adj | N-ms | Art — Conjunction · noun common both singular determined · particleAC/Ncbsd/Ta
kort.
See HOUSE.
Court
The enclosure of the tabernacle (Ex. 27:9-19; 40:8), of the temple (1 Kings 6:36), of a prison (Neh. 3:25), of a private house (2 Sam. 17:18), and of a king’s palace (2 Kings 20:4).
(Heb. chatser), an open enclosure surrounded by buildings, applied in the Authorized Version most commonly to the enclosures of the tabernacle and the temple. (Exodus 27:9; 40:33; Leviticus 6:16; 1 Kings 6:36; 7:8; 2 Kings 23:12; 2 Chronicles 33:5) etc.
An enclosed space or yard within the limits of an oriental house, 2Sa 17:18. For the courts of the temple, see TEMPLE. The tabernacle also had a court. All oriental houses are built in the form of a hollow spare around a court. See HOUSE.
יְתִב (yeth-eeb) means to sit or dwell, with various forms indicating sitting, being seated, or causing to dwell. The entries indicate that it is an Aramaic word corresponding to another root, and it is used in contexts related to dwelling or sitting.
יְתִב vb. sit, dwell
Pe.
sit, be seated
dwell
Haph. cause to dwell
base
H3488 יְתִב
3488 ythiyb yeth-eeb'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 3427; to sit or dwell: -dwell,
(be) set, sit.
see HEBREW for 03427
יְתִב (ye.tiv) — to dwell.
1) to sit, dwell
1a) (P'al) to sit, be seated
1b) (Aphel) to cause to dwell
Adj — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularAVqi3ms
The Hebrew word שׇׁלְטָן (*sholtan*) means dominion or sovereignty. It is derived from the root related to authority and can refer to both abstract and concrete forms of rule, including a realm. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to control and governance.
שׇׁלְטָן n.m. dominion
base
H7985 שׇׁלְטָן dominion
7985 sholtan shol-tawn'
(Aramaic) from 7981; empire (abstractly or
concretely):--dominion.
see HEBREW for 07981
שׇׁלְטָן (shol.tan) — dominion.
1) dominion, sovereignty
1a) dominion, sovereignty
1b) realm
Adj | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · noun common both singular construct · suffixAC/Ncbsc/Sp3ms
עֲדָה (*ada'*) is a Hebrew verb meaning to pass on, pass away, or remove. It can be used in various forms, such as to pass over or to take away. The entries indicate that it has a range of meanings related to movement or transition, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[עֲדָה] vb. pass on, away
Pe.
pass on, over
pass away
Haph. take away
base
H5709 עֲדָה, עֲדָא
5709 `ada' ad-aw'
(Aramaic) or adah (Aramaic) {ad-aw'}; corresponding to
5710:--alter, depart, pass (away), remove, take (away).
see HEBREW for 05710
עֲדָה (a.dah) — to pass on/over/away.
1) to pass on, pass away
1a)(P'al)
1a1) to pass on, pass over
1a2) to pass away
1b) (Aphel) to take away, remove, depose
Adj — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine pluralAVhi3mp
שְׁמַד (shmad) means to destroy, with its roots in Aramaic. It is noted in the context of the Old Testament, specifically in Daniel 7:26. The entries indicate that it corresponds to the Hebrew word שָׁמַד (shamad), which also means to destroy.
[שְׁמַד] vb. Haph. destroy;—Dn 7:26
ref
H8046 שְׁמַד
8046 shmad shem-ad'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 8045:--consume.
see HEBREW for 08045
שְׁמַד (she.mad) — to destroy.
(Aphel) to destroy
Aramaic of sha.mad (שָׁמַד "to destroy" H8045)
Adj | V-Hiphil-Inf-a — Preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct commonAR/Vhcc
אֲבַד (abad) primarily means to perish or be destroyed. It can denote various forms of destruction, including the act of perishing (P'al), the act of destroying (Aphel), and the state of being destroyed (Hophal). The word is used in contexts that imply loss or annihilation.
[אֲבַד] vb. perish
Pe. they shall perish, pass away.
Haph. destroy
Hoph. be destroyed
base
H7 [אֲבַד] perish
7 'abad ab-ad'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 6:--destroy, perish.
see HEBREW for 06
אֲבַד (a.vad) — to destroy.
1) to perish, vanish
1a) (P'al) shall perish
1b) (Aphel) destroy
1c) (Hophal) be destroyed
AC/R/Vhcc — Conjunction · preposition · verb hiphil infinitive construct commonAC/R/Vhcc
עַד (ad) is a Hebrew word primarily functioning as a preposition and conjunction. It conveys meanings related to time and extent, such as 'until,' 'up to,' and 'even to.' The entries indicate its use in various contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its definitions.
עַד 36 prep. and conj. even to, until
base
H5705 עַד
5705 `ad ad
(Aramaic) corresponding to 5704; X and, at, for, (hither-)to,
on till, (un-)to, until, within.
see HEBREW for 05704
עַד (ad) — till.
prep
1) even to, until, up to, during
conj
2) until, up to the time that, ere that
Adj — PrepositionAR
סוֹף (soph) means 'end' or 'conclusion' and is related to the Hebrew word סוֹף (H5490). It appears in an Aramaic context, corresponding to the concept of an ending.
H5491 סוֹף
5491 cowph sofe
(Aramaic) corresponding to 5490:--end.
see HEBREW for 05490
סוֹף (soph) — end.
end, conclusion
Aramaic of soph (סוֹף "end" H5490)
ANcbsd/Ta — Noun common both singular determined · particleANcbsd/Ta
qets, 'ephec, kalah; telos, sunteleo:
The end of anything is its termination, hence, also, final object or purpose.
It is the translation of several Hebrew and Greek words, chiefly in the Old Testament of qets (properly, "a cutting off") and other words from the same root (Ge 6:13, "The end of all flesh is come before me"); 'acharith, "hinder part," is also frequently translated "end" (De 11:12; Ps 37:37,38, American Revised Version: "There is a happy end to the man of peace .... The end of the wicked shall be cut off"; the English Revised Version "latter end" (Ps 37:37), margin "reward" or "future posterity"; Ps 73:17…
End
In Heb. 13:7, is the rendering of the unusual Greek word ekbasin, meaning “outcome”, i.e., death. It occurs only elsewhere in 1 Cor. 10:13, where it is rendered “escape.”