Daniel 9:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.

NIV: we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.

NASB: we have sinned, we have done wrong, and acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances.

CSB: we have sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled, and turned away from your commands and ordinances.

NLT: But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations.

KJV: We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

NKJV: we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.

Daniel is praying (Daniel 9:1–4) in hopes that Israel's captivity and exile will soon be over. When Babylon fell to the Medo-Persian empire, Daniel consulted books such as Jeremiah. There, he read that the exile would last seventy years (Jeremiah 29:10–11). At the time described in this passage, Daniel had been a captive for well over sixty years. He prays in deep humility, including the traditional signs of mourning such as rough clothing and fasting.

Here, Daniel prays about the sins and failures of Israel. Rather than talking about "them" or saying that "they" are guilty, Daniel identifies with his people, saying "we" are responsible for sin. The Bible makes no accusation against Daniel, but he doesn't try to separate himself from the rest of his nation. Nor does he claim to be sinless (Daniel 9:20). It was because of sin that God sent the Jewish people into exile (Deuteronomy 28:25, 48–50; Jeremiah 25:7–11). Their restoration was partly tied to willingness to come to God in repentance and confession (Deuteronomy 30:1–3; Jeremiah 29:12–14).

This prayer represents Daniel's efforts on behalf of Israel's return from captivity. He describes their error using broad language, covering all possible forms of sin and disobedience. Rather than following the Lord's will, Israel had fallen into idolatry and evil, and so they were punished exactly as had been promised (Daniel 9:6).

Daniel 9:1–19 records a prayer of confession on behalf of God's rebellious people; Daniel includes himself by using terms such as "us" and "we." After the fall of Babylon, Daniel sees evidence in the writings of Jeremiah that Israel's exile may be nearing an end. He prays for forgiveness and restoration, referring to God as righteous, merciful, and forgiving. This prayer leads to an appearance from the angel Gabriel. Gabriel will deliver a prophetic message about Israel's future.

Darius became king when Babylon fell to Medo-Persia. Daniel compared this to writings from Jeremiah, and realized the exile of Israel was almost over. As he prayed for God's intervention, the angel Gabriel arrived to provide further explanation. Gabriel's prophecy ties the arrival of an "anointed one," or "Messiah," or "Christ," to a moment in history followed by a set interval of time. This prediction includes dire moments for Israel and Jerusalem.

This chapter forms part of the prophetic section of Daniel's writing. After confessing the sins of both Israel and his own life, Daniel received a visit from the angel Gabriel. Gabriel revealed a message about Israel's then-future. This includes reference to the arrival of Christ and information about the still-future end times. Chapter 10 begins the last of Daniel's prophetic messages.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.