Daniel 9:27 (KJV)

What does Daniel 9:27 mean?

Daniel 9:27 describes a figure who will make a strong agreement with many people for a period of “one week” (often understood as seven years), but halfway through that time, he will put an end to sacrifices and offerings, and something detestable will cause devastation until everything that is decreed is carried out. The verse points to a time of broken promises, halted worship, and a period of great trouble marked by abominations and desolation.

In the book of Daniel, the angel Gabriel is explaining to Daniel a vision about the future of Israel and Jerusalem. This verse is part of a larger prophecy about seventy “weeks” (sets of seven), and verse 27 focuses on the final “week.” The language is symbolic, and the details about the covenant, the stopping of sacrifices, and the “abominations” have led to many interpretations, but the plain sense is that a period of apparent peace will be shattered by betrayal and desecration.

The Hebrew behind Daniel 9:27

• confirm (גָּבַר, gāvar): This word means to make strong or to strengthen. Here, it suggests that the covenant is not just made but powerfully enforced or upheld, which adds weight to the seriousness of the agreement.
• week (שָׁבוּעַ, shāvuʻa): This word literally means “a seven” and is often used for a period of seven days or years. In this context, it is generally understood as a symbolic period of seven years, not a literal week.
• abominations (שִׁקּוּץ, shiqquṣ): This word refers to something detestable, often connected to idolatry or practices that are offensive in a religious sense. Its use here highlights that what causes desolation is not just destruction, but something deeply offensive to the faith of the people.
• desolate (שָׁמֵם, shāmēm): This word means to be laid waste or devastated. Its repetition in the verse emphasizes the complete ruin or emptiness that results from the abominations.

Why Daniel 9:27 matters

• Daniel 9:27 clarifies that the disruption of worship and the devastation are not random events but are tied to a broken covenant and deliberate acts of desecration.
• The verse connects to the wider prophecy by marking a turning point in the final “week,” helping readers understand the flow and structure of Daniel’s vision.
• The language of “abominations” and “desolation” links this prophecy to other parts of Daniel and later biblical writings, showing its ongoing significance in discussions about times of trouble and faithfulness.