Keraia
Daniel 9

Daniel 9:25

Gabriel’s Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks · Daniel 9:20–27
Read Daniel 9

Translations

Modern
Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.
Traditional
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Literal
And you shall know and you shall understand that from the going forth of the word to return and to rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah, a Prince—seven sevens; and sixty and two sevens: it will return and it will be built—street and trench—and in distress of the times!
Latin
Scito ergo, et animadverte: ab exitu sermonis, ut iterum ædificetur Jerusalem, usque ad christum ducem, hebdomades septem, et hebdomades sexaginta duæ erunt: et rursum ædificabitur platea, et muri in angustia temporum.

Original

Hebrew
English
Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.

Notes

Daniel 9:25

  • The command to rebuild Jerusalem and its temple starts the seventy sets of seven. The event that best matches this is Cyrus the Great's decree in 538 BC, which allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and start rebuilding (see Daniel 5:31; 9:1; Ezra 1:2–4). Less likely are the decrees of Artaxerxes I in 458 BC (see Ezra 7:12–26) and 445 BC (see Nehemiah 2:5–8).

  • the Messiah, the Prince: Many interpreters believe Christ fulfills this prophecy, viewing this passage as covering history from Daniel's time to Christ's time.

    However, a Messiah can refer to any of Israel’s kings or priests, who were anointed with oil. If fulfilled during Antiochus IV's time, the anointed one was likely the high priest then, Onias III (compare Daniel 11:22).

  • a trench: The vision describes Jerusalem being physically rebuilt. The Jews finished rebuilding the temple's in 515 BC (Ezra 3:1–6:22). In 445 BC, Nehemiah completed Jerusalem's wall (Nehemiah 2–6).

  • The times of distress may refer to Jerusalem and its temple's history from the decree's publication until the end of the seventy sets of seven (see Daniel 11:2–45).

Daniel 9:24–27

Gabriel further explained the meaning of Daniel’s vision (Daniel 9:22–23). Since the vision in Daniel 8 ends with Antiochus IV (see Daniel 8:23–25; compare 11:21–39), many interpreters think this explanation also refers to Antiochus. Others believe it ends with the death of Christ, followed by the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and the arrival of the antichrist.

Daniel 9:20–27

God answered Daniel's prayer right away by sending Gabriel, his messenger, to explain Daniel's vision. Gabriel's explanation included both the near and distant future of Daniel's people.

Events

Places

Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions

Glossary

Anointed One, Anointed Ones Apocalyptic Book of Daniel Book of Jeremiah Daniel (Person) Eschatology Jeremiah (Person) Messiah Numbers and Numerology

Topics

Angel (A Spirit): Functions of Medium of Revelation to Prophets Atonement: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Day: Prophetic Jerusalem of the Destruction of Jerusalem: Prophecies of the Rebuilding of Jesus, the Christ: King Jesus, the Christ: Names, Appellations, and Titles of: Messiah the Prince Jesus, the Christ: Other Scriptures Relating to his Messiahship Jesus, the Christ: Prophecies Concerning the Coming of Prophecies Respecting Christ: His Coming at a Set Time Rebuilding Seven: Weeks in Daniel's Vision Concerning the Coming of the Messiah For The Atonement: Foretold The Great Tribulation The Jews: Christ: Promised To Titles and Names of Christ: Messiah Weeks: A Space of Seven Years Sometimes So Called