Daniel 9:25 - “Know therefore and discern that from the going out of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem to the Anointed One, the prince, will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be built again, with street and moat, even in troubled times.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Daniel 9:25" mean?
Daniel 9:25 is a crucial verse in understanding the prophecy of the "Seventy Weeks" in the Book of Daniel. It's often interpreted to provide a timeline from a specific decree to rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the Messiah (the "Anointed One, the prince"). Here's a breakdown of the verse and its common interpretations:
Key Elements and Their Significance:
"Know therefore and discern": This emphasizes the importance of understanding this prophecy. Daniel is being instructed to pay close attention to what's about to be revealed.
"From the going out of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem": This refers to a specific decree (commandment or edict) authorizing the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Identifying which decree this refers to is the subject of much debate (see below).
"To the Anointed One, the prince": This phrase most commonly refers to the Messiah, the chosen leader of Israel. The term "Anointed One" (Hebrew: mashiach, Aramaic: meshiha) directly translates to "Messiah" or "Christ" (Greek: Christos).
"Will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks": This is the crux of the timeline. The term "weeks" is generally understood to represent "weeks of years," meaning periods of seven years each. So:
Seven weeks = 7 7 = 49 years
Sixty-two weeks = 62 7 = 434 years
Total: 69 weeks = 69 7 = 483 years
"It will be built again, with street and moat, even in troubled times": This indicates that Jerusalem would be rebuilt, despite facing opposition and hardship. This points to the historical reality of the rebuilding efforts after the Babylonian exile. The "street and moat" suggest fortification and urban development.
Common Interpretations and Controversies:
1. Identifying the Decree: The biggest point of contention is pinpointing which decree is being referenced. Several decrees are mentioned in the Old Testament regarding the return of the Jews and rebuilding of Jerusalem:
Cyrus's Decree (538 BC): Authorized the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1:1-4). However, this decree primarily focuses on the Temple, not the city itself.
Darius's Decree (520 BC): Reaffirmed Cyrus's decree and provided resources for rebuilding the Temple (Ezra 6:1-12). Again, mainly Temple-focused.
Artaxerxes I's Decree (458 BC): Granted Ezra authority to appoint magistrates and judges and to teach the Law of God in Judah (Ezra 7). Some scholars argue this decree had implications for the restoration of Jewish civil and religious life, making it a possible starting point.
Artaxerxes I's Decree to Nehemiah (445 BC): Authorized Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-8). This is the most commonly cited decree, as it explicitly concerns rebuilding the city walls, fulfilling the "restore and build Jerusalem" requirement.
2. Calculating the Timeline: Assuming the decree to Nehemiah is the starting point (445 BC), adding 483 years leads to a date around AD 38 (445 BC + 483 years - 1 year [to account for the shift from BC to AD]). This date is often cited as being close to the time of Jesus' ministry and crucifixion. Some scholars argue for adjustments to the timeline based on different calendar systems used at the time.
3. Meaning of "Anointed One, the Prince": While most interpretations see this as a direct reference to Jesus Christ, some alternative views propose other interpretations. These include:
Cyrus the Great: Some Jewish interpretations see the "Anointed One" as referring to Cyrus, who allowed the Jews to return from exile. However, this doesn't fit the timeline or the traditional understanding of the prophecy.
A High Priest: Others suggest a High Priest could be the intended figure.
4. The Gap Theory: Some interpretations posit a gap between the "seven weeks" (49 years) and the "sixty-two weeks" (434 years). The 49 years would relate to the rebuilding of Jerusalem, while the 434 years would lead to the Messiah. However, this interpretation is not explicitly supported by the text itself.
Significance:
Messianic Prophecy: Daniel 9:25 is considered a powerful and detailed prophecy pointing to the timing of the Messiah's arrival. It is often used to support the Christian belief that Jesus Christ fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.
Historical Context: The prophecy highlights the importance of the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. It also underscores the struggles and opposition the Jews faced during that period.
Controversial Interpretation: Due to the complexities of historical dating and differing interpretations of the text, this verse remains a subject of scholarly debate.
In summary, Daniel 9:25 outlines a prophetic timeline from a decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the coming of the Messiah, with a total duration of 69 weeks of years (483 years). While identifying the exact starting decree and calculating the timeline remains debated, the verse is generally viewed as a significant prophecy related to the arrival of Jesus Christ.
