Daniel 9:16
“O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Daniel doesn't just confess sin; he argues that God's own "righteousness"—His faithfulness to His promises and His desire for His name to be honored—should compel Him to turn His anger away. The ultimate reason for this plea isn't just the suffering of Jerusalem and its people, but the shame brought upon God's very reputation among the surrounding nations.
Daniel, deeply troubled by the prophecy of seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem, is praying a profound prayer of confession and petition. He acknowledges the people's sins and their fathers' iniquities as the reason for their exile and the city's ruin, recognizing that their current suffering has brought disgrace upon them and God's name. This prayer is Daniel's response to God's faithfulness, appealing to God's character and promises for mercy and restoration.
Daniel is confessing sin, yet he's pleading based on God's 'righteousness.' How can God's justice be the reason for mercy?
Daniel isn't asking God to overlook sin. Instead, he appeals to God's own character – His faithfulness and the promises He's made. The scholars point out that 'righteousness' here isn't just about God's justice in punishment, but His steadfast faithfulness.
Think of it like this: God's righteousness is demonstrated not only in judging sin but also in keeping His word. He promised to Abraham and his descendants a lasting covenant and a special land. Daniel is saying, 'God, you are righteous in keeping Your promises, and Your promises include mercy and restoration, especially when we confess our sin.'
This isn't about earning favor, but about reminding God of His own holy nature and the commitments He freely made. It’s a plea that aligns with who God is.
Daniel explains that Jerusalem and its people have become a 'reproach.' What does this mean, and why is it so critical?
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When Israel, God's chosen people, fell into sin and suffered judgment, they didn't just become a laughingstock to their neighbors – they became a reproach to God's very name.
The surrounding nations would have seen Israel’s downfall and concluded that their God, Yahweh, was either powerless or unjust. This brought shame not just on the people but on the holy name of God Himself.
Daniel's plea is deeply personal and theological. He's not just asking for the city to be rebuilt; he's asking for God's honor to be vindicated. He’s saying, 'Look, our sin has brought this shame, but restoring us will bring glory back to your name. Don’t let the nations mock you because of our failures.'
Daniel confesses 'our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers.' Why does he bring up the sins of past generations?
Daniel's prayer isn't a light admission of personal guilt. He takes responsibility not only for the sins of his own generation but also for the inherited iniquities of their fathers. This reflects a deep understanding of covenantal responsibility and the long-reaching consequences of sin.
In the Old Testament, the sins of ancestors could indeed bring consequences upon later generations, as seen in the Law (like in Exodus 20:5). Daniel isn't blaming God for punishing unfairly, but rather acknowledging that the current disaster is a culmination of ongoing disobedience, stretching back through their history.
By confessing both 'our sins' and 'the iniquities of our fathers,' Daniel is demonstrating a profound sense of national solidarity in sin and a sincere desire for complete repentance and restoration, not just for himself or his immediate peers, but for the entire covenant people.
Understand the original words
Adonai · Hebrew Noun
A divine title (Adonai) denoting God's sovereignty, authority, and ownership over His creation and His covenant people. It emphasizes the servant-master relationship between the speaker and God.
tsedaqah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to God’s consistent behavior in accordance with His holy nature and covenant promises. It describes His faithfulness to His own standards of justice and moral rectitude.
cheth · Hebrew Noun
A state of moral failure or rebellion against God’s law. It represents the act of 'missing the mark' of God’s holiness and incurring guilt before Him.
avon · Hebrew Noun
Refers to twistedness or perversion; specifically, a conscious act of rebellion or turning aside from the right path, often carrying the idea of moral guilt or depravity.
qodesh · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
A place set apart exclusively for God’s presence and worship. It signifies God’s sovereignty over the land and His dwelling among His chosen people.
cherpah · Hebrew Noun
A term used to describe a source of mockery, ridicule, or a proverb of reproach. It indicates a state of disgrace and judgment where the object of the reproach is looked down upon by others.
Daniel's prayer comes at a pivotal moment, acknowledging the deep shame and devastation of Jerusalem's destruction and exile, while holding onto the hope of God's faithfulness and a promised restoration, echoing the warnings and promises found throughout Israel's history.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its citizens. This event serves as a stark warning of the consequences of disobedience to God.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
The Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, begins its conquest of Judah, exiling King Jehoiachin and many skilled people to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroy Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, exiling the remaining population to Babylon. This is the nadir of Israel's national and religious life, a profound source of shame and sorrow.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers the Babylonian Empire, paving the way for the return of exiled peoples to their homelands, including the Jews.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus - Return from Exile
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks the beginning of the post-exilic period.
This passage echoes Daniel's prayer, lamenting the desecration of Jerusalem and the people's resulting shame, pleading with God based on His steadfast love and mercy.
Jeremiah 29:10-14God promises to restore His people from exile, highlighting that the return will be for His own name's sake and that He will be found by those who seek Him wholeheartedly, mirroring Daniel's plea for God's honor.
Isaiah 43:25God declares His willingness to forgive sins for His own name's sake, not for human merit, which aligns with Daniel's appeal based on God's righteousness rather than the people's actions.
Lamentations 5:1-22This chapter vividly describes the sorrow and reproach faced by the people of Jerusalem due to their sins, similar to Daniel's confession and plea for relief from their suffering and shame.
ellicottDaniel 9:16: "O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us."
(16) Righteousness.— Those acts of Jehovah which evince His righteousness, or His faithfulness to His promises. Mount Zion, the “holy mountain,” holds a very important place in prophecy. It is the outwa…
jfbDaniel 9:16: "O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us."
- thy righteousness—not stern justice in punishing, but Thy faithfulness to Thy promises of mercy to them who trust in Thee (Ps 31:1; 143:1).thy city—chosen as Thine in the election of grace, which ch…
Daniel doesn't just confess sin; he argues that God's own "righteousness"—His faithfulness to His promises and His desire for His name to be honored—should compel Him to turn His anger away. The ultimate reason for this plea isn't just the suffering of Jerusalem and its people, but the shame brought upon God's very reputation among the surrounding nations.
Daniel, deeply troubled by the prophecy of seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem, is praying a profound prayer of confession and petition. He acknowledges the people's sins and their fathers' iniquities as the reason for their exile and the city's ruin, recognizing that their current suffering has brought disgrace upon them and God's name. This prayer is Daniel's response to God's faithfulness, appealing to God's character and promises for mercy and restoration.
Daniel, deeply troubled by the prophecy of seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem, is praying a profound prayer of confession and petition. He acknowledges the people's sins and their fathers' iniquities as the reason for their exile and the city's ruin, recognizing that their current suffering has brought disgrace upon them and God's name. This prayer is Daniel's response to God's faithfulness, appealing to God's character and promises for mercy and restoration.
"“O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword am…" — Daniel doesn't just confess sin; he argues that God's own "righteousness"—His faithfulness to His promises and His desire for His name to be honored—should compel Him to turn His anger away. The ul…
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