Word Studies¶
H7620 -- שָׁבוּעַ (shabuwa) -- "week / seven"¶
Original: שָׁבוּעַ (shâbûwaʻ) Transliteration: shabuwa Pronunciation: shaw-boo'-ah Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: properly, passive participle as a denominative of H7651 (seven); literally, "sevened," i.e. a week (specifically, of years): seven, week. BLB Count: 20 occurrences in 18 verses
Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| weeks | 9 | 37.5% |
| of weeks | 4 | 16.7% |
| week | 3 | 12.5% |
| the | 2 | 8.3% |
| Other (two weeks, of seven, etc.) | 6 | 25% |
All OT Occurrences¶
- Genesis 29:27, 28 -- Jacob's "week" for Leah = 7 YEARS of service
- Exodus 34:22 -- Feast of Weeks (Shavuot)
- Leviticus 12:5 -- purification period
- Numbers 28:26 -- Feast of Weeks
- Deuteronomy 16:9, 10, 16 -- Feast of Weeks
- Judges 14:12 -- Samson's riddle during a feast week (7 days)
- 2 Chronicles 8:13 -- Feast of Weeks
- Jeremiah 5:24 -- "the appointed weeks of the harvest"
- Ezekiel 21:28; 45:21 -- [contextual uses]
- Daniel 9:24, 25 (2x), 26, 27 (3x) -- The 70-weeks prophecy
- Daniel 10:2, 3 -- "three full weeks" (with YAMIM = "of days")
Critical Lexical Observation¶
In Daniel 10:2-3, the text says שָׁבֻעִים יָמִים (shabuim YAMIM = "weeks of DAYS"). The word YAMIM ("days") is explicitly added to specify that these are day-weeks. In Daniel 9:24, the word YAMIM is ABSENT. The same author, in the same book, deliberately distinguishes: - Dan 9:24: שָׁבֻעִים שִׁבְעִים = "seventy weeks" (no qualifier -- year-weeks) - Dan 10:2: שָׁלשׁ שָׁבֻעִים יָמִים = "three weeks of DAYS" (explicitly day-weeks)
This same-author, same-book distinction is the strongest grammatical evidence that the "weeks" of Daniel 9 are year-weeks.
Genesis 29:27 Proof¶
"Fulfil her WEEK (shabuwa)" = fulfil the seven YEARS. The immediately following clause makes the meaning explicit: "yet seven other YEARS." This is the decisive lexical proof that shabuwa can refer to a period of seven years.
H2852 -- חָתַךְ (chathak) -- "cut off / determine"¶
Original: חָתַךְ (châthak) Transliteration: chathak Pronunciation: khaw-thak' Part of Speech: verb Definition: a primitive root; properly, to cut off, i.e. (figuratively) to decree: determine. BLB Count: 1 -- HAPAX LEGOMENON (appears only once in the entire OT)
The Single Occurrence¶
Daniel 9:24: שָׁבֻעִ֨ים שִׁבְעִ֜ים נֶחְתַּ֥ךְ -- "Seventy weeks are determined (nechtak)"
Significance¶
- Niphal (passive) Perfect 3ms: "are cut off / are determined"
- The PRIMARY meaning is "to cut off" -- to sever a portion from a larger whole.
- This suggests the 70 weeks (490 years) are "cut off" from a larger time period -- specifically the 2300 evenings-mornings of Daniel 8:14.
- The KJV translates as "determined," which captures the derivative sense (a decree "cuts" a decision), but the primary sense of physical cutting/severing is the root meaning.
- As a hapax legomenon, context must determine meaning, and the larger context of Daniel 8-9 (Gabriel's unfinished explanation, the mar'eh vision) supports the "cut off from a larger period" reading.
