Daniel 9:24
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. | Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedDaniel has been praying over Jeremiah's seventy years of Jerusalem's desolation and confessing Israel's sin. The angel Gabriel answers with a new number: seventy 'sevens' are decreed for Daniel's people and city. Within that span God will finish transgression, end sins, make reconciliation for iniquity, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and anoint the most Holy. Daniel 9:2Daniel 9:20Daniel 9:21Daniel 9:23Daniel 9:24Strong's H7620IStrong's H2852
SpeakingThe angel Gabriel speaks. Daniel had seen him in an earlier vision, and he came to give Daniel 'skill and understanding.' Daniel 9:21Daniel 9:22Daniel 9:23
ToDaniel, who is called 'greatly beloved.' He records the message in the first person. Daniel 9:23Daniel overview
Also involvedDaniel's people Israel and 'thy holy city' Jerusalem. These are the very people and city he had just prayed for. Daniel 9:24Daniel 9:16Daniel 9:19
A set span of seventy sevens is 'determined,' meaning decreed or marked out. Six goals are named: to finish the transgression, end sins, make reconciliation (atonement) for iniquity, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and anoint the most Holy. Daniel 9:24Strong's H2852Strong's H7620IStrong's H3722A
Daniel was in Babylon, serving under foreign kings. The prophecy concerns Jerusalem and its desolate sanctuary. Daniel overviewDaniel 9:17Daniel 9:24
The eventsThe message came in the first year of Darius the Mede. It arrived about the time of the evening offering, while Daniel was still praying. Daniel 9:1Daniel 9:21
WrittenTraditional view: Daniel wrote the book in the 500s BC. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date its final form to about 167-164 BC under Antiochus IV, while others keep the 500s BC date, pointing to Jesus' words in Matthew 24:15. Daniel overview
HereGod answers Daniel's plea for mercy on Jerusalem. He shows that the city's future and his dealing with sin are already decreed. Daniel had prayed 'O Lord, forgive,' and the answer promises an end of sins and reconciliation for iniquity. Daniel 9:18Daniel 9:19Daniel 9:23Daniel 9:24Strong's H2852
In the whole of ScriptureThe verse fits Daniel's theme that God rules history and will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed. The next verses tie the timeline to 'the Messiah the Prince,' who would be 'cut off, but not for himself.' Other Scripture speaks of a righteous King called 'THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS' and of Christ's blood purging the conscience. Daniel overviewDaniel 9:25Daniel 9:26Jeremiah 23:5Jeremiah 23:6Hebrews 9:14
For readersConfession and prayer for God's people are met by God's own plan to remove sin. Daniel asked on the ground of God's mercies, not human righteousness. The New Testament says believers are reconciled to God by the death of his Son. Daniel 9:18Daniel 9:24Romans 5:10
Christians read this differently
The verse does not itself say how the seventy sevens are counted or who or what 'the most Holy' is. Readers who count the sevens as years point to passages that count sevens of years and a day for a year; one reading sees the six goals fulfilled in Christ's first coming, his atoning death and his anointing, while another holds that the final 'week' of verse 27 is still future. Some take 'the most Holy' as a person, the Messiah, and others as a holy place or sanctuary. Daniel 9:24Daniel 9:25Daniel 9:26Daniel 9:27Leviticus 25:8Numbers 14:34Isaiah 61:1Hebrews 9:11Strong's H6944G
- weeksשָׁבוּעַ
The word is glossed 'sevens' or weeks, and it also names the Feast of Weeks. The verse speaks of seventy 'sevens' without saying here what unit is counted. Leviticus 25:8 shows Israel also counting sevens of years. Strong's H7620IDaniel 9:24Leviticus 25:8
- make reconciliationכִּפֶּר
The word means to cover, purge, or make atonement for sin. The lexicon lists its use for atoning for sin and persons by legal rites. Here it is promised as part of God's decreed plan. Strong's H3722ADaniel 9:24
- righteousnessצֶ֫דֶק
Its range includes justice and right government, and the lexicon lists uses for the Davidic king and Messiah. Joined here with a word meaning for ever or everlasting, it promises lasting righteousness. Jeremiah 23:5-6 speaks of a righteous King named 'THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.' Strong's H6664GStrong's H5769GJeremiah 23:5Jeremiah 23:6
- seal upחָתַם
It means to seal or fasten up by sealing. Later in the book Daniel is told to 'seal the book, even to the time of the end.' Strong's H2856Daniel overview
- anointמָשַׁח
It means to smear or anoint, including anointing as consecration. Isaiah 61:1 speaks of the LORD anointing his servant to preach good tidings. Strong's H4886Isaiah 61:1
Takeaway
Daniel asked God to forgive and restore. God answered with a decreed timetable for ending sin, atoning for iniquity, and bringing everlasting righteousness. The hope of God's people rests on his decree and his mercy. Daniel 9:19Daniel 9:24Daniel 9:18
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
About 605-536 BC. King of Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC). Where Daniel lived and served for about seventy years. The capital of the Babylonian empire, on the Euphrates south of modern Baghdad, in the land the Bible calls Shinar and Chaldea.
