Daniel 9 23

Daniel 9:23 kjv

At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

Daniel 9:23 nkjv

At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:

Daniel 9:23 niv

As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision:

Daniel 9:23 esv

At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.

Daniel 9:23 nlt

The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.

Daniel 9 verses

Daniel 9 23 meaning

Daniel 9:23 conveys that immediately upon Daniel's sincere prayer and plea for mercy, God issued a divine decree or "word." This divine command dispatched the angel Gabriel to reveal God's plan and to grant Daniel understanding of an imminent prophecy concerning his people. The verse highlights God's swift response to fervent prayer and Daniel's special favor in God's eyes, being declared "greatly loved" or "highly esteemed."

Daniel 9 23 Context

Daniel 9:23 is central to Daniel's prophetic vision, immediately following Daniel's extended and fervent prayer in verses 4-19. Daniel's prayer is a heartfelt confession of Israel's sins, acknowledging their captivity in Babylon as a just consequence of disobedience, as prophesied by Jeremiah (Dan 9:2; Jer 25:11-12, 29:10). His prayer is rooted in deep understanding of the covenant and a plea for God to act "for Your own sake" (Dan 9:17). This profound moment of humility, confession, and intercession directly precedes the arrival of Gabriel. The context sets up the stage for the crucial "Seventy Weeks" prophecy, one of the most detailed Messianic and eschatological timelines in the Bible. It shows God's immediate and gracious response to His servant's earnest request, providing comfort and critical future insight.

Daniel 9 23 Word analysis

• At the beginning of your pleas for mercy: Hebrew: mi-techilat taḥănunêkā (מִתְחִלַּת תַּחֲנוּנֶיךָ).
  • mi-techilat: "at the beginning of," indicating immediate inception. This emphasizes divine swiftness, showing God does not delay in responding to sincere, contrite prayer.
  • taḥănunêkā: "your pleas for mercy/supplications." Derived from ḥanan (to show favor, be gracious). It implies humble entreaty for grace rather than demanding based on merit. This highlights the nature of Daniel's prayer as one seeking unmerited favor.
• a word went out: Hebrew: dābār yāṣā’ (דָבָר יָצָא).
  • dābār: "word," "thing," "matter," or "decree." Here, it signifies a divine command or instruction from God to an angel, activating a prophetic revelation. It reflects God's sovereign initiative and omnipotence.
  • yāṣā’: "went out," "proceeded." Denotes emission or activation. God's "word" is powerful and effective, carrying divine authority and intent (Isa 55:11).
• and I have come to tell it to you: Hebrew: wa-ʾănî bāʾtî ləhaggîd ləḵā (וַאֲנִי בָּאתִי לְהַגִּיד לָךְ).
  • Gabriel, the angel, is the speaker. His prompt arrival underscores the immediate effect of the divine "word."
  • bāʾtî: "I have come." Past tense, implying direct and completed action following the divine command.
  • ləhaggîd: "to tell/report." Gabriel's mission is to convey the divine message to Daniel.
• for you are greatly loved / highly esteemed: Hebrew: kî ḥămudôt ’ātṭā (כִּי חֲמֻדוֹת אָתָּה).
  • kî: "for," "because." Establishes the reason for Gabriel's coming and Daniel receiving this revelation.
  • ḥămudôt: "greatly loved," "highly esteemed," "precious," "man of desires." A rare and significant term, emphasizing God's special affection, favor, and regard for Daniel. It suggests God found him delightful and worthy of intimate divine communication. This word appears similarly in Dan 10:11, 19, uniquely ascribed to Daniel, highlighting his singular place in God's plan.
  • ’ātṭā: "you" (masculine singular).
• Therefore consider the word: Hebrew: ūḇin ba-dābār (וּבִין בַּדָּבָר).
  • ūḇin: "therefore understand" (imperative). From biyn (to understand, discern). It's a command for deep cognitive engagement with the revealed message, not just passive hearing.
  • ba-dābār: "in the word," referring to the specific prophecy Gabriel is about to deliver.
• and understand the vision: Hebrew: wa-hittəbônēn ba-mar’eh (וְהִתְבּוֹנֵן בַּמַּרְאֶה).
  • wa-hittəbônēn: "and consider," "reflect," "contemplate" (imperative, Hithpael stem, suggesting an active, intense process of thought).
  • ba-mar’eh: "in the vision," referring to the entire prophetic experience, the content to be revealed. This calls for not only mental grasp but also careful contemplation of its implications.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out": This phrase links Daniel's specific prayer (rooted in mercy, not merit) directly to the immediate divine action. It contrasts with pagan ideas of distant, unresponsive deities or those that require elaborate rituals to be appeased. It points to a personal, active God who listens and responds. The concept of God's "word" carrying immediate executive power is deeply biblical.
• "and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved": This segment highlights divine agency (Gabriel's mission) and the deeply personal motivation behind it (Daniel's beloved status). It implies intimacy between God and His faithful servants. Daniel's personal character, devotion, and intercessory prayer have earned him unique favor and direct access to divine counsel.
• "Therefore consider the word and understand the vision": These are direct commands, shifting the emphasis from the divine action to Daniel's responsibility. It's not enough to merely receive the revelation; it demands intellectual and spiritual diligence to comprehend and internalize the profound message about the future. The conjunction of "word" (dabar) and "vision" (mar'eh) emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the prophecy: both its spoken content and the overall revealed scenario.

Daniel 9 23 Bonus section

The Hebrew word ḥămudôt (חֲמֻדוֹת) translated "greatly loved" or "highly esteemed" is notably in the plural form (literally "desirable things" or "precious things"). While often translated singularly in context of Daniel, its plural nature can subtly amplify the intensity or multifaceted nature of God's affection for him, indicating he is "precious beyond measure" or possessing many desirable qualities in God's sight. This linguistic nuance further elevates Daniel's standing. Additionally, the phrase highlights that God's intervention is not merely to answer a prayer for restoration, but to provide a deeper understanding of His long-term plan, transcending Daniel's immediate concerns for the 70 years of exile to encompass a much grander redemptive timeline leading to the Messiah. This immediate divine response also sets a crucial benchmark against the delayed angelic response Daniel experiences in chapter 10 due to spiritual warfare, showing that in Daniel 9, the decree itself was instant.

Daniel 9 23 Commentary

Daniel 9:23 serves as a pivotal hinge between Daniel's fervent prayer and the seminal Seventy Weeks prophecy. It is a profound declaration of God's immediate attentiveness and favor towards His faithful. The divine "word" originating as soon as Daniel began his plea shatters any notion of God's inattention, instead portraying a deity intensely engaged with the earnest prayers of His people. The angel Gabriel's prompt arrival is not a random occurrence but a direct consequence of a divine decree, illustrating the seamless execution of God's will. Daniel's designation as "greatly loved" or "highly esteemed" is a singular mark of divine favor, affirming that his deep humility, confessed sin, and intercessory zeal had touched the very heart of God, rendering him a uniquely trusted recipient of profound eschatological truth. This favor isn't based on human perfection, but on a righteous walk, a spirit of contrition, and fervent pursuit of God's will. The dual command to "consider the word and understand the vision" places a weighty responsibility on Daniel (and by extension, the reader) to diligently engage with, interpret, and internalize the intricate prophetic revelation about to be delivered, signaling its immense importance for Israel's future and the coming of the Messiah.