Daniel begins by addressing God as "great and awesome," but immediately clarifies this isn't about fear of an unapproachable deity. Instead, it's about acknowledging God's faithfulness to his covenant and "steadfast love" for those who love Him. This highlights that God's faithfulness is the very reason Daniel can approach Him, even in a time of national sin and exile.
I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Daniel is deep in prayer, confessing his sins and the sins of his people after realizing from Scripture that their exile in Babylon was nearing its end. He begins by addressing God as the great and awesome One who faithfully upholds His covenant and shows steadfast love to those who obey Him, laying the groundwork for his plea. This opening sets a tone of reverence and reminds God of His own promises before Daniel delves into the specifics of their national sin and plea for restoration.
Daniel doesn't just approach God; he addresses Him with profound awe. What does it mean to see God as 'great and awesome' today?
Daniel begins his prayer by acknowledging who God is: 'the great and awesome God.' This isn't just a title; it's a recognition of God's immense power, sovereignty, and majesty. The word 'awesome' here doesn't imply something scary, but rather something that inspires deep reverence and awe, a God to be feared in the best sense – respected and held in utter wonder.
This understanding is crucial for prayer. When we acknowledge God's greatness, we put our own problems and concerns into perspective. It reminds us that the One we're speaking to is the Creator of the universe, capable of anything.
Daniel appeals to God's 'covenant and steadfast love.' What makes this promise so powerful, especially when Israel had failed?
Daniel's prayer hinges on God's faithfulness to His covenant. Even though the people of Israel had sinned and faced exile, Daniel reminds God of His promises. This 'covenant' signifies a binding agreement, and 'steadfast love' (often translated as mercy or loving-kindness) speaks to God's unwavering commitment to those who love Him and keep His commands.
This isn't a conditional promise based on perfect human performance. Rather, it's an assurance that God's foundational commitment to His people remains. It's a source of hope because it's rooted in God's character, not ours. When we stumble, God's covenant love means He still desires our return and offers forgiveness.
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Before asking for anything, Daniel 'made confession.' Why is admitting fault the first step in approaching a holy God?
Daniel's prayer starts with confession, both for himself and his people. This isn't just a ritual; it's a vital acknowledgment of their sinfulness and God's righteousness. By confessing, Daniel validates God's judgment and clears the way for mercy. It shows a deep understanding that God's justice is real, but His compassion is also profound.
This practice humbles us, stripping away self-justification. It shifts our focus from what we deserve to what God offers. True confession recognizes our inability to meet God's standards and throws us entirely on His grace, making our subsequent pleas for deliverance and restoration all the more meaningful.
Understand the original words
vidduy · Hebrew Noun
An act of acknowledging or admitting sin before God; it is the verbal expression of repentance that aligns the heart with God’s judgment of one's actions.
berit · Hebrew Noun
A formal, binding agreement between God and His people, characterized by divine obligation and promises that God faithfully maintains.
chesed · Hebrew Noun
God’s loyal, enduring, and faithful love; it is a profound term describing God’s unfailing commitment and kindness toward His people within the covenant relationship.
chata · Hebrew Verb
Missing the mark or failing to meet God’s standard of holiness; it describes a violation of God’s law and a falling short of His glory.
marad · Hebrew Verb
A deliberate turning away from the authority of a ruler; in a biblical context, it is a willful, rebellious act against God’s sovereign rule and commandments.
Daniel's prayer is deeply rooted in the historical trauma of the Babylonian exile and the covenantal promises of God that stretched across generations. His confession and plea for restoration are not abstract theological musings but a direct response to the devastating consequences of his people's unfaithfulness, experienced over decades.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem, beginning the Babylonian exile and the first major deportation of Judeans, including Daniel.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, with a further deportation of Judeans. This marks a profound crisis for the people of God.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
The Babylonian Empire falls to Cyrus the Great of Persia, ushering in a new era for the exiles.
538 BC
Cyrus's Edict for Return
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, though not all choose to go.
c. 458 BC - 444 BC
Ezra and Nehemiah's Reforms
Ezra and Nehemiah lead later waves of returnees and implement religious and social reforms to restore the community and the Law.
c. 538 BC— this verse
Daniel's Prayer for Jerusalem
While still in Babylon, Daniel, now elderly, prays and confesses sins in light of Jeremiah's prophecy of a 70-year exile and the imminent end of that period.
This passage echoes Daniel's words by directly stating God's faithfulness to those who love Him and keep His commands, reinforcing the idea of a covenant relationship built on obedience and divine love.
Deuteronomy 7:9Daniel is directly quoting this verse, highlighting God's consistent covenant faithfulness and steadfast love, which serves as a foundation for his prayer and confession.
Nehemiah 1:5This is another instance where the prayer mirrors Daniel's, acknowledging God as 'great and awesome' and emphasizing His covenant faithfulness, showing this was a foundational prayer for the people of Israel in times of distress.
Psalm 89:1-2This Psalm focuses on singing about God's 'steadfast love forever' and His faithfulness to His covenant, underscoring the theme Daniel brings up as a reason for hope amidst confession.
1 John 1:9This New Testament passage connects directly to Daniel's act of confession, assuring believers that if they confess their sins, God is faithful and just to forgive them, mirroring the connection between confession and divine faithfulness.
ellicottDaniel 9:4: "And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;"
(4) The covenant.— See Exodus 19:5 .
barnesDaniel 9:4: "And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;"
And I prayed unto the Lord my God - Evidently a set and formal prayer. It would seem probable that; he offered this prayer, and then re corded the substance of it afterward. We have no reason to suppose that we have the whole of it, but we have doubtless its principal topics. And made…
Daniel begins by addressing God as "great and awesome," but immediately clarifies this isn't about fear of an unapproachable deity. Instead, it's about acknowledging God's faithfulness to his covenant and "steadfast love" for those who love Him. This highlights that God's faithfulness is the very reason Daniel can approach Him, even in a time of national sin and exile.
Daniel is deep in prayer, confessing his sins and the sins of his people after realizing from Scripture that their exile in Babylon was nearing its end. He begins by addressing God as the great and awesome One who faithfully upholds His covenant and shows steadfast love to those who obey Him, laying the groundwork for his plea. This opening sets a tone of reverence and reminds God of His own promises before Daniel delves into the specifics of their national sin and plea for restoration.
Daniel is deep in prayer, confessing his sins and the sins of his people after realizing from Scripture that their exile in Babylon was nearing its end. He begins by addressing God as the great and awesome One who faithfully upholds His covenant and shows steadfast love to those who obey Him, laying the groundwork for his plea. This opening sets a tone of reverence and reminds God of His own promises before Daniel delves into the specifics of their national sin and plea for restoration.
"I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebe…" — Daniel begins by addressing God as "great and awesome," but immediately clarifies this isn't about fear of an unapproachable deity. Instead, it's about acknowledging God's faithfulness to his covenan…
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Last reviewed October 2026
