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.
DANIEL 9:26KJVWhat does Daniel 9:26 mean?
Daniel 9:26 says that after a set period ("threescore and two weeks"), a figure called the Messiah will be "cut off" (killed or removed), but not for his own sake, and then a coming ruler’s people will destroy the city and the sanctuary, bringing a time of war and devastation that is firmly decided. The verse describes a sequence of troubling events for Jerusalem and its temple after the appearance and death of the Messiah.
In Daniel 9, the angel Gabriel is speaking to Daniel during the Jewish exile in Babylon, explaining a prophecy about the future of Jerusalem and the Jewish people. The verse uses symbolic time periods and refers to the Messiah (a Hebrew word for "anointed one"), the destruction of Jerusalem, and a time of great hardship. This is part of a larger prophecy that addresses Daniel’s concerns about the fate of his people and their holy city.
The Hebrew behind Daniel 9:26
- מָשִׁיחַ (māšîaḥ, "Messiah"): This word means "anointed one" and can refer to a king, priest, or another person set apart for a special role. Here, it points to a significant, expected leader whose fate is central to the prophecy.
- יִכָּרֵת (yikkāret, "be cut off"): This verb means to be cut off, destroyed, or killed. It emphasizes that the Messiah will face a violent or sudden end, not for his own wrongdoing.
- נָגִיד (nāgîd, "prince"): This word means "leader" or "ruler." The "prince that shall come" is not the Messiah but a different future leader whose people will destroy the city and sanctuary.
- שָׁפָךְ (šāfaḵ, "flood"): The word "flood" here is often understood as a metaphor for overwhelming destruction or a sweeping force, not literal water.
Why Daniel 9:26 matters
- Daniel 9:26 helps clarify that the prophecy is not only about a coming Messiah but also about the fate of Jerusalem and its temple, showing that both hope and hardship are foretold.
- The verse highlights that the Messiah’s death is not for his own sake, which has led to many interpretations about the purpose of his suffering.
- This verse connects to the broader context of Daniel 9, where Daniel is seeking understanding about the end of exile and the future of his people, and Gabriel’s message reveals both restoration and future trials.