The Meaning of Daniel 9:2 Explained

Daniel 9:2

KJV: In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

YLT: in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, have understood by books the number of the years, (in that a word of Jehovah hath been unto Jeremiah the prophet,) concerning the fulfilling of the wastes of Jerusalem -- seventy years;

Darby: in the first year of his reign, I Daniel understood by the books that the number of the years, whereof the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishment of the desolations of Jerusalem, was seventy years.

ASV: in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years whereof the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

In the first  year  of his reign  I Daniel  understood  by books  the number  of the years,  whereof the word  of the LORD  came to Jeremiah  the prophet,  that he would accomplish  seventy  years  in the desolations  of Jerusalem. 

What does Daniel 9:2 Mean?

Study Notes

seventy years
Cf. Jeremiah 25:11 ; Jeremiah 25:12 .
Cf. Leviticus 26:33-35 ; 2 Chronicles 36:21 ; Daniel 9:2 The 70 years may be reckoned to begin with the first deportation of Judah to Babylon. 2 Kings 24:10-15 . B.C. 604 according to the Assyrian Eponym Canon, or B.C. 606 according to Ussher; or from the final deportation; 2 Kings 25:1-30 ; 2 Chronicles 36:17-20 ; Jeremiah 39:8-10 . B.C. 586 (Assyr. Ep. Canon), or B.C. 588 (Ussher). In the first case the 70 years extend to the decree of Cyrus for the return Ezra 1:1-3 B.C. (Assyr. Ep. Canon), or B.C. 536 (Ussher). In the second case the 70 years terminate B.C. 516 (Assyr.Ep. Canon) with the completion of the temple. The latter is more probable reckoning in the light of Daniel 9:25 .

Verse Meaning

Somehow Daniel had obtained a copy of Jeremiah"s prediction of the length of Jerusalem"s desolation (cf. Jeremiah 36:23; Jeremiah 36:28). Jeremiah had revealed that the city would lie in ruins for70 years and then God would destroy Babylonia ( Jeremiah 25:11-12; Jeremiah 29:10-14; cf. 2 Chronicles 36:21). Daniel received this vision about67 years after Nebuchadnezzar had deported the first group of exiles, including himself, in605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple and Jerusalem in586 B.C. The specific period of desolation in Daniel 9:2 probably refers to586-515 B.C, since "the desolations of Jerusalem" are in view. Daniel may also have been aware of Isaiah"s prophecy that God would raise up a king named Cyrus, who would order the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple ( Isaiah 44:28; cf. Isaiah 45:1-2; cf. Isaiah 45:4; cf. Isaiah 45:13). However, there is no mention of this in the Book of Daniel.
Daniel interpreted literally the "70 years" that Jeremiah predicted. As he saw the end of this period approaching, he prayed for the restoration of his people. Daniel"s understanding of a literal fulfillment of numbers in prophecy helps us know how we should understand at least some of them. Notice also that he regarded Jeremiah"s prophecy as "the word of the LORD."

Context Summary

Daniel 9:1-15 - Intercession For A Beloved People
What a prayer is this! In many respects it is a model for us all. It was based on the divine Word. The fact that God had promised to restore the desolations of Jerusalem after seventy years, did not restrain, but prompted and inspired Daniel's prayers. God's promises are not independent of our faith, but await our appropriation. The blank checks are drawn and signed in our favor, but they must be presented at the bank for payment. It was very humble. Fasting, sackcloth, and ashes, were the outward habiliments, but notice the tone. We have sinned"¦ and have rebelled"¦; unto us [1] confusion of face. He confessed his sin and the sin of his people. There is such a thing as vicarious confession, in which some holy soul takes to himself the task of bearing the sins of his people, and pouring out the story before God, as though the sins were his own. But we hardly need go to our country or people for sins to confess, for we have plenty of our own, and the nearer we come to God's infinite light and holiness, the more we abhor ourselves and repent in dust and ashes. [source]

Chapter Summary: Daniel 9

1  Daniel, considering the time of the captivity,
3  makes confession of sins,
16  and prays for the restoration of Jerusalem
20  Gabriel informs him of the seventy weeks

What do the individual words in Daniel 9:2 mean?

in the year first of his reign I Daniel understood by the books the number of the years which came [specified] by the word of Yahweh through Jeremiah the prophet that He would accomplish in the desolations of Jerusalem seventy years
בִּשְׁנַ֤ת אַחַת֙ לְמָלְכ֔וֹ אֲנִי֙ דָּֽנִיֵּ֔אל בִּינֹ֖תִי בַּסְּפָרִ֑ים מִסְפַּ֣ר הַשָּׁנִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר הָיָ֤ה דְבַר־ יְהוָה֙ אֶל־ יִרְמִיָ֣ה הַנָּבִ֔יא לְמַלֹּ֛אות לְחָרְב֥וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם שִׁבְעִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה

בִּשְׁנַ֤ת  in  the  year 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
אַחַת֙  first 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
לְמָלְכ֔וֹ  of  his  reign 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלַךְ 
Sense: to be or become king or queen, reign.
דָּֽנִיֵּ֔אל  Daniel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּנִאֵל 
Sense: the 2nd son of David, by Abigail the Carmelitess.
בִּינֹ֖תִי  understood 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
בַּסְּפָרִ֑ים  by  the  books 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: סֵפֶר 
Sense: book.
מִסְפַּ֣ר  the  number 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִסְפָּר  
Sense: number, tale.
הַשָּׁנִ֗ים  of  the  years 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
הָיָ֤ה  came 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
דְבַר־  [specified]  by  the  word 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
יְהוָה֙  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶל־  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
יִרְמִיָ֣ה  Jeremiah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִרְמְיָה 
Sense: the major prophet, son of Hilkiah of the priestly family in Anathoth; author of the prophetic book bearing his name.
הַנָּבִ֔יא  the  prophet 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
לְמַלֹּ֛אות  that  He  would  accomplish 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.
לְחָרְב֥וֹת  in  the  desolations 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: חָרְבָּה  
Sense: a place laid waste, ruin, waste, desolation.
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם  of  Jerusalem 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
שִׁבְעִ֥ים  seventy 
Parse: Number, common plural
Root: שִׁבְעִים  
Sense: seventy.
שָׁנָֽה  years 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.