H4899 -- מָשִׁיחַ (mashiyach) -- "anointed / Messiah"¶
Original: מָשִׁיחַ (mâshîyach) Transliteration: mashiyach Pronunciation: maw-shee'-akh Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: from H4886 (mashach, "to anoint"); anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically, the Messiah: anointed, Messiah. BLB Count: 39 occurrences
Key Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Notable Verses |
|---|---|---|
| anointed | 11 | 1Sa 16:6; 24:6,10; 26:9,11,16,23; 2Sa 1:14,16,21; 19:21 |
| his anointed | 4 | 1Sa 2:10; 2Sa 22:51; Psa 18:50; 28:8 |
| the Messiah | 1 | Dan 9:26 |
| Messiah | 1 | Dan 9:25 |
Significance for Daniel 9¶
Daniel 9:25-26 is the ONLY place in the OT where the KJV transliterates mashiyach as "Messiah" rather than translating it as "anointed." This reflects the recognition that Daniel 9 speaks of THE specific anointed one -- not a generic king or priest.
Usage Pattern¶
- Priestly anointing: Lev 4:3,5,16; 6:22 -- "the priest that is anointed"
- Royal anointing: 1Sa 16:6; 24:6,10; 26:9 -- "the LORD's anointed" (referring to Saul, then David)
- Prophetic/Messianic: Psa 2:2 ("against the LORD and against his anointed"); Isa 45:1 (Cyrus as "his anointed"); Dan 9:25-26 (Messiah the Prince)
- Greek equivalent: G5547 Χριστός (Christos) = "Christ" = "the Anointed One"
H1285 -- בְּרִית (beriyth) -- "covenant"¶
Original: בְּרִית (bᵉrîyth) Transliteration: beriyth Pronunciation: ber-eeth' Part of Speech: feminine noun Definition: from H1254 (in the sense of cutting); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh): confederacy, covenant, league. BLB Count: 284 occurrences
In Daniel 9¶
- Dan 9:4 -- "keeping the covenant (beriyth) and mercy" -- Daniel's prayer references God's faithfulness to covenant
- Dan 9:27 -- "he shall confirm the covenant (beriyth) with many for one week" -- the 70th week centers on covenant confirmation
Significance¶
The beriyth in Dan 9:27 is "confirmed" (gabar, Hiphil = made strong), not "made" (karath). This implies an EXISTING covenant being strengthened, not a new treaty being created. Combined with the subject identification (Messiah as the sustained subject from vv.25-26), this points to Christ's ministry confirming the covenant promises made to Israel.
H3772 -- כָּרַת (karath) -- "cut off / make covenant"¶
Original: כָּרַת (kârath) Transliteration: karath Pronunciation: kaw-rath' Part of Speech: verb Definition: a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces). BLB Count: 288 occurrences
Dual Usage¶
This word has a remarkable dual meaning: 1. To cut off / destroy: "shall be cut off" (30x) -- the most common usage 2. To make a covenant: "made [a covenant]" (18x) -- covenant-making involved cutting animals (cf. Gen 15:9-17)
In Daniel 9:26¶
יִכָּרֵ֥ת מָשִׁ֖יחַ (yikkareth mashiyach) = "Messiah shall be cut off" -- Niphal Imperfect. The same root used for covenant-making now describes the Messiah being "cut off" -- a profound wordplay: the one who confirms the covenant (v.27) is himself cut off (v.26).
H1396 -- גָּבַר (gabar) -- "prevail / confirm / be strong"¶
Original: גָּבַר (gâbar) Transliteration: gabar Pronunciation: gaw-bar' Part of Speech: verb Definition: a primitive root; to be strong; by implication, to prevail, act insolently: exceed, confirm, be great, be mighty, prevail, put to more (strength), strengthen, be stronger, be valiant. BLB Count: 25 occurrences
Key Translations¶
| Translation | Count | Context |
|---|---|---|
| prevailed | 8 | Gen 7:18-20 (flood waters); Exo 17:11 (battle) |
| prevail | 3 | Various |
| And he shall confirm | 1 | Dan 9:27 (ONLY occurrence with this translation) |
In Daniel 9:27 -- The Hiphil Form¶
הִגְבִּ֥יר (higbiyr) = Hiphil Perfect 3ms -- "he shall cause to be strong/prevail" - The Hiphil (causative) stem means "to make strong" or "to cause to prevail" - Applied to a covenant: "to strengthen/confirm a covenant" -- making an existing covenant effective/operative - This is NOT the standard verb for "making" a covenant (which would be karath, H3772) - This indicates the covenant already exists and is being made effective -- consistent with Christ confirming the covenant promises already made to Israel
Subject of the Verb¶
The 3ms subject ("he") must be identified from context. The sustained subject from Dan 9:25-26 is Messiah. No explicit subject change occurs. The grammatical default reading is that the Messiah confirms the covenant. The alternative (dispensationalist) reading requires importing "the prince that shall come" as the subject -- a secondary figure introduced in a subordinate clause.
