King James Version

What Does Daniel 9:25 Mean?

Daniel 9:25 in the King James Version says “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the M... — study this verse from Daniel chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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. be built: Heb. return and be built wall: or, breach, or, ditch troublous: Heb. strait of

Daniel 9:25 · KJV


Context

23

At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. commandment: Heb. word greatly: Heb. a man of desires

24

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. finish: or, restrain make an: or, seal up prophecy: Heb. prophet

25

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. be built: Heb. return and be built wall: or, breach, or, ditch troublous: Heb. strait of

26

And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. but: or, and shall have nothing desolations: or, it shall be cut off by desolations

27

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. the covenant: or, a covenant for the: or, with the abominable armies the desolate: or, the desolator


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The prophecy provides chronological specifics: '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.' The decree to rebuild Jerusalem begins the countdown. 'Messiah the Prince' (Hebrew: mashiach nagid, anointed leader) clearly refers to Jesus Christ. The '7 weeks + 62 weeks' (69 total) reaches Messiah's coming. The reference to rebuilding 'in troublous times' accurately describes Nehemiah's opposition-filled reconstruction.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Various decrees to rebuild Jerusalem exist: Cyrus (538 BC, Ezra 1), Artaxerxes to Ezra (458 BC, Ezra 7), Artaxerxes to Nehemiah (445 BC, Nehemiah 2). Different starting points and calendrical systems (360-day prophetic years vs. 365-day solar years) produce different calculations, but most point to Christ's ministry or triumphal entry. Sir Robert Anderson's calculation from 445 BC using 360-day years reaches Palm Sunday (AD 32). The prophecy's precision astonished early Christians, providing powerful evidence for Jesus's messianic identity.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the chronological precision point powerfully to Jesus as the prophesied Messiah?
  2. What does the prophecy's fulfillment centuries later teach about God's sovereign orchestration of history toward predetermined purposes?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וְתֵדַ֨ע1 of 22

Know

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

וְתַשְׂכֵּ֜ל2 of 22

therefore and understand

H7919

to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent

מִן3 of 22
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

מֹצָ֣א4 of 22

that from the going forth

H4161

a going forth, i.e., (the act) an egress, or (the place) an exit; hence, a source or product; specifically, dawn, the rising of the sun (the east), ex

דָבָ֗ר5 of 22

of the commandment

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

תָּשׁוּב֙6 of 22

again

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

וְנִבְנְתָה֙7 of 22

and to build

H1129

to build (literally and figuratively)

יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙8 of 22

Jerusalem

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

עַד9 of 22
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

מָשִׁ֣יחַ10 of 22

unto the Messiah

H4899

anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically, the messiah

נָגִ֔יד11 of 22

the Prince

H5057

a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious; generally (abstractly, plural), honorable themes

וְשָׁבֻעִ֞ים12 of 22

weeks

H7620

literally, sevened, i.e., a week (specifically, of years)

שִׁבְעָ֑ה13 of 22

shall be seven

H7651

seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number

וְשָׁבֻעִ֞ים14 of 22

weeks

H7620

literally, sevened, i.e., a week (specifically, of years)

שִׁשִּׁ֣ים15 of 22

and threescore

H8346

sixty

וּשְׁנַ֗יִם16 of 22

and two

H8147

two; also (as ordinal) twofold

תָּשׁוּב֙17 of 22

again

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

וְנִבְנְתָה֙18 of 22

and to build

H1129

to build (literally and figuratively)

רְח֣וֹב19 of 22

the street

H7339

a width, i.e., (concretely) avenue or area

וְחָר֔וּץ20 of 22

and the wall

H2742

properly, incised or (active) incisive; hence (as noun masculine or feminine) a trench (as dug), gold (as mined), a threshing-sledge (having sharp tee

וּבְצ֖וֹק21 of 22

even in troublous

H6695

a strait, i.e., (figuratively) distress

הָעִתִּֽים׃22 of 22

times

H6256

time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Daniel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Daniel 9:25 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Daniel 9:25 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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