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.
Original Language Analysis
וְאַחֲרֵ֤י
And after
H310
וְאַחֲרֵ֤י
And after
Strong's:
H310
Word #:
1 of 21
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
הַשָּׁבֻעִים֙
weeks
H7620
הַשָּׁבֻעִים֙
weeks
Strong's:
H7620
Word #:
2 of 21
literally, sevened, i.e., a week (specifically, of years)
יִכָּרֵ֥ת
be cut off
H3772
יִכָּרֵ֥ת
be cut off
Strong's:
H3772
Word #:
5 of 21
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
מָשִׁ֖יחַ
shall Messiah
H4899
מָשִׁ֖יחַ
shall Messiah
Strong's:
H4899
Word #:
6 of 21
anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically, the messiah
וְאֵ֣ין
H369
וְהָעִ֨יר
the city
H5892
וְהָעִ֨יר
the city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
9 of 21
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
וְהַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ
and the sanctuary
H6944
וְהַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ
and the sanctuary
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
10 of 21
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
יַ֠שְׁחִית
shall destroy
H7843
יַ֠שְׁחִית
shall destroy
Strong's:
H7843
Word #:
11 of 21
to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
עַ֣ם
but not for himself and the people
H5971
עַ֣ם
but not for himself and the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
12 of 21
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
נָגִ֤יד
of the prince
H5057
נָגִ֤יד
of the prince
Strong's:
H5057
Word #:
13 of 21
a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious; generally (abstractly, plural), honorable themes
הַבָּא֙
that shall come
H935
הַבָּא֙
that shall come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
14 of 21
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
קֵ֣ץ
and the end
H7093
קֵ֣ץ
and the end
Strong's:
H7093
Word #:
15 of 21
an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after
בַשֶּׁ֔טֶף
thereof shall be with a flood
H7858
בַשֶּׁ֔טֶף
thereof shall be with a flood
Strong's:
H7858
Word #:
16 of 21
a deluge (literally or figuratively)
וְעַד֙
H5704
וְעַד֙
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
17 of 21
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
קֵ֣ץ
and the end
H7093
קֵ֣ץ
and the end
Strong's:
H7093
Word #:
18 of 21
an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after
מִלְחָמָ֔ה
of the war
H4421
מִלְחָמָ֔ה
of the war
Strong's:
H4421
Word #:
19 of 21
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
Cross References
Isaiah 53:8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.Nahum 1:8But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.Mark 13:2And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.Mark 9:12And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.Matthew 24:2And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.Luke 24:26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?1 Peter 2:24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.Isaiah 8:7Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:2 Corinthians 5:21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.Galatians 3:13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Historical Context
Jesus's crucifixion occurred approximately AD 30-33, fulfilling 'Messiah be cut off.' The phrase 'not for himself' echoes Isaiah 53's Suffering Servant dying for others' sins. Roman armies under Titus besieged and destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70, razing the temple and killing an estimated 1 million Jews (Josephus). Jesus predicted this destruction (Matthew 24; Luke 19:41-44). The prophecy's dual focus—Messiah's death and Jerusalem's destruction—shows redemptive history's trajectory: atonement followed by judgment on those who rejected Messiah.
Questions for Reflection
- How does 'cut off but not for himself' provide Old Testament foundation for understanding Christ's substitutionary atonement?
- What does the prophecy linking Messiah's death to Jerusalem's destruction teach about rejecting God's provision bringing judgment?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The prophecy foretells tragedy: '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.' 'Messiah be cut off' predicts His death. 'Not for himself' indicates substitutionary atonement—dying for others' sins. The 'people of the prince' (Romans) destroyed Jerusalem and temple in AD 70. The language of flood and desolation describes thorough destruction. This prophecy encompasses both Christ's atoning death and Jerusalem's later judgment.