Kingdom of God — Meaning in the Bible
God's rule as king. Jesus began his preaching by announcing that the kingdom of God was near, and many of his parables describe what it is like.
What it means
The psalms celebrate God as king over all the earth. Daniel sees a kingdom given by God that will never be destroyed. Psalm 145:11–13Daniel 2:44Daniel 7:13–14
Jesus announced "The Kingdom of God is at hand", taught his disciples to pray "Your Kingdom come", and used parables such as the mustard seed to describe it. Matthew usually says "Kingdom of Heaven" for the same idea. Mark 1:14–15Matthew 6:10Mark 4:30–32Matthew 13:31–33
Key passages
- Psalm 145:10–13 — An everlasting kingdom.
- Daniel 2:44 — A kingdom that will never be destroyed.
- Mark 1:14–15 — The kingdom is at hand.
- Matthew 13:31–33 — The mustard seed and the yeast.
- Luke 17:20–21 — Not coming with observation.
- John 18:36 — "My Kingdom is not of this world."
Original language
βασιλεία basileia
Greek · Strong’s G932 · gloss: “kingdom”
The Greek word for kingdom, rule or reign. Mark 1:15
A Strong’s number is a reference identifier, not a complete definition: what a word means in a passage depends on its context. Lexical data: STEPBible.org, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
How translations differ
- Matthew mostly says "Kingdom of Heaven" where Mark and Luke say "Kingdom of God", in parallel accounts. Matthew 4:17Mark 1:15
For children
The kingdom of God means God being king. Jesus told stories, like the tiny mustard seed that grows big, to show what God's kingdom is like. Mark 4:30–32
Study further
- Mark 1:14–15 The announcement.
- Matthew 13:1–52 Kingdom parables.
- Luke 17:20–21 Where the kingdom is.