Daniel 9 4

Daniel 9:4 kjv

And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

Daniel 9:4 nkjv

And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments,

Daniel 9:4 niv

I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

Daniel 9:4 esv

I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

Daniel 9:4 nlt

I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands.

Daniel 9 verses

Daniel 9 4 Meaning

Daniel confesses his sin and the sin of his people, acknowledging God's righteous judgment. He connects his distress to the desolation of Jerusalem and the captivity described in the scriptures.

Daniel 9 4 Context

Daniel is in his first year of leadership in Babylon, during the reign of Darius. He is reflecting on the prophecies of Jeremiah, specifically the seventy-year period of desolation for Jerusalem. This reflection leads him to a deep prayer of confession and supplication for his people. The historical context is post-exilic, but the people are still in exile, and the destruction of Jerusalem is a fresh wound and a cause for ongoing national distress. Daniel's prayer is a communal prayer, interceding on behalf of the entire nation of Israel.

Daniel 9 4 Word Analysis

• וַאֲנִי֙ (wa'ǎny): "and I". The waw ('and') connects this prayer to the preceding study of scriptures, signifying a transition from understanding to action and prayer. Daniel personalizes the national sin.
• הִתְפַּלְּלִ֖וּ (hitpallelū): "prayed". From the root פלל (palal), meaning 'to pray', 'to intercede', 'to judge'. It signifies a heartfelt petition and petition. The intensive (hithpael) conjugation emphasizes Daniel's earnest and repeated engagement in prayer.
• וָאֶתְוַדּ֥ (wā'etwaddâ): "and I confessed". From the root ידה (yada), meaning 'to praise', 'to thank', 'to confess'. Here, it means to confess sin. This confession is voluntary and public, acknowledging wrongdoing before God.
• וָאֹמַ֥ר (wā'ōmar): "and I said". Simple conjunction and verb indicating the utterance of his confession.
• בֵּאְלָ֖הּ (bə'ělah): "to God". This refers to God's divine being and Lordship, highlighting that the confession is directed to the supreme authority.
• אֵלַ֣י (ʔēlay): "to my". Possessive, emphasizing that the following address is directed personally to his own God.
• אֲדֹנָ֥י (ʔădōnāj): "O Lord". A covenant name for God, often translated "Lord" or "Master." It denotes a personal relationship and submission.
• אֱלֹהִ֖י (ʔĕlōhî): "my God". Reinforces the personal covenant relationship between Daniel and the Almighty.
• הִתְוַדּוּת֙ (hitwaddût): "confession". A noun form of the root ידה (yada), specifically denoting the act of confessing. It can also carry the meaning of praise.
• הִגְדּל֙ (higdēl): "great". This is used in conjunction with the sin, implying a severe or extensive nature of their transgressions, which also emphasizes the greatness of God's mercy in listening.
• לְחֶטְאֵ֔ינוּ (ləḥetˀēînnū): "our sins". The plural of חֵטְא (het˒), meaning 'sin', 'offense', 'error'. This indicates the collective responsibility of the people for their wrongdoings.

Word Group Analysis:

• "I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession": This phrase encapsulates Daniel's humble posture before God. It shows a profound intimacy with God as "my God" and an understanding of the relational aspect of prayer and confession.
• "Confession and great were our sins": This linkage highlights the severity and magnitude of Israel's transgressions. The greatness is attributed not only to the sins themselves but also to their impact on God's relationship with His people and the resulting judgment.

Daniel 9 4 Bonus Section

The book of Daniel frequently links prayer and repentance with understanding divine prophecy. Daniel’s prayer is triggered by his understanding of Jeremiah's prophecy regarding the seventy years of desolation. This demonstrates that theological understanding should lead to active faith expressed through prayer and repentance, rather than passive intellectualization. Daniel's confession and intercession are crucial in setting the stage for the revelation of the seventy-week prophecy in the subsequent verses, showing how human repentance and divine plan are interwoven.

Daniel 9 4 Commentary

Daniel's prayer is marked by deep humility and corporate responsibility. He identifies himself with the sins of his people, acknowledging their transgressions as his own. This is a hallmark of true leadership and spiritual maturity – to bear the burdens of the community. His confession isn't merely verbal; it’s accompanied by fasting, sackcloth, and ashes, indicating profound grief and repentance. The phrase "great were our sins" emphasizes the severity of their disobedience and its consequences, the exile. Daniel's prayer sets a precedent for earnest, self-less intercession, connecting the sins of the past to the present desolation of Jerusalem.