Daniel doesn't just confess personal sin; he acknowledges the deep shame and confusion that belongs to the entire nation, from its leaders to its scattered people. This isn't just about individual guilt, but a collective responsibility that has brought about their present distress.
To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Daniel is in Babylon, deeply troubled by the prophet Jeremiah's words about Jerusalem's impending destruction and the people's seventy-year exile. He realizes the time is drawing near and begins a profound prayer of confession and petition for his people. In this prayer, Daniel takes full responsibility for Israel's sins, acknowledging God's righteousness in His judgments and their own deep shame.
When things are tough, it's easy to feel like God is being unfair. But Daniel starts his prayer with a radical declaration about God's character. What does it mean to confess God's righteousness while admitting our shame?
Daniel doesn't hesitate to declare God's absolute justice. He says, 'To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness.' This isn't just a polite nod; it's a deep confession that no matter how bad things seem, God's actions are always perfectly right and just. He is not to blame.
In contrast, Daniel immediately follows with, 'but to us open shame.' This isn't a mild embarrassment; it's a profound, face-in-the-dirt shame that comes from deep guilt. The punishment they're experiencing – scattered, defeated, in exile – is the undeniable evidence of their own treachery against God.
This contrast highlights a crucial spiritual truth: acknowledging God's perfect righteousness is the first step to truly understanding and confessing our own sin. It frees us from blaming God and allows us to take honest responsibility for our actions.
Daniel doesn't just confess his own shame, or even just the shame of Jerusalem. He expands the scope of this confession in a way that covers everyone. What does this universal confession reveal about sin and its consequences?
The scope of Daniel's confession is immense. He includes:
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This broad confession shows that sin doesn't just affect individuals; it impacts families, communities, and entire nations. It also reveals that God's judgment, while righteous, also has far-reaching and long-lasting effects, touching every part of His people, regardless of their location.
Understand the original words
tsedaqah · Hebrew Noun
The supreme attribute of God, representing His moral perfection, standard of justice, and faithfulness to His covenant promises.
bosheth · Hebrew Noun
A state of deep humiliation and dishonor before God, resulting from disobedience and the breach of covenant.
ma'al · Hebrew Noun
Unfaithfulness or betrayal, specifically breaking covenantal trust with God through apostasy or religious infidelity.
chata' · Hebrew Verb
Missing the mark of God’s law; a violation of God’s will, whether through intentional transgression, negligence, or an inability to achieve His standard.
Daniel's prayer in the midst of the Babylonian exile acknowledges the people's deep sin and God's righteous judgment, reflecting on the scattering of both the northern and southern kingdoms. This verse highlights a profound national identity crisis, where even those near the center of power (Jerusalem) and those far away in exile share a common shame due to their collective disobedience.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Deportation of Northern Tribes
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting a significant portion of its population to various parts of the empire. This marks the effective end of the ten northern tribes as a distinct entity.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon invades Judah and deports King Jehoiachin, members of the royal family, and many skilled artisans and leaders to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian Exile.
587/586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Following a rebellion by Judah, Nebuchadnezzar returns, destroys Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, and deports most of the remaining population to Babylon. This event is the climax of Judah's national catastrophe.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great overthrows the Babylonian Empire. This conquest ushers in a new era where conquered peoples, including the Judean exiles, are often allowed to return to their homelands.
538 BC
Cyrus's Decree Allowing Return
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This decree marks the start of the return from Babylonian exile.
This passage describes God's response to Israel's sin, highlighting that if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, God will remember His covenant and restore them. Daniel's confession echoes this theme of acknowledging sin as the cause of their suffering.
Nehemiah 9:1-3This chapter details a similar prayer of confession and remembrance of God's faithfulness in the face of Israel's disobedience. The people gather, separate themselves from foreigners, and offer confessions, much like Daniel's prayer.
Jeremiah 11:10-11Jeremiah prophesied about the impending judgment on Judah for their treachery against God's covenant. Daniel's prayer reflects the exact circumstances and sins that Jeremiah foretold, showing the fulfillment of prophecy.
Psalm 51:4In this psalm of repentance, David declares 'Against you only, and in your sight, have I sinned.' Daniel's prayer is a powerful example of this, focusing on God's righteousness and the people's sin against Him, rather than blaming external factors.
This passage contains a prayer very similar to Daniel's, directly referencing 'confusion of faces' and acknowledging that God's righteousness is contrasted with the people's shame due to their sins.
barnesDaniel 9:7: "O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee."
O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee - Margin, "or, thou hast." The Hebrew is, "to thee is righteousness, to us shame, etc." The state of mind in him…
jfbDaniel 9:7: "O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee."
- confusion of faces, as at this day—Shame at our guilt, betrayed in our countenance, is what belongs to us; as our punishment "at this day" attests.near,…
Daniel doesn't just confess personal sin; he acknowledges the deep shame and confusion that belongs to the entire nation, from its leaders to its scattered people. This isn't just about individual guilt, but a collective responsibility that has brought about their present distress.
Daniel is in Babylon, deeply troubled by the prophet Jeremiah's words about Jerusalem's impending destruction and the people's seventy-year exile. He realizes the time is drawing near and begins a profound prayer of confession and petition for his people. In this prayer, Daniel takes full responsibility for Israel's sins, acknowledging God's righteousness in His judgments and their own deep shame.
Daniel is in Babylon, deeply troubled by the prophet Jeremiah's words about Jerusalem's impending destruction and the people's seventy-year exile. He realizes the time is drawing near and begins a profound prayer of confession and petition for his people. In this prayer, Daniel takes full responsibility for Israel's sins, acknowledging God's righteousness in His judgments and their own deep shame.
"To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven…" — Daniel doesn't just confess personal sin; he acknowledges the deep shame and confusion that belongs to the entire nation, from its leaders to its scattered people. This isn't just about individual gu…
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Last reviewed October 2026