Who ruled
- King of BabylonNebuchadnezzar605-562 BC
The king who besieged Jerusalem, carried Daniel and the temple vessels to Babylon, and later destroyed the city and temple. His own building inscriptions boast of the Babylon he built. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 24:12 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 25:1Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- Last king of Babylon, and his son who ruled in his placeNabonidus and Belshazzar556-539 BC
Nabonidus spent about ten years at the oasis of Tema in Arabia and left his son Belshazzar to rule in Babylon. That is why Belshazzar could only offer Daniel the place of "third ruler in the kingdom": he was himself second. Daniel 5:1Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:29Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Verse Account of Nabonidus
- Received the kingdom after Babylon fellDarius the MedianFrom 539 BC
Daniel says he "took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old" and set 120 princes over it. Records outside the Bible do not name him; he has been identified with Gubaru, the governor Cyrus set over Babylon, or with Cyrus himself. Daniel 5:31Daniel 6:1Daniel 9:1Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)
- King of PersiaCyrus559-530 BC
He united the Medes and Persians, took Babylon in 539 BC, and let the exiles go home to rebuild the temple, as Isaiah had named him beforehand. Daniel 1:21Daniel 6:28Daniel 10:1Ezra 1:1-4Isaiah 44:28-45:1Cyrus Cylinder
- King of JudahJehoiakim609-598 BC
Judah's king when Daniel was taken. Jeremiah warned him and his people that the land would serve Babylon seventy years. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 23:36-24:6Jeremiah 25:1-11
What was happening, 612 BC to 167 BC
- 612 BCWarNineveh falls
Babylon and the Medes destroyed Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as Nahum and Zephaniah had foretold. Babylon became the great power of the region. Nahum 3:7Zephaniah 2:13Fall of Nineveh Chronicle (ABC 3)
- 605 BCWarBattle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Carchemish on the Euphrates, in Jehoiakim's fourth year. The same year he came against Jerusalem and took the first captives, Daniel among them. Jeremiah 46:2Daniel 1:1-4Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 597 BCWarJerusalem surrenders
Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiachin, his nobles and craftsmen to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel went into exile with them. 2 Kings 24:10-17Ezekiel 1:2Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 586 BCWarJerusalem and the temple destroyed
Babylon's army burned the temple and the city and broke down its walls. Daniel later prays over "the desolations of Jerusalem" and asks God to shine on his "sanctuary that is desolate." 2 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 52:12-14Daniel 9:2Daniel 9:17
- c. 575 BCBuildingBabylon rebuilt in splendor
Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon with great walls, palaces and the blue-glazed Ishtar Gate, and his inscriptions praise his own work. Compare his boast: "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?" Daniel 4:30Nebuchadnezzar's East India House InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 1.178-183
- 562 BCRulersNebuchadnezzar dies
His son Evil-merodach became king and released Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 2 Kings 25:27-30Jeremiah 52:31-34
- c. 553-543 BCRulersNabonidus leaves Babylon to Belshazzar
King Nabonidus stayed at Tema in Arabia for about ten years, and the yearly New Year festival in Babylon was not held. Belshazzar governed in Babylon. Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Daniel 5:1Daniel 7:1
- 550 BCWarCyrus unites the Medes and Persians
Cyrus of Persia defeated Astyages king of the Medes, joining the two peoples in one kingdom. Daniel's vision names the ram's two horns as "the kings of Media and Persia," the higher coming up last. Daniel 8:3Daniel 8:20Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.127-130
- October 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus's army entered Babylon without a long siege. Herodotus says the people were feasting when the city was taken. Daniel records that "in that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain." Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.191Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleCyrus lets the exiles return
