Overview
"After the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come with a flood, and desolations have been decreed until the end of the war." — Daniel 9:26 BSB
Daniel 9:26 stands as one of the most remarkable prophecies in Scripture, announcing the coming of the Messiah and His rejection by Israel. This verse, part of the seventy weeks prophecy, reveals the timeline and nature of Christ's earthly ministry and His sacrificial death. The prophecy declares that the Ruler—the Messiah—will be cut off, meaning He will be executed or separated from the people. This passage provides essential detail about the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, establishing His central role in God's redemptive plan and the subsequent judgment upon Jerusalem.
Biblical Account
Daniel 9:26 emerges from the angel Gabriel's explanation of the seventy weeks decreed upon the people and the holy city. The prophecy divides into distinct periods: seven weeks, sixty-two weeks, and one final week. After the completion of sixty-nine weeks (seven plus sixty-two), the Messiah will be cut off. The text states:
"After the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing." — Daniel 9:26 BSB
This phrase indicates not merely death but specifically judicial execution or the removal of the Messiah from His position. The prophecy continues:
"The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary." — Daniel 9:26 BSB
This reference points to the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD, occurring after the Messiah's rejection. The prophecy emphasizes that the Messiah would be rejected before this destruction occurred, establishing the historical sequence of events. Gabriel concludes:
"The end will come with a flood, and desolations have been decreed until the end of the war." — Daniel 9:26 BSB
This prophetic language describes the overwhelming nature of Jerusalem's judgment and the extended period of desolation that would follow. The accuracy of these predictions—spanning centuries from Daniel's time to the New Testament era and beyond—demonstrates the sovereign knowledge of God and the trustworthiness of biblical prophecy.
Theological Significance
Daniel 9:26 reveals Christ's redemptive mission and His voluntary submission to crucifixion. The phrase "cut off" directly corresponds to the New Testament understanding of Christ's death as a sacrifice for sin. Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophecy precisely, being executed outside Jerusalem and subsequently being separated from His earthly ministry. This connection demonstrates that Christ's death was not an accident or defeat but the predetermined centerpiece of God's eternal plan for human redemption.
The prophecy also reveals God's justice in responding to Israel's rejection of the Messiah. "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." — Psalm 118:22 BSB illustrates this theme throughout Scripture. The destruction of the temple and city served as divine judgment, yet it also removed the barrier of the old sacrificial system, allowing Christ's sacrifice to stand as the final and perfect offering for all people.
Furthermore, this prophecy affirms the authority of Scripture itself. "All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." — 2 Timothy 3:16 BSB The precise fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy validates the reliability of God's Word and encourages believers to trust in biblical revelation.
Key Bible Verses
- Daniel 9:26 BSB — The Messiah will be cut off after sixty-two weeks, and the people of the ruler who comes will destroy the city and sanctuary.
- Isaiah 53:5 BSB — Christ was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities, bearing the punishment that brought us peace.
- Zechariah 12:10 BSB — The people will look on Him whom they have pierced and mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child.
- Matthew 24:15-16 BSB — Jesus warned of the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel standing in the holy place, signaling the destruction of the temple.
- Luke 24:44-46 BSB — Jesus explained that all things written about Him in the Law, Prophets, and Psalms must be fulfilled, including His suffering and resurrection on the third day.
Application
Daniel 9:26 calls believers to recognize Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah and to understand that His death accomplished our eternal redemption. This prophecy demonstrates that God's plans are unchanging and His Word is absolutely trustworthy, regardless of how circumstances may appear. As followers of Christ, we should ground our faith in the historical reliability of Scripture and proclaim confidently that "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.'" — John 11:25 BSB This assurance of Christ's fulfilled prophecy strengthens our hope in the promise of resurrection and eternal life through Him.