Daniel 9 18

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 verses

Daniel 9 18 meaning

Daniel 9:18 is a poignant plea from Daniel to God, acknowledging Jerusalem's desolate state and confessing that the petition is not founded on Israel's own righteousness, which is nonexistent, but solely on the basis of God's abundant mercy and compassion. It emphasizes humility, national repentance, and an absolute reliance on divine grace rather than human merit for the restoration and intervention sought.

Daniel 9 18 Context

Daniel 9:18 is part of Daniel's profound prayer for his people and the city of Jerusalem, offered during the Babylonian exile. Daniel has been meditating on Jeremiah's prophecy concerning the 70 years of desolation for Jerusalem (Jer 25:11-12, 29:10). As this period nears its end, Daniel earnestly seeks God's face, not as an individual but on behalf of the entire nation, confessing their collective sins and appealing for God's promised restoration. His prayer demonstrates an understanding of the nation's spiritual bankruptcy and a full reliance on God's character and covenant promises. This specific verse pivots the entire prayer's basis from human "righteousness" to divine "mercies," acknowledging the utter impossibility of salvation or restoration through human merit.

Daniel 9 18 Word analysis

• O my God (אֱלֹהַי, Elohai): A personal and intimate address, yet invoking the mighty Creator. Daniel’s relationship with God anchors this national prayer. The plural 'God' (Elohim) with singular possessive suffix emphasizes God's sovereign power while retaining a personal connection.
• incline thine ear (הַט אָזְנְךָ, hat ozneka): An anthropomorphism, picturing God physically bending down to listen attentively. It's a humble and urgent plea for divine notice, common in prayers of distress (Psa 17:6, 31:2). It implies a willingness from God to engage personally.
• and hear (וּשְׁמָע, u-sh'ma'): Beyond just inclining an ear, this requests active listening and comprehension. It suggests not just perceiving sound, but responding with action, aligning with the biblical concept of "hearing" as heeding and acting (Deu 6:3-4).
• open thine eyes (פְקַח עֵינֶיךָ, pekakh eynekha): Another anthropomorphism, asking God to look intently. This is a plea for God to visibly acknowledge and perceive the suffering and desolation, moving from auditory to visual attention. It means to truly behold, to pay close attention to the reality on the ground.
• and behold (וּרְאֵה, u-r'eih): Similar to "open thine eyes," this intensifies the request to see with full understanding and awareness, leading to action. It’s an empathetic gaze desired from the Almighty (Psa 33:13).
• our desolations (שֹׁמְמוֹתֵינוּ, shom'moteinu): The Hebrew term "shomemot" refers to a state of being waste, desolate, laid waste, often due to judgment. Daniel acknowledges the severe ruin of Jerusalem and the land, not shying away from the consequences of Israel's sin, but laying it bare before God (Lam 1:1, Eze 6:4).
• and the city (וְהָעִיר, ve-ha'ir): Specifically Jerusalem, which was then a pile of rubble and ruin, central to the Jewish faith and God’s covenant.
• which is called by thy name (אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלֶיהָ, asher niqra shimkha 'aleyha): This is a critical point. Jerusalem's identity is tied to God's name, signifying His ownership, covenant promise, and honor. Its desolation is therefore a dishonor to God’s own name and reputation among nations (1 Kgs 8:43, Jer 25:29). This provides a strong basis for God to act, not merely for the people's sake, but for His own.
• for we do not present our supplications (כִּי לֹא עַל צִדְקֹתֵינוּ אֲנַחְנוּ מַפִּילִים תַּחֲנוּנֵינוּ, ki lo 'al tzidqoteinu anakhnu mapilim takhanunenu): A direct and unequivocal statement about the basis of their prayer. The Hebrew verb "mappilim" (from 'naphal', to fall) means "to cause to fall" or "to present," indicating humbly laying their petitions before God. It emphasizes that their plea is not based on what they have earned.
• before thee (לְפָנֶיךָ, lefaneka): Literally "to your face" or "in your presence," signifying direct address and submission.
• for our righteousnesses (עַל צִדְקֹתֵינוּ, 'al tzidqoteinu): A crucial disclaimer. "Tzidqot" (plural of 'tzedaqah') refers to righteous acts or deeds. Daniel clearly states they are not relying on their own merits or perceived justice for their petitions to be heard, acknowledging their utter lack of true righteousness before God (Isa 64:6). This is a stark rejection of any works-based appeal.
• but for thy great mercies (כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, ki 'al rakhamkha ha-rabbim): This declares the sole foundation of their plea. "Rakhamim" refers to deep compassion, often compared to a mother's tender care for her child. It conveys covenant love and steadfast kindness. The modifier "harrabbim" ("great" or "abundant") highlights the immensity and boundless nature of God's compassion (Psa 103:8). This is the only basis for hope.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold": This phrase combines a humble yet direct appeal to God's attentiveness through both hearing and seeing. It highlights the urgent need for divine intervention, as if God needs to be roused to observe and react to their plight. This anthropomorphism emphasizes Daniel’s passionate desire for God’s full awareness and empathy.
• "our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name": Daniel links the physical destruction of Jerusalem with the desecration of God's name. The ruined state of God's chosen city reflects poorly on His power and covenant faithfulness in the eyes of the nations. Therefore, a petition for restoration is as much for God’s glory as for Israel’s relief.
• "for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies": This contrasting statement forms the theological bedrock of the prayer. It’s a profound confession that removes all human pride and establishes divine grace as the only ground for approach and acceptance. It distinguishes a works-based religious appeal from a grace-based prayer rooted in a right understanding of God's nature and human sinfulness.

Daniel 9 18 Bonus section

The theological thrust of Daniel 9:18 strongly foreshadows New Testament doctrines of grace, emphasizing that salvation and spiritual favor are not earned through human deeds or "righteousnesses" but are freely given through God's abundant "mercy." This aligns perfectly with Paul's teachings on justification by faith apart from works of the law (Rom 3:28) and salvation as a gift of grace (Eph 2:8-9). Daniel, in the Old Testament, articulates a truth fundamental to the New Covenant: humanity's utter inability to meet God's standard of righteousness and the sole sufficiency of divine grace. This verse implicitly dismantles any form of self-atonement or meritorious works as a basis for securing divine favor, redirecting all hope and trust to God's compassionate character. It also serves as a model for intercessory prayer, teaching that such prayers for national or community well-being must always be grounded in humility, corporate confession, and reliance on God's nature, not human performance.

Daniel 9 18 Commentary

Daniel 9:18 is a masterpiece of intercessory prayer, embodying true spiritual humility and theological depth. It reveals Daniel's profound understanding of human depravity and divine character. Recognizing that the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile are direct consequences of Israel’s unfaithfulness, Daniel rejects any claim of national merit. Instead, he boldly petitions God based purely on His inherent nature—His "great mercies." This principle underscores that access to God and the efficacy of prayer do not depend on the worshiper’s goodness but entirely on God’s compassion and faithfulness to His own character and name. The plea for God to "incline His ear" and "open His eyes" is an impassioned cry for divine engagement, stressing that God's honor is intrinsically linked to the fate of the city called by His name. This verse teaches us that genuine prayer acknowledges sin, eschews self-righteousness, and appeals solely to God’s boundless grace and unfailing covenant love.For example, a Christian struggling with past failures, instead of dwelling on personal guilt or attempting to earn favor through works, would echo Daniel's sentiment by approaching God, not based on personal merit, but trusting in God's immense grace through Christ.