Lexical Summary
sholtan: Dominion, Authority, Sovereignty
Original Word:שָׁלְטָן
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:sholtan
Pronunciation:shohl-TAHN
Phonetic Spelling:(shol-tawn')
KJV: dominion
NASB:dominion, dominions
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) fromH798 (אַשׁדּוֹת הַפִּסגָּה - Slopes of Pisgah)1]
1. empire
{abstractly or concretely}
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
dominion
(Aramaic) fromshlet; empire (abstractly or concretely) -- dominion.
see HEBREWshlet
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) from
sheletDefinitiondominion
NASB Translationdominion (13), dominions (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(K
§ 61. 3, Belsp,
a))
Daniel 7:6 ; — absoluteDaniel 7:6,14, constructDaniel 6:27 +; emphaticDaniel 7:27; suffixDaniel 4:19, -Daniel 3:33 +, -Daniel 7:12; plural emphaticDaniel 7:27; —
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).
realmDaniel 6:27a.
Topical Lexicon
Scope of the Term in DanielThe 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 inDaniel 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
InDaniel 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).
2. Evangelism: AsDaniel 7:14 envisions “all peoples” serving the Son of Man, global missions rest on the certainty of His granted dominion.
3. Perseverance: Knowing that hostile dominions are temporary (Daniel 7:26) equips believers to endure persecution with hope.
4. Political Engagement: While recognizing rightful earthly authority (Romans 13:1), Christians discern its limits and ultimate accountability to God’s superior dominion.
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 wəšāləṭānêh
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