Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Daniel doesn't just turn towards God; he actively "sets his face" toward Him, signifying a resolute, unwavering commitment to prayer. This isn't a casual request, but a deep, earnest seeking that involves humbling himself through fasting and wearing symbols of mourning – sackcloth and ashes.
Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Having just understood from the prophecies that the seventy years of exile in Babylon were drawing to a close, Daniel's heart is stirred. He doesn't just passively wait for God's promise to be fulfilled; instead, he actively turns to God with intense prayer, fasting, and outward signs of deep sorrow and humility, like wearing sackcloth and ashes. This isn't just a personal moment; it sets the stage for a profound intercession not only for himself but for his entire people and the restoration of Jerusalem.
When God's promises seem distant or their fulfillment uncertain, what ignites a believer's passionate pursuit?
Daniel's prayer isn't a casual request; it's a determined act. The phrase 'I set my face' conveys a resolute focus, a deliberate turning towards God. This wasn't just about what he was praying for, but how he was approaching it – with his whole being engaged. He sought God with 'prayer and supplications,' highlighting both his earnest pleas and requests for mercy. This wasn't a passive waiting game; it was an active, intense engagement with the Divine, fueled by a deep understanding of God's timing and promises.
Beyond words, how do we physically express the depth of our repentance and longing for God's intervention?
Daniel didn't just pray; he adopted outward signs of deep repentance and sorrow: 'fasting and sackcloth and ashes.' These weren't mere rituals, but physical expressions of his inner state. Fasting denied bodily comfort to focus the mind on spiritual needs. Sackcloth, a coarse, uncomfortable fabric, symbolized mourning and humility. Ashes, often put on the head, were a potent symbol of utter brokenness and acknowledging one's dust-like frailty before God. These actions demonstrated a profound sense of the nation's sin and a desperate yearning for God's mercy to overcome the desolation.
Understand the original words
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tephillah · Hebrew Noun
A solemn, reverent address to God, often involving petition, intercession, confession, and the acknowledgment of His sovereignty.
tachanun · Hebrew Noun
An urgent, humble request for grace and compassion from God, typically when one acknowledges they have no claim on God’s favor due to their sin.
saq va'epher · Hebrew Noun Phrase
A form of mourning or deep repentance, often using sackcloth (rough goat hair) and ashes to symbolize humility, grief, and the abandonment of self-dignity before God.
Daniel's prayer isn't just a private moment; it's deeply rooted in the collective trauma of exile and the specific prophecies about the people's return. His fasting, sackcloth, and ashes show a profound grief for their sin and a desperate, humble plea for God's promised mercy.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquers Jerusalem and takes many Israelites, including Daniel, captive to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian Exile.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple, bringing further devastation and exile to the remaining Jewish population. This event deepens the sense of loss and longing for restoration.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon. This shift in power sets the stage for the eventual return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem.
538 BC
Cyrus's Edict for Return
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. While some return, many remain in exile.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Reforms
Ezra leads a second major group of exiles back to Jerusalem and institutes religious reforms, emphasizing the Law and a purified community.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah leads the effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, facing significant opposition and further solidifying the community's commitment to their city and faith.
c. 539 BC - 445 BC— this verse
Daniel's Prayer for Jerusalem
Daniel, having understood from the prophet Jeremiah that the seventy years of exile were nearing their end, turns to earnest prayer and fasting. He seeks God's mercy and intervention for the restoration of Jerusalem and its people.
Like Daniel, Nehemiah turns to prayer and fasting with deep sorrow and a focus on national sin when faced with the ruin of Jerusalem.
Ezra 8:21Ezra calls for a fast before traveling back to Jerusalem, emphasizing fasting and humility as a way to seek God’s protection and favor for a significant undertaking.
1 Kings 8:47-48Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple includes seeking God with humbled hearts, prayer, and supplication, particularly when exiles might pray towards the land.
Joel 2:12-13The prophet Joel calls for a solemn assembly, including fasting, weeping, and mourning, urging a return to God with whole heart, emphasizing outward signs of repentance.
Isaiah 58:3-5This passage critiques fasting done merely for show, highlighting that true fasting involves acts of justice and mercy, but implicitly validates fasting as a genuine spiritual discipline when done with the right heart.
ellicottDaniel 9:3: "And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:"
(3) I set my face. —Comp. Daniel 6:11 . Probably he prayed, as on that occasion, with his face towards Jerusalem. The prayer of Daniel bears some resemblance to those offered by Ezra and Nehemiah, while that of Baruch resembles it much more closely. (On this see Excursus F. )
barnesDaniel 9:3: "And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:"
And I set my face unto the Lord God - Probably the meaning is, that he turned his face toward Jerusalem, the place where God had dwelt; the place of his holy abode on earth. See the notes at Daniel 6:10 . The language, however, would not be inappropriate to denote prayer without such a supposition. We turn to one whom we address, and so prayer may be described by "sett…
Daniel doesn't just turn towards God; he actively "sets his face" toward Him, signifying a resolute, unwavering commitment to prayer. This isn't a casual request, but a deep, earnest seeking that involves humbling himself through fasting and wearing symbols of mourning – sackcloth and ashes.
Having just understood from the prophecies that the seventy years of exile in Babylon were drawing to a close, Daniel's heart is stirred. He doesn't just passively wait for God's promise to be fulfilled; instead, he actively turns to God with intense prayer, fasting, and outward signs of deep sorrow and humility, like wearing sackcloth and ashes. This isn't just a personal moment; it sets the stage for a profound intercession not only for himself but for his entire people and the restoration of Jerusalem.
Having just understood from the prophecies that the seventy years of exile in Babylon were drawing to a close, Daniel's heart is stirred. He doesn't just passively wait for God's promise to be fulfilled; instead, he actively turns to God with intense prayer, fasting, and outward signs of deep sorrow and humility, like wearing sackcloth and ashes. This isn't just a personal moment; it sets the stage for a profound intercession not only for himself but for his entire people and the restoration of Jerusalem.
"Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes." — Daniel doesn't just turn towards God; he actively "sets his face" toward Him, signifying a resolute, unwavering commitment to prayer. This isn't a casual request, but a deep, earnest seeking that i…
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Last reviewed October 2026