Daniel 9:26

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.

Daniel 9:26 (KJV)

Context

This verse belongs to Gabriel’s prophecy of seventy weeks, given to Daniel after his prayer for Israel. In biblical prophecy a week often represents seven years, so the sixty-two weeks here follow the seven weeks of rebuilding and together form sixty-nine weeks, or 483 years, from the decree to restore Jerusalem until the Messiah the Prince.

Meaning

The phrase “threescore and two weeks” points to a specific period within the larger timeline. After these weeks, the Messiah is “cut off,” meaning He would be put to death, and “not for himself” indicates His death was not for His own sin but for the sins of others. This is understood as a prophecy of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

The clause “the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary” predicts the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Historically, this was fulfilled by the Roman armies under Titus in A.D. 70. The “prince that shall come” is a future ruler distinct from the Messiah, and his people carry out the destruction.

“The end thereof shall be with a flood” describes an overwhelming devastation, like a flood sweeping away the city. The statement that desolations are determined “unto the end of the war” shows that the judgment would continue throughout the conflict until God’s appointed end.

Biblical connections

The verse is part of the seventy-week prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27, which connects the coming of the Messiah with subsequent judgment. The cutting off of the Messiah is central, and the destruction that follows is linked to the rejection of the Messiah by the people.

Application

Daniel 9:26 reminds us that God’s plan unfolds with precision, even through judgment. The certainty of the Messiah’s coming and the determined desolations show that God is sovereign over history. For believers, this verse calls us to trust in the Messiah who was cut off for us, and to live in light of God’s redemptive purpose.

Reflection

How does knowing that the Messiah’s death was “not for himself” deepen your gratitude for His sacrifice? The same God who decreed these events has also determined the end of all things, and He invites us to find refuge in the Messiah before the flood of judgment comes.