Daniel 9:18 kjv
O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
Daniel 9:18 nkjv
O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.
Daniel 9:18 niv
Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.
Daniel 9:18 esv
O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.
Daniel 9:18 nlt
"O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city ? the city that bears your name ? lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.
Daniel 9 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 9:18 | "Incline your ear, O my God, and hear. Open your eyes, O Lord, and see..." | Dan 9:18 |
| Psalm 17:1 | "Hear a just cause, O LORD, attend to my cry; give ear to my prayer..." | Psa 17:1 (Plea for attention) |
| Psalm 31:2 | "Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me..." | Psa 31:2 (Plea for swift help) |
| Psalm 86:1 | "Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy." | Psa 86:1 (Similar petition) |
| Isaiah 55:6 | "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near." | Isa 55:6 (Encouragement to call) |
| Jeremiah 3:1 | "If a man puts away his wife, and she goes from him and becomes another..." | Jer 3:1 (Repentance urged) |
| Luke 11:9 | "And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will..." | Luke 11:9 (Jesus' teaching) |
| Acts 10:31 | "...and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms..." | Acts 10:31 (Answered prayer) |
| 1 John 5:14 | "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask..." | 1 John 5:14 (Boldness in prayer) |
| Psalm 79:9 | "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name! Deliver us..." | Psa 79:9 (Prayer for God's name) |
| Ezekiel 36:21 | "But I had concern for my holy name, on which the nations profaned..." | Ezek 36:21 (God's concern for name) |
| Romans 2:24 | "For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you..." | Rom 2:24 (God's name dishonored) |
| 2 Samuel 7:26 | "So now let your name be magnified forever..." | 2 Sam 7:26 (Magnifying God's name) |
| Exodus 34:6 | "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger..." | Exod 34:6 (God's character) |
| Numbers 14:17 | "Now may the Lord’s patience be great, as you have declared, saying," | Num 14:17 (God's patience) |
| Psalm 8:1 | "Oh, LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" | Psa 8:1 (Majesty of God's name) |
| Matthew 6:9 | "Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..." | Matt 6:9 (Lord's Prayer) |
| John 14:13 | "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be..." | John 14:13 (Asking in His name) |
| John 16:24 | "Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive..." | John 16:24 (Asking in His name) |
| Philippians 2:10 | "so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow..." | Phil 2:10 (Sovereignty of His name) |
Daniel 9 verses
Daniel 9 18 Meaning
Daniel prays for God's mercy and compassion on Jerusalem, despite the people's sin. He pleads based on God's name, urging Him to act for His own glory.
Daniel 9 18 Context
Daniel 9 records Daniel's profound intercessory prayer for his people, Jerusalem, and the sanctuary. This prayer is prompted by his reading of Jeremiah's prophecy concerning the seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem. The chapter highlights Daniel's deep sorrow, his confession of national sin, and his earnest appeal to God's covenant faithfulness. Verse 18 is the crucial turning point where Daniel shifts from confessing sin to imploring God's active intervention. It follows his detailed confession and precedes his affirmation of faith in the divine prophecies, particularly the seventy weeks.
Daniel 9 18 Word Analysis
and: (Hebrew: וְ, wə) A common conjunction connecting phrases and clauses, indicating continuation and progression.
incline: (Hebrew: נָטָה, naṭah) To bend, lean, extend, or pay attention. It conveys a posture of deliberate listening and engagement.
your: (Hebrew: אָנָא, ’anā is an interjection expressing entreaty, like "Oh," and here God's name is addressed directly).
ear: (Hebrew: אֹזֶן, ’ōzen) Literally, the organ of hearing, but figuratively representing receptiveness and attention.
O my God: (Hebrew: אֱלֹהַי, ’Ĕlōhăy) A direct and intimate address to God, expressing personal relationship and dependence.
and: (Hebrew: וְ, wə) Continuation.
hear: (Hebrew: שָׁמַע, shāma‘) To listen, to pay attention, and often to respond or obey.
open: (Hebrew: פָּקַח, pāqaḥ) To open the eyes, meaning to look, to observe, to attend to something.
your: (Hebrew: אֶפְדִּי, ’eṗadî or from God's perspective the pronoun indicates ownership)
eyes: (Hebrew: עַיִן, ‘ayin) Literally, the organs of sight. Here, it means to look, to see, to observe and understand the situation.
O Lord: (Hebrew: יְהוָה, Yəhōwāh) The covenant name of God, emphasizing His relationship with Israel and His redemptive power.
and: (Hebrew: וְ, wə) Continuation.
see: (Hebrew: רָאָה, rā’āh) To perceive, to behold, to look upon, often with a sense of discernment or judgment.
the: (Hebrew: הַ, ha) Definite article.
desolation: (Hebrew: חָרְבָּה, ḥārbāh) Ruin, destruction, emptiness, specifically referring to the devastated state of Jerusalem.
of: (Hebrew: שֶׁל, shel - often implied by construct state)
your: (Hebrew: שֶׁלְךָ, shelkhā)
city: (Hebrew: עִיר, ‘îr) Jerusalem.
which: (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר, ’ăšer) Relative pronoun.
is called: (Hebrew: נִקְרָא, niqrā’) To be named, to be known by.
by: (Hebrew: עַל, ‘al) Preposition indicating reason or basis.
your: (Hebrew: שְׁמֶךָ, šəmekhā)
name: (Hebrew: שֵׁם, šēm) The designation by which God is known, encompassing His attributes and reputation.
Words Group Analysis:
- "Incline your ear, O my God, and hear." – This is a pleonasm common in Hebrew prayer, emphasizing the absolute necessity of God's attention. Daniel wants God not just to hear passively but to actively respond.
- "Open your eyes, O Lord, and see the desolation of your city, which is called by your name." – This repetition of senses (ear to hear, eyes to see) powerfully underscores the need for divine awareness and intervention. Daniel highlights the ruined state of Jerusalem, but crucially, he frames it as "your city" and "called by your name," implying that its desolation reflects poorly on God Himself and His reputation.
Daniel 9 18 Bonus Section
The emphasis on God's name being called upon the city is a critical theological point. It signifies God's ownership, His presence (manifested in the Temple), and His commitment to His people. When the city is devastated, it's as if God's own name is tarnished. This mirrors Jesus' teaching in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9), "hallowed be your name," where the ultimate concern is the sanctity of God's reputation. Daniel's prayer is not just a lament but a strategic spiritual warfare, appealing to God’s inherent desire to be glorified.
Daniel 9 18 Commentary
Daniel's plea in verse 18 is deeply rooted in understanding God's character and His relationship with His people and His land. He doesn't merely ask for a hearing; he demands God's attention, using the same verbs often used by God when speaking or commanding (to incline the ear, to open the eyes). The phrase "your city, which is called by your name" is pivotal. Daniel understands that the defilement of Jerusalem and its desolation are not just a punishment for Israel's sin but also a profaning of God's holy name among the nations. This forms the basis of his powerful appeal: God must act, not for Israel's sake alone, but for His own glory. This intercessory theology, where the petitioner appeals to God's own honor, is a hallmark of true faith and a demonstration of intimate understanding of God's covenant promises and reputation.