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Daniel 9:25
ESV Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time.
NIV Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.
NASB So you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with streets and moat, even in times of distress.
CSB Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until an Anointed One, the ruler, will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with a plaza and a moat, but in difficult times.
NLT Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler — the Anointed One — comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times.
KJV Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

What does Daniel 9:25 mean?

Gabriel (Daniel 9:21–23) is giving Daniel (Daniel 9:1–3) further information about the fate of the nation of Israel. Here, Gabriel refers to a period of seven "weeks," and then a period of sixty-two "weeks." These are described using a term that literally means "group of seven." Daniel's perception of these counts corresponds to prophetic years.

Gabriel speaks of a command issued to rebuild Jerusalem. This decree is used as the starting point for a countdown to the arrival of an "anointed one." The word used here is the Hebrew term Mashiyach, from which we transliterate the English term "Messiah." This Prince and Anointed One is Jesus Christ; Gabriel is giving a prediction of when Jesus will appear in world history.

Persian rulers issued four major edicts regarding the Israeli exiles. First was Cyrus in 538 BC, and second was Darius in 520 BC. These were regarding restoration of the temple in Jerusalem. The third edict was from Artaxerxes Longimanus in 457 BC, about payments related to sacrifices in the temple.

The fourth decree, also by Artaxerxes, is dated to March 4, 444 BC. This established the right of Israel to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1–8). Scholars have spent considerable time debating precisely what was meant. An especially interesting calculation notes that sixty-two "sevens" equals 483. Using prophetic "years" of 360 days—twelve months of thirty days—corresponds to 173,880 total days. Counting forward that exact number of days from Artaxerxes' proclamation lands on March 30, AD 33; this may correspond to the exact date of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:9–11). Prior to then, Jesus resisted public identification as the Messiah, but from that date on, He embraced the title. Whether or not this is the exact meaning of the prophecy, it demonstrates a connection between Gabriel's words and the historical moment Jesus Christ openly "arrived" as Messiah.

The following verse (Daniel 9:26) continues to predict events we now know as history. Jesus, the "anointed one," would be "cut off" (Mathew 16:21; Luke 18:31–33). After this, the city would experience desolation and ruin, partly fulfilled in the Roman obliteration of Jerusalem in AD 70. The rest of these events are reserved for the end times.
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