Daniel 9:15 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Daniel 9:15 kjv
And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
Daniel 9:15 nkjv
And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day?we have sinned, we have done wickedly!
Daniel 9:15 niv
"Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong.
Daniel 9:15 esv
And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
Daniel 9:15 nlt
"O Lord our God, you brought lasting honor to your name by rescuing your people from Egypt in a great display of power. But we have sinned and are full of wickedness.
Daniel 9 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exodus - God's Mighty Hand | ||
| Ex 6:6 | ...I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians... | God promises deliverance with mighty acts. |
| Deut 4:34 | ...has any god attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation...? | God's uniqueness in delivering His people. |
| Neh 9:10 | And performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh...and made a name for Yourself as it is this day. | Echoes Daniel's phrase about God's name. |
| Jer 32:21 | ...brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm... | Reiteration of Exodus with a "strong hand". |
| Psa 136:11-12 | ...And brought out Israel from among them, for His steadfast love endures forever... | God's deliverance based on His love. |
| God's Name and Glory | ||
| Ex 9:16 | ...that I might show My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth. | Purpose of Exodus: displaying God's power/name. |
| 1 Sam 12:22 | For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake... | God acts to preserve His own reputation/name. |
| 2 Sam 7:23 | And who is like Your people, like Israel, a unique nation on earth whom God went to redeem for Himself...? | God redeemed Israel for His own glory. |
| Isa 63:14 | As a beast goes down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord gave him rest. So You led Your people, to make for Yourself a glorious name. | God's leading leads to a glorious name. |
| Ezek 20:9 | But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations... | God acts to defend His holy name. |
| Confession of Sin | ||
| Neh 9:33 | However, You are righteous in all that has come upon us, for You have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly. | Similar confession acknowledging God's justice. |
| Psa 106:6 | We have sinned with our fathers; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedly. | Corporate confession of sin and iniquity. |
| Jer 14:7 | Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for Your name's sake... | Appeal to God's name despite sin. |
| Lam 5:16 | The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! | Direct confession of national sin. |
| Ezra 9:6-7 | O my God, I am too ashamed...Our iniquities have risen higher than our heads...From the days of our fathers...we have been in great guilt. | Ezra's prayer of national confession. |
| Psa 51:4 | Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight... | David's confession acknowledges sin against God. |
| Prayer and Remembrance of God's Acts | ||
| Psa 77:11-12 | I will remember the deeds of the Lord...I will ponder all Your work, and meditate on Your mighty deeds. | Recalling God's works in prayer. |
| Isa 63:11-12 | Then He remembered the days of old, of Moses...to make for Himself an everlasting name. | Reminds God of His past acts and lasting name. |
| Psa 80:3 | Restore us, O God; let Your face shine, that we may be saved! | Plea for restoration based on God's nature. |
| Psa 80:8 | You brought a vine out of Egypt... | Using Exodus as basis for present prayer. |
| New Testament Echoes of God's Power/Salvation | ||
| Acts 7:36 | This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt... | Stephen references Moses leading Israel from Egypt. |
| Rom 1:16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation... | God's power manifested in salvation. |
| Eph 1:19-20 | ...the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might | God's mighty power in redemption (spiritual). |
Daniel 9 verses
Daniel 9 15 meaning
Daniel 9:15 is a fervent plea within Daniel’s great prayer of confession. It establishes a powerful contrast, beginning with an acknowledgment of God's magnificent historical act of redemption—the Exodus from Egypt—and the establishment of His renown. Daniel reminds God of His mighty power and the glorious "name" He made for Himself through that deliverance. Immediately following this declaration of God's past faithfulness, Daniel presents the present reality: the people's collective and grievous sin and iniquity, highlighting their profound unworthiness while simultaneously grounding his plea in God's unchanging character and past covenant fidelity.
Daniel 9 15 Context
Daniel 9:15 is situated within Daniel's profoundly significant prayer in Daniel 9. This prayer immediately follows Daniel's reading and understanding of Jeremiah's prophecy concerning the 70 years of desolation for Jerusalem (Jer 25:11-12, 29:10). This discovery prompts Daniel to turn his full attention to God in deep repentance and supplication on behalf of his exiled people.
The prayer unfolds with an earnest confession of God's righteous character, an acknowledgment of His faithfulness, and a heart-wrenching corporate confession of Israel's widespread and enduring sin, which is explicitly tied to the covenant curses that have brought about the exile. Daniel identifies with his people's transgressions, even though he personally demonstrates remarkable faithfulness. Verse 15 is crucial because it sets a theological foundation: Daniel reminds God of His own history of mighty acts for His people (the Exodus) and the establishment of His renown (His name). This serves not as a boast for Israel, but as a strategic appeal to God's unchanging character and commitment to His own glory, despite Israel's abject failure, which he confesses immediately after the remembrance of God's greatness.
Daniel 9 15 Word analysis
- And now (וְעַתָּה, ve'attah): This connective phrase bridges Daniel's earlier acknowledgments of God's righteousness (vv.1-14) to his present petition. It marks a transition to the heart of his appeal, drawing a conclusion from the preceding truths. It suggests "in light of all this..."
