Daniel 9 19

Daniel 9:19 kjv

O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

Daniel 9:19 nkjv

O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name."

Daniel 9:19 niv

Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name."

Daniel 9:19 esv

O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name."

Daniel 9:19 nlt

"O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name."

Daniel 9 verses

Daniel 9 19 meaning

Daniel 9:19 culminates Daniel's heartfelt prayer with a passionate and urgent threefold plea for divine intervention. He begs the Lord to actively hear, fully forgive the profound national sin, and decisively act without delay. The entire appeal is grounded not on Israel's merit, but solely on the basis of God's own glory, covenant faithfulness, and the honor of His name, which is intrinsically linked to Jerusalem and His chosen people. It is a plea for God to act because His own reputation is at stake.

Daniel 9 19 Context

Daniel chapter 9 is renowned for Daniel's deeply penitential and intercessory prayer, offered during Israel's Babylonian exile. Having understood from Jeremiah's prophecy (Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10) that the seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem were drawing to a close, Daniel dedicated himself to seek God with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. His prayer is a profound confession of Israel's national sin, acknowledging God's righteousness in their judgment, and appealing to His mercy for restoration. Verse 19 stands as the climax of this prayer, a series of urgent, rapid-fire pleas that summarize the intensity of Daniel's intercession and his reliance on God's character.

Daniel 9 19 Word analysis

• O Lord: Hebrew, Adonai (אֲדֹנָי). This is a term of respect and absolute sovereignty, acknowledging God as Master. Its repeated use here (three times) underscores the urgency, reverence, and complete dependence on God. It contrasts with YHWH (the covenant name), though both refer to the same God; Adonai often implies authority and direct address in prayer.
• hear!: Hebrew, shĕma' (שְׁמַע). An imperative command, signifying more than just auditory perception. It implies active listening, understanding, and responsive attention, leading to action. It’s a call for God to heed the substance of the prayer.
• forgive!: Hebrew, selaḥ (סְלַח). An imperative, meaning "to pardon," "to remit sin," "to make expiation for." This directly addresses the heart of Israel's predicament – their guilt and sin which led to their exile. It is a plea for God's cleansing and restoration of their covenant relationship.
• listen: Hebrew, qasheiv (קַשּׁוֹב). Another imperative for hearing, but implying an even deeper, more intense level of attention than shĕma'. It suggests "to give heed attentively," or "to incline an ear thoughtfully." It builds upon "hear," intensifying the plea.
• and act!: Hebrew, 'aseh (עֲשֵׂה). An imperative, meaning "to do," "to perform," "to intervene." This shifts the request from mere internal divine reception to tangible, external divine action. Daniel isn't just asking God to listen and forgive; he is pleading for God to actively intervene and change the situation.
• Do not delay: Hebrew, 'al te'aḥar (אַל תְּאַחַר). An emphatic negative imperative, expressing a profound sense of urgency and desperation. Daniel knows God's timing is perfect, yet the depth of the suffering and the disgrace upon God's name prompt this fervent appeal against any perceived delay.
• for Your own sake: Hebrew, l'ma'ankha (לְמַעַנְךָ). This crucial phrase grounds the entire appeal in God's character and glory, not human merit. It means "for your name's sake," "for your own purpose," or "on your account." Daniel argues that God's intervention will uphold His reputation, character, and covenant promises. It asserts that God’s own honor is at stake.
• O my God: Hebrew, 'elohai (אֱלֹהַי). A deeply personal and relational address. While Daniel is interceding for a nation, this reflects his individual, intimate covenant relationship with God. It intensifies the earnestness of the prayer, recognizing God as his personal, faithful, and powerful divine Lord.
• for Your city: Refers to Jerusalem, the city chosen by God (1 Kgs 11:36), the place of His dwelling and His Temple. Its ruined state reflects negatively on God's power and faithfulness in the eyes of the nations.
• and Your people: Refers to Israel, the covenant people of God, whom He chose and with whom He established His special relationship. Their condition in exile reflects their sin but also, indirectly, reflects on their God.
• are called by Your name: Hebrew, niqra' 'al shimkha (נִקְרָא עַל שִׁמְךָ). This signifies divine ownership, identification, and a profound relationship. It means they belong to God, are consecrated to Him, and bear His stamp. Any shame or suffering brought upon Jerusalem or Israel is therefore seen as a direct challenge or dishonor to God's own Name and reputation in the world.

Words-Group Analysis

• "O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act!": This rhythmic, ascending triple appeal showcases the crescendo of Daniel's intercession. It progresses from passive reception (hear) to gracious pardon (forgive) to decisive intervention (listen and act), reflecting an escalating plea for comprehensive divine action. The repetition of "O Lord" creates a profound sense of dependence and reverence.
• "Do not delay, for Your own sake": This pairing directly links the urgency of God's immediate action to His glory and self-vindication. Daniel acknowledges the desperate state of affairs necessitates a swift response from God to uphold His own divine integrity and purpose in the world, particularly in light of Jeremiah's prophecy.
• "O my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name": This concluding argument provides the ultimate theological ground for the entire prayer. It's a powerful appeal to God's covenant identity and the visible testimony of His character. Daniel is essentially arguing that the world looks at Jerusalem and Israel and forms an opinion about their God; therefore, their restoration and well-being are essential for God's glory and witness to the nations.

Daniel 9 19 Bonus section

The intense rhetorical structure of Daniel 9:19, particularly the rapid-fire succession of imperatives, is characteristic of deeply emotional and urgent biblical prayers. Daniel’s appeal is not for an unearned favor but for a just fulfillment of God’s stated intentions and self-identification with His people and holy city. It underlines the concept of God's "honor-shame" dynamic, where the status of His people and places impacts His reputation globally. This perspective frames restoration as a theological necessity for God's redemptive plan to be manifest and His name to be universally exalted, resonating with a desire for global understanding of God's nature.

Daniel 9 19 Commentary

Daniel 9:19 forms the climactic and most urgent plea in Daniel’s magnificent prayer of intercession. Having meticulously confessed the national sin and acknowledged God's righteous judgment, Daniel shifts the basis of his plea entirely from human merit (of which there was none) to God’s own sovereign character and covenant integrity. The three imperatives — "hear," "forgive," "listen and act" — build in intensity, moving from a simple request for attention to a desperate cry for full pardon and decisive divine intervention. This is not a hesitant request but a bold, fervent demand rooted in faith.

The "do not delay" reflects the profound human yearning for the fulfillment of prophecy and an end to suffering, juxtaposed with the recognition of God's perfect timing. However, the real thrust of the verse is captured in "for Your own sake, O my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name." This articulates a cornerstone of biblical theology: God's ultimate motivation is His own glory. Daniel argues that the desolation of Jerusalem and the suffering of Israel, both carrying God’s name, dishonor Him in the eyes of the Gentile nations. Therefore, divine action, including forgiveness and restoration, is required to vindicate God's character and demonstrate His faithfulness to His covenant, thereby bringing glory to His name among all peoples. This makes Daniel’s prayer a profound model for intercession, emphasizing not our worthiness, but God's intrinsic worth.