H5057 -- נָגִיד (nagiyd) -- "prince / ruler / leader"¶
Original: נָגִיד (nâgîyd) Transliteration: nagiyd Pronunciation: naw-gheed' Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: from H5046; a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious; generally, honorable themes: captain, chief, excellent thing, governor, leader, noble, prince, ruler. BLB Count: 44 occurrences
The Two "Princes" in Daniel 9¶
- Dan 9:25 -- מָשִׁ֣יחַ נָגִ֔יד (mashiyach nagiyd) = "Messiah the Prince" -- the anointed ruler. "The Prince" (with article in English) = 1x occurrence
- Dan 9:26 -- עַ֣ם נָגִ֤יד הַבָּא֙ (am nagiyd habba) = "people of a prince, the coming one" -- a different prince, defined by the people who destroy the city
These are explicitly distinct figures. The first is identified as Messiah. The second is associated with destruction of the city and sanctuary.
H2856 -- חָתַם (chatham) -- "seal / seal up"¶
Original: חָתַם (châtham) Transliteration: chatham Pronunciation: khaw-tham' Part of Speech: verb Definition: a primitive root; to close up; especially to seal: make an end, mark, seal (up), stop. BLB Count: 27 occurrences
In Daniel¶
- Dan 9:24 (4x) -- "to seal up the vision and prophecy"
- Dan 12:4 -- "shut up the words, and seal the book"
- Dan 12:9 -- "the words are closed up and sealed"
Significance in Dan 9:24¶
"To seal up (chatham) the vision (chazon) and prophecy (nabiy)" -- the fulfillment of the 70-weeks prophecy authenticates ("seals") the prophetic vision. When the events come to pass as predicted, the prophecy is validated.
G5547 -- Χριστός (Christos) -- "Christ / Anointed"¶
Original: Χριστός (Christós) Transliteration: Christos Pronunciation: khris-tos' Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: from G5548 (chrio, "to anoint"); anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: Christ. BLB Count: 569 occurrences (LXX + NT)
Significance¶
"Christ" (Christos) is the Greek translation of "Messiah" (mashiyach). They are the SAME word in different languages. Every time the NT says "Jesus Christ," it is saying "Jesus the Anointed One" = "Jesus the Messiah." The LXX uses Christos to translate mashiyach in Psalm 2:2, 1 Samuel 2:10, Isaiah 45:1, etc.
G4137 -- πληρόω (pleroo) -- "fulfil / fill / complete"¶
Original: πληρόω (plēróō) Transliteration: pleroo Pronunciation: play-ro'-o Part of Speech: verb Definition: from G4134 (pleres); to make replete, i.e. (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish, satisfy, execute, finish, verify. BLB Count: 90 occurrences
In Mark 1:15¶
Πεπλήρωται (peplērotai) = Perfect Passive Indicative 3rd Singular - Perfect tense: completed action with continuing results -- "has been fulfilled and remains fulfilled" - Passive voice: an external agent (God) brought the time to its completion - Indicative mood: stated as fact
This is the same verb form used in Luke 4:21: "This day is this scripture FULFILLED in your ears."
Key Verse Occurrences¶
- Mark 1:15 -- "The TIME is fulfilled" (Πεπλήρωται ὁ καιρός)
- Luke 4:21 -- "This day is this scripture FULFILLED"
- Matt 1:22; 2:15,17,23; etc. -- Formula: "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken"
- Gal 4:4 -- Related noun πλήρωμα (pleroma) = "fullness" used: "the fullness of the time"
Theological Significance¶
When Jesus says "the time (kairos) has been fulfilled (peplērotai)," he is making a claim that a specific prophetic timetable has reached its appointed completion. The perfect tense indicates this is not in process but already accomplished -- the time has arrived. Combined with the day-year reading of the 70 weeks, this constitutes a claim that Daniel's prophecy has reached its terminus.