We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that God's prophets spoke in His name, meaning they weren't just sharing opinions, but divine messages with God's authority. This emphasizes that rejecting the prophets was essentially rejecting God Himself, making the people's disobedience and subsequent judgment all the more severe.
We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Daniel, in profound prayer, is confessing the deep sinfulness of his people, acknowledging that their current exile is a just consequence of their rebellion. He explains that this wasn't due to ignorance, but a wilful rejection of God's clear warnings delivered by the prophets to every level of society, from kings to commoners. This confession sets the stage for his earnest plea for God’s mercy and the restoration of Jerusalem.
Imagine God sending messengers to you, again and again, with crucial news. What if you consistently ignored them, no matter who they were or how important the message? That's the situation Daniel confesses.
Daniel laments that God’s people, from kings down to commoners, failed to listen to His prophets. These prophets weren't just religious figures; they were God’s chosen ambassadors, speaking His truth in His name. Their message was direct, often critical, and intended to guide the nation. The failure to heed them wasn't a minor oversight; it was a profound rejection of God Himself and His authority, as their words carried divine weight and warning. This universal disregard across all social strata highlights the depth of their rebellion.
When a nation turns its back on God, it's rarely just one group's fault. Daniel's confession points to a collective failure that spanned the entire society.
Daniel's confession isn't just about a general sense of guilt; it's specific. He lists 'kings,' 'princes,' 'fathers,' and 'all the people' to show that no segment of society was exempt from this rebellion. The leaders failed to lead justly and obediently, and the common people followed suit or failed to hold their leaders accountable. This comprehensive indictment underscores that spiritual and moral decay isn't confined to one level but permeates the whole community. Their shared disobedience magnified their sin and guaranteed collective judgment.
Understand the original words
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nabi' · Hebrew Noun
A spokesperson for God, moved by the Holy Spirit to declare His will, warn of judgment, or announce future events to His people.
shem · Hebrew Noun
The holy, authoritative name of the God of Israel, often associated with His covenant-keeping character and presence.
Daniel's confession in this verse acknowledges a pervasive, multi-generational pattern of disobedience that spanned all levels of society – from kings to commoners – and directly defied the spoken word of God's prophets, ultimately leading to the dire judgment of exile and the destruction of Jerusalem.
c. 740 BC - 609 BC
Assyrian and Babylonian Empires Rise
During this era, the Neo-Assyrian and later the Neo-Babylonian empires grew in power, exerting significant influence and control over the region, including Judah. This geopolitical context set the stage for future deportations.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Israel's Exile
The Northern Kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians, leading to the exile of its people. This event served as a stark warning to the Southern Kingdom of Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Jerusalem, beginning the process of exiling Judeans, including notable figures like Daniel. This marked the start of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
A second, larger wave of exiles, including the prophet Ezekiel, was taken to Babylon following a rebellion by Judah. This intensified the consequences of the nation's unfaithfulness.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylonian forces destroyed Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, marking the end of Judah as an independent kingdom and leading to a final, devastating exile for most of the remaining population.
c. 540 BC
Daniel's Prayer for Jerusalem
While in Babylonian exile, Daniel, reflecting on the prophecies of Jeremiah, offers a profound prayer of confession and intercession for the return of his people and the restoration of Jerusalem. This verse is part of that prayer.
This passage echoes Daniel's confession, stating how God repeatedly sent His servants the prophets, but the people refused to listen. It highlights the persistent rejection of God's messengers by His people.
Nehemiah 9:26Nehemiah's prayer offers a parallel confession where the people acknowledge that despite God sending His prophets, they rebelled and turned their backs on God's law. This shows a recurring pattern of disobedience across generations.
2 Chronicles 36:15-16This historical account describes God sending messengers to warn His people, but they mocked and ridiculed them. It demonstrates the severe consequences of persistently disregarding God's prophetic word, leading to judgment.
Luke 11:49-51Jesus speaks of the accumulated guilt of rejecting God's messengers throughout history, stating that the blood of all the prophets shed from the beginning of the world will be required of this generation. This underscores the grave spiritual responsibility that comes with receiving God's prophetic voice.
ellicottDaniel 9:6: "Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land."
(6) Neither have we hearkened.— The aggravation of guilt. All God’s warnings have been unheeded by high and low alike, by all to whom they were addressed.
barnesDaniel 9:6: "Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land."
Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets - Who called upon us to turn from our sins; who made known the will of God, and who proclaimed that these judgments would come upon us if we did not repent. Which spake in thy name to our kings ... - To all classes of the people, calling on kings and rulers to turn f…
The verse highlights that God's prophets spoke in His name, meaning they weren't just sharing opinions, but divine messages with God's authority. This emphasizes that rejecting the prophets was essentially rejecting God Himself, making the people's disobedience and subsequent judgment all the more severe.
Daniel, in profound prayer, is confessing the deep sinfulness of his people, acknowledging that their current exile is a just consequence of their rebellion. He explains that this wasn't due to ignorance, but a wilful rejection of God's clear warnings delivered by the prophets to every level of society, from kings to commoners. This confession sets the stage for his earnest plea for God’s mercy and the restoration of Jerusalem.
Daniel, in profound prayer, is confessing the deep sinfulness of his people, acknowledging that their current exile is a just consequence of their rebellion. He explains that this wasn't due to ignorance, but a wilful rejection of God's clear warnings delivered by the prophets to every level of society, from kings to commoners. This confession sets the stage for his earnest plea for God’s mercy and the restoration of Jerusalem.
"We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land." — The verse highlights that God's prophets spoke in His name, meaning they weren't just sharing opinions, but divine messages with God's authority. This emphasizes that rejecting the prophets was essen…
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Last reviewed October 2026