Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

DOMINION

The translation of several Hebrew and Greek words that imply “mastery” and the power “to rule” and “to have dominion over” (e.g., Heb. rāḏâ, māšal, šālaṭ, bāʿal; Gk. krátos, kuriótēs, kurieúō, exousía).

The precise nature of the rule or dominion varies with the situation or context. Thus, the sun and moon are said to rule over the day and the night (Gen. 1:18; Job 38:33).

“Dominion” expresses political power (Judg. 14:4; 1 Kgs. 4:24) and refers to the rule of sin and death over mankind (Ps. 19:13[MT 14]; Rom. 6:9, 14) and mankind’s mastery over nature (Gen. 1:26, 28). It can carry messianic overtones (Mic. 4:8) and refer to the rank or order of the angels (Eph. 1:21; Col. 1:16). The exalted Christ, however, rules over all these dominions.

The final horizon, for biblical writers in both the OT and NT, is that “dominion” ultimately belongs to God (Job 25:2; Ps. 72:8; Dan. 4:3, 34; 1 Tim. 6:16; 1 Pet. 4:11). Because God is the creator of all and his dominion will last forever, he is free to delegate authority over the works of his hand to humankind (Ps. 8:6[7]). Hence, humans are called to exercise responsibility in their dominion and care over God’s creation, thereby imitating God’s character and reflecting God’s image in ruling over every living thing.

Frank M. Hasel

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

DOMINION

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)