In his first year over Babylon, Cyrus proclaimed that the Jews could go back and build the LORD's house in Jerusalem. Daniel "continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus." Ezra 1:1-42 Chronicles 36:22-23Daniel 1:21Cyrus Cylinder
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe temple's foundation is laid
The returned exiles rebuilt the altar and laid the foundation of the temple. In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel was still in the east, mourning and praying. Ezra 3:1-11Daniel 10:1-3
- 334-331 BCWarAlexander the Great conquers Persia
Alexander of Macedon crossed into Asia and overthrew the Persian empire within four years. Daniel 8:21 names the rough goat as "the king of Grecia" and its great horn as "the first king." Daniel 8:5-8Daniel 8:21Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 1-3
- 323-301 BCWarAlexander's empire is divided
Alexander died young, and after twenty years of war his generals divided his empire, chiefly into four kingdoms. Daniel 8:22 says "four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." Daniel 8:8Daniel 8:22Daniel 11:4Diodorus Siculus, Library 18-20Plutarch, Demetrius 28-30
- 167 BCWarAntiochus IV defiles the temple
The Greek king Antiochus IV banned Jewish worship and set up a pagan altar on the altar of burnt offering. 1 Maccabees calls it "the abomination of desolation." Two centuries later Jesus spoke of "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" as still to come. 1 Maccabees 1:54-59Josephus, Antiquities 12.5.4Matthew 24:15
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records of these years (the Babylonian Chronicles, the Cyrus Cylinder, Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Diodorus, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sevens | שָׁבֻעִ֨ים | sha-vu-'IM | H7620I | Weeksשָׁבוּעַ (sha.vu.a) Feast of Weeks, Also named: pentēkostē (πεντηκοστή "Pentecost" G4005) This name means seven, |
| seventy | שִׁבְעִ֜ים | shiv-'IM | H7657 | seventyשִׁבְעִים (shiv.im) seventy |
| it has been decreed | נֶחְתַּ֥ךְ | nech-TAKH | H2852 | to determineחָתַךְ (cha.takh) 1) to divide, determine 1a) (Niphal) to be determined, be decreed, be settled, be marked out |
| on | עַֽל־ | 'al- | H5921A | uponעַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) … |
| people your | עַמְּךָ֣׀ | 'a-me-KHA | H5971A | peopleעַם (am) : people/nation 1) nation, people 1a) people, nation 1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men |
| and on | וְעַל־ | ve-'al- | H5921A | uponעַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) … |
| [the] city of | עִ֣יר | 'ir | H5892B | cityעִיר (ir) 1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded) 1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded) 1a) city, town |
| holiness your | קָדְשֶׁ֗ךָ | kod-SHE-cha | H6944G | holinessקֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) 1) apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness 1a) apartness, sacredness, holiness 1a1) of God 1a2) of places 1a3) of things 1b) set-apartness, separateness |
| to put an end to | לְכַלֵּ֨א | le-kha-LE' | H3615G | to end: finishכָּלָה (ka.lah) : finish 1) to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be complete, be at an end 1a2) to be completed, be finished 1a3) to be accomplished, be fulfilled 1a4) to be determined, be plotted (bad sense) 1a5) to be spent, be used up 1a6) to waste away, be exhausted, fail 1a7) to come to an end, vanish, perish, be destroyed 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to complete, bring to an end, finish 1b2) to complete (a period of time) 1b3) to finish (doing a thing) 1b4) to make an end, end … |
| the transgression | הַפֶּ֜שַׁע | ha-PE-sha' | H6588 | transgressionפֶּ֫שַׁע (pe.sah) 1) transgression, rebellion 1a1) transgression (against individuals) 1a2) transgression (nation against nation) 1a3) transgression (against God) 1a3a) in general 1a3b) as recognised by sinner 1a3c) as God deals with it 1a3d) as God forgives 1a4) guilt of transgression 1a5) punishment for transgression 1a6) offering for transgression |
