Daniel 9:23 (DRB)

Passage

From the beginning of thy prayers the word came forth: and I am come to shew it to thee, because thou art a man of desires: therefore, do thou mark the word, and understand the vision.

Nearby Context

Daniel 9:21 As I was yet speaking in prayer, behold the man, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, flying swiftly, touched me at the time of the evening sacrifice.

Daniel 9:22 And he instructed me, and spoke to me, and said: O Daniel, I am now come forth to teach thee, and that thou mightest understand.

Daniel 9:23 From the beginning of thy prayers the word came forth: and I am come to shew it to thee, because thou art a man of desires: therefore, do thou mark the word, and understand the vision.

Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are shortened upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, that transgression may be finished, and sin may have an end, and iniquity may be abolished; and everlasting justice may be brought; and vision and prophecy may be fulfilled; and the Saint of saints may be anointed.

Daniel 9:25 Know thou, therefore, and take notice: that from the going forth of the word, to build up Jerusalem again, unto Christ, the prince, there shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks: and the street shall be built again, and the walls, in straitness of times.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "beginning", "prayers", "word", "came", "forth", "come", "shew", and "thee". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "beginning" and "prayers", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "And he instructed me and spoke to..." into verse 24's "Seventy weeks are shortened upon thy people...", so "beginning" and "prayers" belong inside that flow. In Daniel context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "beginning" and "prayers" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.