What does "anointed one will be cut off" signify in Daniel 9:26? Setting the Scene • Daniel 9:24-27 lays out “seventy weeks” (seventy sevens of years) decreed for Israel. • Verse 26 states: “Then after the sixty-two weeks, the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing…”. • Chronologically, these sixty-nine weeks (7 + 62) add up to 483 years from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (cf. v. 25), placing the event in the first century AD. Who Is the “Anointed One”? • “Anointed One” translates the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (māshîaḥ), from which we get “Messiah.” • In the Old Testament, kings (1 Samuel 10:1), priests (Exodus 29:7), and prophets (1 Kings 19:16) were anointed, foreshadowing the ultimate Anointed One. • The New Testament identifies Jesus of Nazareth as this promised Messiah (John 1:41; Acts 10:38). What Does “Cut Off” Mean? • “Cut off” (Hebrew כָּרַת, kārath) implies violent death, removal, or covenantal severing (Genesis 9:11; Exodus 31:14). • Isaiah 53:8 echoes the wording: “He was cut off from the land of the living for the transgression of My people…”. • In Daniel 9:26, the phrase predicts the Messiah’s death—abrupt, unjust, and sacrificial. Historical Fulfillment in Jesus 1. Entry into Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44) occurs at the close of the prophesied sixty-nine weeks. 2. Crucifixion—Jesus “cut off” (Matthew 27:33-50). 3. “Will have nothing” points to His abandonment: • Disciples scattered (Mark 14:50). • Garments divided (John 19:23-24). • No earthly kingdom secured at that moment (John 18:36). Why His Being “Cut Off” Matters • Substitutionary Atonement: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3). • Covenant Ratification: His blood inaugurates the new covenant (Luke 22:20; Hebrews 9:15-17). • Prophetic Credibility: Precise fulfillment validates Scripture’s reliability (Luke 24:25-27). Broader Prophetic Context • The verse continues: “The people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” In AD 70, Roman legions razed Jerusalem and the temple, matching the prophecy. • This separation between Messiah’s cutting-off and later desolations implies a gap before the final “week” (v. 27), paving the way for future end-time events. Personal Takeaways • Confidence: Fulfilled prophecy assures that God’s word never fails (Isaiah 55:10-11). • Gratitude: The Messiah willingly accepted being “cut off” to grant eternal life (John 10:17-18). • Readiness: Just as earlier predictions came true, remaining prophecies will also unfold (2 Peter 3:11-14). |
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