Daniel 9:26
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed. | And after the threescore and two weeks shall the anointed one be cut off, and shall have nothing: 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 even unto the end shall be war; desolations are determined. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThe angel Gabriel is explaining the seventy weeks to Daniel, who has just prayed for ruined Jerusalem. This verse says that after the sixty-two weeks Messiah, an anointed one, will be cut off, but not for himself. Then the people of a prince who is coming will destroy the city and the sanctuary, and desolations are decreed to the end of the war. Daniel 9:2Daniel 9:21Daniel 9:24Daniel 9:25Daniel 9:26
SpeakingGabriel speaks. He was sent to give Daniel understanding while he prayed. Daniel records it in the first person. Daniel 9:21Daniel 9:22Daniel overview
ToDaniel, called "greatly beloved." Through his book the words reach God's people in exile and after it. Daniel 9:23Daniel overview
Also involvedDaniel's people and holy city, the Messiah who is cut off, and the people of the coming prince who destroy the city and sanctuary. Daniel 9:24Daniel 9:26
Two things follow the sixty-two weeks. Messiah is cut off, but not for himself. The city and sanctuary are destroyed, the end comes with a flood, and desolations are decreed until the end of the war. Daniel 9:25Daniel 9:26Strong's H3772IStrong's H7858
Daniel received this in Babylon, in the realm of the Chaldeans. The prophecy concerns Jerusalem, its street, wall and sanctuary. Daniel overviewDaniel 9:1Daniel 9:16Daniel 9:25Daniel 9:26
The eventsGabriel came in the first year of Darius the Mede. The verse foretells events after the seven and sixty-two weeks, counted from the command to restore and build Jerusalem. Daniel 9:1Daniel 9:2Daniel 9:25Daniel 9:26
WrittenTraditional: written by Daniel in the 500s BC. Scholarly: many critical scholars date the final form to about 167-164 BC, under Antiochus IV, while others hold to the 500s BC date. Daniel overview
HereDaniel asked God to shine on the desolate sanctuary and to behold the ruined city. Gabriel answers that the street and wall will be built again, but that Messiah will be cut off and the city and sanctuary destroyed. Daniel 9:17Daniel 9:18Daniel 9:25Daniel 9:26
In the whole of ScriptureThe seventy weeks aim to end sin, make reconciliation for iniquity and bring in everlasting righteousness. Other Scripture speaks of one "cut off out of the land of the living" for his people's transgression, and Jesus said Christ ought to suffer before entering his glory. John says Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only. Daniel 9:24Isaiah 53:8Luke 24:26Mark 9:12John 11:51John 11:521 Peter 2:24
For readersGod's plan runs through suffering and loss, not around it. Jesus said it was written that the Son of man must suffer many things, and he foretold that the great buildings would be thrown down, not one stone left on another. Mark 9:12Luke 24:26Mark 13:2
Christians read this differently
No cited Scripture names "the prince that shall come." Some read him as the leader of the people who would destroy the city and sanctuary, linking this to Jesus' word about the great buildings being thrown down. Others link him to the "he" of 9:27 who confirms a covenant for one week, read as a ruler still to come. Daniel 9:26Daniel 9:27Mark 13:2
- weeks (sevens)שָׁבוּעַ
The word is glossed "the sevens" here and is used for weeks; the name means seven. The prophecy counts in these units: seven, sixty-two, and one. Strong's H7620IDaniel 9:25Daniel 9:27
- Messiah (anointed one)מָשִׁיחַ
It means "anointed one." It is used of the Messiah, Israel's kings, the high priest, and even Cyrus. Strong's H4899
- cut offכָּרַת
The word can mean to cut off, eliminate or kill. Isaiah 53:8 likewise says one was "cut off out of the land of the living." Strong's H3772IIsaiah 53:8
- not (nothing)אַ֫יִן
The word means "nothing," "not," or "to have not" of possession. It is glossed "and nothing" here, in the short phrase right after "cut off." Strong's H0369Daniel 9:26
- floodשֶׁ֫טֶף
It means a flood or downpour. Nahum 1:8 likewise speaks of an overrunning flood making an utter end of a place. Strong's H7858Nahum 1:8
Takeaway
Daniel prayed for Jerusalem's restoration. God answered that the city would be built again, yet Messiah would be cut off and the city and sanctuary destroyed, all within a plan to end sin and bring in everlasting righteousness. Daniel 9:19Daniel 9:24Daniel 9:25Daniel 9:26
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and after | וְאַחֲרֵ֤י | ve-'a-cha-REI | H0310A | afterאַחַר (a.char) 1) after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time) 1a) as an adverb 1a1) behind (of place) 1a2) afterwards (of time) 1b) as a preposition 1b1) behind, after (of place) 1b2) after (of time) 1b3) besides 1c) as a conjunction 1c) after that 1d) as a substantive 1d1) hinder part 1e) with other prepositions 1e1) from behind 1e2) from following after |