- O Lord our God (אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ, Adonai Eloheinu):
- O Lord (אֲדֹנָי, Adonai): This divine title emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty and mastery. It signifies "my Lord" or "my Master," reflecting submission and respect from Daniel's perspective. It highlights God's ultimate authority over all creation and specifically over His people.
- our God (אֱלֹהֵינוּ, Eloheinu): This refers to God as "our God," signifying the covenant relationship between God and Israel. It asserts the personal, intimate, and unique bond God forged with His chosen people. The combination of Adonai and Eloheinu acknowledges both God's universal lordship and His specific covenant faithfulness.
- who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt (אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתָ אֶת־עַמְּךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, asher hotzeta et-ammecha me'erets Mitsrayim): This phrase invokes the foundational act of redemption in Israel's history. The Exodus from Egypt is the archetypal display of God's saving power and covenant commitment, forming the bedrock of Israelite identity and theology. It refers to God's initiative in rescuing His "people" ('amm'cha), a term reinforcing the covenant.
- with a mighty hand (בְּיָד חֲזָקָה, b'yad chazaqa): This is a strong idiomatic expression, recurring frequently in Exodus and Deuteronomy. It vividly depicts God's overwhelming, irresistible power, exercised decisively to accomplish His purpose. It underscores that the Exodus was not merely an event, but a supernatural intervention of immense divine strength.
- and made for Yourself a name (וַתַּעַשׂ לְךָ שֵׁם, vatasa l'kha shem): This phrase highlights that God's actions, particularly the Exodus, serve to establish and magnify His own reputation and renown. God's "name" (שֵׁם, shem) in the biblical context embodies His character, attributes, power, and glory. The Exodus demonstrated to both Israel and the nations who Yahweh truly is. God acted for His own honor, making Himself known.
- as it is this day (כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה, kayyom hazzeh): This stresses the enduring and current reality of God's fame. The impact and recognition of God's act in the Exodus are not relegated to ancient history but remain valid, evident, and potent even in Daniel's day of exile. God's renown from that event still reverberates.
- we have sinned, we have committed iniquity (חָטָאנוּ רָשָׁעְנוּ, chata'nu rash'anu): This is a corporate, emphatic confession of transgression. Daniel includes himself ("we") in this profound declaration of national guilt.
- sinned (חָטָאנוּ, chata'nu): Chata' means "to miss the mark" or "fall short." It represents a deviation from God's righteous standard, an offense against His commands, both actively and passively.
- committed iniquity (רָשָׁעְנוּ, rash'anu): Rasha' means "to be wicked" or "to act wickedly/commit iniquity." It often implies deliberate transgression, a perversion of what is right, rebellion, and a state of guilt. It signifies a more severe, active rebellion or turning away from God's law. Together, these two terms provide a comprehensive confession of Israel's pervasive moral and spiritual failure.
Words-group analysis:
- "O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and made for Yourself a name, as it is this day": This segment is an address and a recalling of redemptive history. Daniel frames his prayer by appealing to God's intrinsic character and past acts of power. It establishes God's faithfulness and glory as the immovable foundation for the current plea, not Israel's merit. This is a common pattern in Israelite prayers and laments.
- "we have sinned, we have committed iniquity": This segment is a stark and direct confession of national culpability. Juxtaposed immediately with God's glorious acts, it emphasizes the profound gap between God's steadfastness and Israel's failure. This isn't merely acknowledging minor infractions but deep-seated, systemic unrighteousness that merits judgment.
Daniel 9 15 Bonus section
The phrasing "made for Yourself a name" hints at a theological polemic often found in the Old Testament. Unlike pagan deities whose power and influence were often localized or dependent on their worshippers, Israel's God, Yahweh, established His name and reputation through real historical acts of power, demonstrating His unique sovereignty over nature and nations. The Exodus was the undeniable proof of His incomparable deity. Daniel's prayer here implicitly elevates Yahweh above the Babylonian gods who oversaw Israel's current captivity, reminding God and himself that this God is not powerless. The prayer structure, beginning with praise of God's character and past deeds, followed by confession, and then a petition, is a common and potent biblical model for approaching God. It places the focus firmly on God's nature and actions rather than human merit or demands.
Daniel 9 15 Commentary
Daniel 9:15 is the pivot point of Daniel's intercession, moving from acknowledging God's justice in judgment (vv.7-14) to the basis of his plea for mercy. Daniel doesn't minimize Israel's sin; rather, he places it in stark relief against God's eternal character. He argues from God's consistency: "You are the God who has acted with power to deliver Your people and secure Your name. Your glory is invested in us." This isn't an attempt to manipulate God but to appeal to His own declared nature and purpose—He acts for His "name's sake" (Jer 14:7, Ezek 36:22). The invocation of the Exodus underscores that the God of deliverance is unchanging. The corporate confession of "we have sinned, we have committed iniquity" reveals a profound self-awareness of guilt before a holy God, crucial for genuine repentance and restoration.
Practical Examples:
- When facing seemingly insurmountable problems, we can recall God's past interventions in our lives or in history (like Daniel) and remind ourselves (and God, in prayer) of His consistent character and power.
- Genuine confession requires us to acknowledge our specific and systemic failures before God, owning our participation in personal and communal sin, even as we appeal to His steadfast love and powerful reputation.