| and to complete | וּלְהָתֵ֤ם | u-lach-tom | H8552 | to finishתָּמַם (ta.mam) 1) to be complete, be finished, be at an end 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be finished, be completed 1a1a) completely, wholly, entirely (as auxiliary with verb) 1a2) to be finished, come to an end, cease 1a3) to be complete (of number) 1a4) to be consumed, be exhausted, be spent 1a5) to be finished, be consumed, be destroyed 1a6) to be complete, be sound, be unimpaired, be upright (ethically) 1a7) to complete, finish 1a8) to be completely crossed over 1b) (Niphal) to be consumed 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to finish, complete, perfect 1c2) to finish, cease doing, leave off doing 1c3) to complete, sum up, make whole … |
| sin | חַטָּאת֙ | cha-ta-'ot | H2403B | sinחַטָּאת (chat.tat) : sin 1) sin, sin offering 1a) sin 1b) condition of sin, guilt of sin 1c) punishment for sin 1d) sin-offering 1e) purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness |
| and to atone for | וּלְכַפֵּ֣ר | u-le-kha-PER | H3722A | to atoneכִּפֶּר (ki.pher) 1) to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation 1a) (Piel) 1a1) to cover over, pacify, propitiate 1a2) to cover over, atone for sin, make atonement for 1a3) to cover over, atone for sin and persons by legal rites 1b) (Pual) 1b1) to be covered over 1b2) to be atoned for 1c) (Hithpael) to be covered |
| iniquity | עָוֹ֔ן | 'a-VON | H5771G | iniquity: crimeעָוֺן (a.van) : crime 1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity 1a) iniquity 1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition) 1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity |
| and to bring | וּלְהָבִ֖יא | u-le-ha-VI' | H0935P | to come (in): comeבּוֹא (bo) : come/go_in 1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to enter, come in 1a2) to come 1a2a) to come with 1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy) 1a2c) to come to pass 1a3) to attain to 1a4) to be enumerated 1a5) to go 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to lead in 1b2) to carry in 1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon 1b4) to bring to pass 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be brought, brought in 1c2) to be introduced, be put |
| righteousness of | צֶ֣דֶק | TZE-dek | H6664G | righteousnessצֶ֫דֶק (tse.deq) 1) justice, rightness, righteousness 1a) what is right or just or normal, rightness, justness (of weights and measures) 1b) righteousness (in government) 1b1) of judges, rulers, kings 1b2) of law 1b3) of Davidic king, Messiah 1b4) of Jerusalem as seat of just government 1b5) of God's attribute 1c) righteousness, justice (in case or cause) 1d) rightness (in speech) 1e) righteousness (as ethically right) 1f) righteousness (as vindicated), justification (in controversy), deliverance, victory, prosperity 1f1) of God as covenant-keeping in redemption 1f2) in name of Messianic king … |
| perpetuity | עֹֽלָמִ֑ים | 'o-la-MIM | H5769G | forever: enduringעוֹלָם (o.lam) : enduring/eternal 1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world 1a) ancient time, long time (of past) 1b) (of future) 1b1) for ever, always 1b2) continuous existence, perpetual 1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity |
| and to seal up | וְלַחְתֹּם֙ | ve-lach-TOM | H2856 | to sealחָתַם (cha.tam) 1) to seal, seal up, affix a seal 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to seal, affix one's seal 1a2) to seal up, fasten up by sealing 1b) (Niphal) to seal 1c) (Piel) to lock up 1d) (Hiphil) to be stopped Aramaic equivalent: cha.tam (חֲתַם "to seal" H2857) |
| vision | חָז֣וֹן | cha-ZON | H2377 | visionחֱזוּ (che.zev) 1) vision, appearance 1a) vision 1b) appearance |
| and prophet | וְנָבִ֔יא | ve-na-VI' | H5030 | prophetנְבִיא (ne.vi) prophet Aramaic of na.vi (נָבִיא "prophet" H5030) |
| and to anoint | וְלִמְשֹׁ֖חַ | ve-lim-SHO-ach | H4886 | to anointמָשַׁח (ma.shach) 1) to smear, anoint, spread a liquid 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to smear 1a2) to anoint (as consecration) 1a3) to anoint, consecrate 1b) (Niphal) to be anointed |
| a holy place of | קֹ֥דֶשׁ | KO-desh | H6944G | holinessקֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) 1) apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness 1a) apartness, sacredness, holiness 1a1) of God 1a2) of places 1a3) of things 1b) set-apartness, separateness |
| holy places | קָֽדָשִֽׁים׃ | KA-da-SHIM | H6944G | holinessקֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) 1) apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness 1a) apartness, sacredness, holiness 1a1) of God 1a2) of places 1a3) of things 1b) set-apartness, separateness |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.