| the sevens | הַשָּׁבֻעִים֙ | ha-sha-vu-'IM | H7620I | Weeksשָׁבוּעַ (sha.vu.a) Feast of Weeks, Also named: pentēkostē (πεντηκοστή "Pentecost" G4005) This name means seven, |
| sixty | שִׁשִּׁ֣ים | shi-SHIM | H8346 | sixtyשִׁשִּׁים (shish.shim) sixty, three score Aramaic equivalent: shit.tin (שִׁתִּין "sixty" H8361) |
| and two | וּשְׁנַ֔יִם | u-she-NA-yim | H8147 | twoשְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) 1) two 1a) two (the cardinal number) 1a1) two, both, double, twice 1b) second (the ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers 1d) both (a dual number) |
| he will be cut off | יִכָּרֵ֥ת | yi-ka-RET | H3772I | to cut: cutכָּרַת (ka.rat) : cut/fell 1) to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to cut off 1a1a) to cut off a body part, behead 1a2) to cut down 1a3) to hew 1a4) to cut or make a covenant 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be cut off 1b2) to be cut down 1b3) to be chewed 1b4) to be cut off, fail 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be cut off 1c2) to be cut down 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cut off 1d2) to cut off, destroy 1d3) to cut down, destroy 1d4) to take away 1d5) to permit to perish 1e) (Hophal) cut off |
| an anointed [one] | מָשִׁ֖יחַ | ma-SHI-ach | H4899 | anointedמָשִׁיחַ (ma.shi.ach) 1) anointed, anointed one 1a) of the Messiah, Messianic prince 1b) of the king of Israel 1c) of the high priest of Israel 1d) of Cyrus 1e) of the patriarchs as anointed kings |
| and nothing | וְאֵ֣ין | ve-'EIN | H0369 | nothingאַ֫יִן (a.yin) 1) nothing, not, nought n 1a) nothing, nought neg 1b) not 1c) to have not (of possession) adv 1d) without w/prep 1e) for lack of |
| and the city | וְהָעִ֨יר | ve-ha-'IR | H5892B | cityעִיר (ir) 1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded) 1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded) 1a) city, town |
| and the sanctuary | וְהַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ | ve-ha-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 |
| it will destroy | יַ֠שְׁחִית | YASH-chit | H7843 | to ruinשָׁחַת (sha.chat) 1) to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay 1a) (Niphal) to be marred, be spoiled, be corrupted, be corrupt, be injured, be ruined, be rotted 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to spoil, ruin 1b2) to pervert, corrupt, deal corruptly (morally) 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to spoil, ruin, destroy 1c2) to pervert, corrupt (morally) 1c3) destroyer (participle) 1d) (Hophal) spoiled, ruined (participle) Aramaic equivalent: she.chat (שְׁחַת "to corrupt" H7844) |
| [the] people of | עַ֣ם | 'am | H5971A | peopleעַם (am) : people/nation 1) nation, people 1a) people, nation 1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men |
| a prince | נָגִ֤יד | na-GID | H5057 | leaderנָגִיד (na.gid) 1) leader, ruler, captain, prince 1a) ruler, prince 1b) prince-overseer 1c) ruler (in other capacities) 1d) princely things |
| who is coming | הַבָּא֙ | ha-BA' | H0935G | 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 |
| and end his | וְקִצּ֣וֹ | ve-ki-TZO | H7093 | endקֵץ (qets) 1) end 1a) end, at the end of (of time) 1b) end (of space) |
| [will be] by the flood | בַשֶּׁ֔טֶף | va-SHE-tef | H7858 | floodשֶׁ֫טֶף (she.teph) flood, downpour Also means: she.tseph (שֶׁצֶף "overflowing" H8241) |
| and [will be] until | וְעַד֙ | ve-'AD | H5704 | tillעַד (ad) prep 1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as 1a) of space 1a1) as far as, up to, even to 1b) in combination 1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from) 1c) of time 1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end 1d) of degree 1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like conj 2) until, while, to the point that, so that even Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705) |
| [the] end | קֵ֣ץ | ketz | H7093 | endקֵץ (qets) 1) end 1a) end, at the end of (of time) 1b) end (of space) |
| war | מִלְחָמָ֔ה | mil-cha-MAH | H4421 | battleמִלְחָמָה (mil.cha.mah) battle, war |
| [are] determined | נֶחֱרֶ֖צֶת | ne-che-RE-tzet | H2782 | to decideחָרַץ (cha.rats) 1) to cut, sharpen, decide, decree, determine, maim, move, be decisive, be mutilated 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to cut, mutilate 1a2) to sharpen 1a3) to decide 1b) (Niphal) to be decisive |
| desolate [things] | שֹׁמֵמֽוֹת׃ | sho-me-MOT | H8074G | be desolate: destroyedשָׁמֵם (sha.mem) : destroyed/deserted 1) to be desolate, be appalled, stun, stupefy 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be desolated, be deflowered, be deserted, be appalled 1a2) to be appalled, be awestruck 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be desolated, be made desolate 1b2) to be appalled 1c) (Polel) 1c1) to be stunned 1c2) appalling, causing horror (participle) 1c2a) horror-causer, appaller (subst) 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to devastate, ravage, make desolated 1d2) to appal, show horror 1e) (Hophal) to lay desolate, be desolated 1f) (Hithpolel) 1f1) to cause to be desolate 1f2) to be appalled, be astounded … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.