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.

DANIEL 9:24KJV
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Daniel 9:24 (KJV)

What does Daniel 9:24 mean?

Daniel 9:24 presents a set period for Daniel’s people and their holy city, Jerusalem. During that period, wrongdoing is to be dealt with, lasting righteousness is to arrive, and the sacred purposes named in the verse are to be completed.

Gabriel speaks these words to Daniel in response to Daniel’s prayer. The verse gathers several aims into one announcement: ending rebellion and sin, dealing with guilt, establishing what is right, bringing vision and prophecy to their appointed conclusion, and anointing “the most Holy.”

The Hebrew behind Daniel 9:24

  • “weeks” — שָׁבֻעִים (shavuʿim): The word means groups of seven. In this passage, the seventy groups are often understood as groups of seven years, rather than ordinary weeks of seven days.
  • “reconciliation” — כָּפַר (kafar): This word can carry the sense of dealing with or removing guilt. Here the KJV connects that action with “iniquity,” meaning wrongdoing.
  • “anoint” — מָשַׁח (mashach): The word means to apply oil. Anointing could mark someone or something as set apart for a sacred purpose.

Why Daniel 9:24 matters

  • The announcement concerns both a people and a place. “Thy people” refers to Daniel’s people, while “thy holy city” points to Jerusalem.
  • “Everlasting righteousness” points to a lasting state of what is right, not merely a temporary end to wrongdoing.
  • Christians differ on how to understand the timing of the seventy weeks and the identity of “the most Holy.” The following verses divide the period into smaller parts and connect it with events concerning Jerusalem.

Where else these words appear

“weeks” Hebrew H7620 · used in 17 verses

  • Genesis 29:27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
  • Deuteronomy 16:9 Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn.
  • Ezekiel 45:21 In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.

“finish” Hebrew H3607 · used in 17 verses

  • Genesis 8:2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;
  • 1 Samuel 25:33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
  • Ecclesiastes 8:8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

“end” Hebrew H2856 · used in 24 verses

  • Leviticus 15:3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.
  • Esther 8:10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:
  • Isaiah 29:11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

“vision” Hebrew H2377 · used in 34 verses

  • 1 Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
  • Ezekiel 7:26 Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.
  • Daniel 8:17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.