O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Daniel’s most powerful plea isn’t about their suffering, but about God’s reputation: he asks God to act, not just for their sake, but "for your own sake" because the city and people bear God's name. This highlights that God’s glory is on display through His people and His chosen places, so their restoration is tied to His own honor.
O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Daniel is in the midst of a passionate, urgent prayer, confessing his people's sins and acknowledging God's righteousness after realizing the seventy-year exile is nearing its end. He pleads with God not to delay His judgment and restoration, because the city and people are uniquely identified as belonging to God. This plea flows directly from his deep anguish over Jerusalem's desolation and the need for God's intervention for His own name's sake.
Ever felt like you needed to say something more than once to get it across? Daniel does that here, but it's not about nagging God.
Daniel's prayer isn't just a list of requests; it's a torrent of heartfelt pleas. Notice how he repeats "O Lord" and uses different verbs: "hear," "forgive," "hearken," "act." This isn't accidental. It shows a soul completely overwhelmed by the situation, pouring out every ounce of earnestness.
Think of it like this: each repetition isn't adding a new request, but deepening the intensity and sincerity of the plea. It’s a sign of a heart on fire, desperate for God’s intervention. This kind of fervent, focused prayer is not seen as burdensome by God, but as a reflection of a deep, abiding relationship and trust. God hears the heart behind the words, and Daniel's heart is laid bare.
Daniel makes a bold move, asking God to act not just for the people's sake, but for God's own sake. What does that even mean?
Daniel's argument, "Delay not, for your own sake, O my God," is incredibly profound. He's not suggesting God needs Daniel's reminder to act, or that God's actions are dependent on human urging. Instead, Daniel is appealing to God's own character, His reputation, and His promises.
When God's people, His city, and His name are disgraced by sin and devastation, it reflects poorly on God Himself. By asking God to act "for His own sake," Daniel is essentially saying, "Lord, vindicate Your name. Show the world Your faithfulness and power. Let Your glory be seen in restoring Your people and Your city." It's a prayer that seeks God’s honor above all else.
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Understand the original words
salach · Hebrew Verb
The theological act of remitting the penalty or guilt of sin. It is a work of God based on His character and is often linked to the shedding of blood in the sacrificial system.
Daniel's prayer reflects the deep anguish and desperate hope of the Jewish people during their long exile. He pleads for God's intervention, referencing the desolation of Jerusalem and the plight of his people, keenly aware that their identity and God's reputation were intertwined.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation of Judean Nobles
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem and begins deporting skilled Judeans, including Daniel, to Babylon, initiating the Babylonian exile.
587/586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar completely destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, marking a shift in imperial power and setting the stage for the return of the exiles.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, though the full return and rebuilding took decades.
c. 520-516 BC
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
Under the leadership of Zerubbabel and the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the Jewish community in Jerusalem completes the rebuilding of the Temple.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Reforms
Ezra leads another group of exiles back to Jerusalem and institutes significant religious and social reforms to uphold the Law.
c. 445-433 BC
Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king, returns to Jerusalem and successfully leads the people in rebuilding the city walls despite opposition.
This passage shows Solomon praying for God's forgiveness of his people, mirroring Daniel's earnest plea to hear and forgive.
Jeremiah 14:7Jeremiah's prayer, like Daniel's, pleads for God to act 'for your name's sake' despite their iniquities, highlighting the plea for God's honor as a motivation.
Psalm 40:17This Psalm expresses a similar sense of urgency and dependence on God's help, with the plea 'O Lord, do not tarry,' echoing Daniel's 'defer not.'
Isaiah 43:7This verse emphasizes that people are created and called by God's name, reinforcing Daniel's argument that His people and city bear His identity.
Romans 9:23This passage speaks of God preparing vessels of mercy for His own glory, aligning with Daniel's plea for God to act for His own sake and name, bringing about His purposes.
clarkeDaniel 9:19: "O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name."
Thy city and thy people are called by thy name - The holy city, the city of the great King. I think it scarcely possible for any serious man to read these impressive and pleading words without feeling a measure of the prophet's earnestness.
barnesDaniel 9:19: "O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name."
O Lord, hear ... - The language in this verse does not require any particular explanation. The repetition - the varied forms of expression - indicate a mind intent on the object; a heart greatly interested; an earnestness that cannot be denied. It is language that is respectful, solemn, devout, but deeply earnest. It is not vain repet…
Daniel’s most powerful plea isn’t about their suffering, but about God’s reputation: he asks God to act, not just for their sake, but "for your own sake" because the city and people bear God's name. This highlights that God’s glory is on display through His people and His chosen places, so their restoration is tied to His own honor.
Daniel is in the midst of a passionate, urgent prayer, confessing his people's sins and acknowledging God's righteousness after realizing the seventy-year exile is nearing its end. He pleads with God not to delay His judgment and restoration, because the city and people are uniquely identified as belonging to God. This plea flows directly from his deep anguish over Jerusalem's desolation and the need for God's intervention for His own name's sake.
Daniel is in the midst of a passionate, urgent prayer, confessing his people's sins and acknowledging God's righteousness after realizing the seventy-year exile is nearing its end. He pleads with God not to delay His judgment and restoration, because the city and people are uniquely identified as belonging to God. This plea flows directly from his deep anguish over Jerusalem's desolation and the need for God's intervention for His own name's sake.
"O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”" — Daniel’s most powerful plea isn’t about their suffering, but about God’s reputation: he asks God to act, not just for their sake, but "for your own sake" because the city and people bear God's name.…
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Last reviewed October 2026