Daniel 9:24 Meaning and Explanation
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God sets a measured span of time in which He will deal with sin once and for all and bring in a righteousness that never ends.
The Context of Daniel 9:24
Daniel has been praying, confessing the sins of his people during the exile in Babylon (verses 3 to 19). The angel Gabriel comes to answer him (verse 21), and these words are the heart of that answer, a window opened onto what God has decided to do.
What Does Daniel 9:24 Mean?
Daniel had been pleading over a ruined city and a scattered people, and Gabriel answers with a span of time God has already set. Seventy weeks are 'determined,' marked off and decided, for a list of things only God could accomplish: to finish transgression, to make an end of sins, to cover over iniquity, and to bring in a righteousness that lasts forever. The same prayer that began in ashes ends with a promise that sin itself has an appointed end.
Every line of this purpose finds its yes in Jesus. He is the one who made 'an end of sins' by offering Himself, who made 'reconciliation for iniquity' on the cross, who brings in 'everlasting righteousness' that He gives to all who trust Him. The vision and prophecy are sealed up, finished and confirmed, in the One they were pointing toward all along. Daniel was told the clock was running; it was running toward Christ.
Daniel 9:24 in the Original Language
kaphar (כָּפַר), 'make reconciliation' -- to cover, to cancel a debt, the word behind atonement.
How to Apply Daniel 9:24 Today
This verse tells us that sin is not endless, that God set a time to finish it, and that He kept that promise in Jesus. When our own failures feel like a debt with no bottom, here is the word: an end was appointed, reconciliation was made, and everlasting righteousness is held out to us as a gift.
Frequently Asked Questions About Daniel 9:24
What does Daniel 9:24 mean?
God sets a measured span of time in which He will deal with sin once and for all and bring in a righteousness that never ends.
What is the context of Daniel 9:24?
Daniel has been praying, confessing the sins of his people during the exile in Babylon (verses 3 to 19). The angel Gabriel comes to answer him (verse 21), and these words are the heart of that answer, a window opened onto what God has decided to do.
How can I apply Daniel 9:24 today?
This verse tells us that sin is not endless, that God set a time to finish it, and that He kept that promise in Jesus. When our own failures feel like a debt with no bottom, here is the word: an end was appointed, reconciliation was made, and everlasting righteousness is held out to us as a gift.