Daniel 9:25 - “Know therefore and discern that from the going out of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem to the Anointed One, the prince, will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be built again, with street and moat, even in troubled times.
What does "Daniel 9:25" mean?
Daniel 9:25 is a crucial verse in understanding the prophecy of the "Seventy Weeks" in the Book of Daniel. It's often interpreted to provide a timeline from a specific decree to rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the Messiah (the "Anointed One, the prince"). Here's a breakdown of the verse and its common interpretations:
Key Elements and Their Significance:
"Know therefore and discern": This emphasizes the importance of understanding this prophecy. Daniel is being instructed to pay close attention to what's about to be revealed.
"From the going out of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem": This refers to a specific decree (commandment or edict) authorizing the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Identifying which decree this refers to is the subject of much debate (see below).
"To the Anointed One, the prince": This phrase most commonly refers to the Messiah, the chosen leader of Israel. The term "Anointed One" (Hebrew: mashiach, Aramaic: meshiha) directly translates to "Messiah" or "Christ" (Greek: Christos).
"Will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks": This is the crux of the timeline. The term "weeks" is generally understood to represent "weeks of years," meaning periods of seven years each. So:
Seven weeks = 7 7 = 49 years
Sixty-two weeks = 62 7 = 434 years
Total: 69 weeks = 69 7 = 483 years
"It will be built again, with street and moat, even in troubled times": This indicates that Jerusalem would be rebuilt, despite facing opposition and hardship. This points to the historical reality of the rebuilding efforts after the Babylonian exile. The "street and moat" suggest fortification and urban development.
Common Interpretations and Controversies:
1. Identifying the Decree: The biggest point of contention is pinpointing which decree is being referenced. Several decrees are mentioned in the Old Testament regarding the return of the Jews and rebuilding of Jerusalem:
Cyrus's Decree (538 BC): Authorized the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1:1-4). However, this decree primarily focuses on the Temple, not the city itself.
Darius's Decree (520 BC): Reaffirmed Cyrus's decree and provided resources for rebuilding the Temple (Ezra 6:1-12). Again, mainly Temple-focused.
Artaxerxes I's Decree (458 BC): Granted Ezra authority to appoint magistrates and judges and to teach the Law of God in Judah (Ezra 7). Some scholars argue this decree had implications for the restoration of Jewish civil and religious life, making it a possible starting point.
Artaxerxes I's Decree to Nehemiah (445 BC): Authorized Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-8). This is the most commonly cited decree, as it explicitly concerns rebuilding the city walls, fulfilling the "restore and build Jerusalem" requirement.
2. Calculating the Timeline: Assuming the decree to Nehemiah is the starting point (445 BC), adding 483 years leads to a date around AD 38 (445 BC + 483 years - 1 year [to account for the shift from BC to AD]). This date is often cited as being close to the time of Jesus' ministry and crucifixion. Some scholars argue for adjustments to the timeline based on different calendar systems used at the time.
3. Meaning of "Anointed One, the Prince": While most interpretations see this as a direct reference to Jesus Christ, some alternative views propose other interpretations. These include:
Cyrus the Great: Some Jewish interpretations see the "Anointed One" as referring to Cyrus, who allowed the Jews to return from exile. However, this doesn't fit the timeline or the traditional understanding of the prophecy.
A High Priest: Others suggest a High Priest could be the intended figure.
4. The Gap Theory: Some interpretations posit a gap between the "seven weeks" (49 years) and the "sixty-two weeks" (434 years). The 49 years would relate to the rebuilding of Jerusalem, while the 434 years would lead to the Messiah. However, this interpretation is not explicitly supported by the text itself.
Significance:
Messianic Prophecy: Daniel 9:25 is considered a powerful and detailed prophecy pointing to the timing of the Messiah's arrival. It is often used to support the Christian belief that Jesus Christ fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.
Historical Context: The prophecy highlights the importance of the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. It also underscores the struggles and opposition the Jews faced during that period.
Controversial Interpretation: Due to the complexities of historical dating and differing interpretations of the text, this verse remains a subject of scholarly debate.
In summary, Daniel 9:25 outlines a prophetic timeline from a decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the coming of the Messiah, with a total duration of 69 weeks of years (483 years). While identifying the exact starting decree and calculating the timeline remains debated, the verse is generally viewed as a significant prophecy related to the arrival of Jesus Christ.