Daniel 9:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.

NIV: We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you.

NASB: Open shame belongs to us, Lord, to our kings, our leaders, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You.

CSB: Lord, public shame belongs to us, our kings, our leaders, and our fathers, because we have sinned against you.

NLT: O Lord, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.

KJV: O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.

NKJV: “O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You.

Daniel is hopefully praying for the Jewish people to be restored from their captivity and exile (Daniel 9:1–4). As he does so, he confesses the sins of the people. While Daniel, himself, seems innocent of these actions (Daniel 1:8; 6:5), he does not try to separate himself from the nation of Israel. He prays about "our" sin and what "we" have done (Daniel 9:5–7; 9:20). That Israel's sin is so widespread is a source of "open shame." It was those sins which led God to punish the people with exile (Deuteronomy 28:48–50; 29:25; 2 Kings 17:1–8; Jeremiah 25:7–11). David's prayer is part of the promise that God will restore the people when they confess and truly turn to Him once again (Deuteronomy 30:1–3; Jeremiah 29:10–14).

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–17) demonstrate that sins are offenses against God and others. However, sin is primarily a wrongdoing against God. Adultery, for example, not only wrongs the other people, but it also betrays and disobeys the God who said, "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14). When an employee pilfers from the workplace, he does wrong to his employer, but even more his theft offends the Lord who commanded, "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15). A man who covets his neighbor's wife sins against his neighbor in mind and heart, but primarily against God, who said, "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife" (Exodus 20:17).

King David, in his darkest spiritual hour, committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged to have her husband killed in battle. This harmed many people. Yet David recognized his sins were primarily assaults on God. He writes in Psalm 51:4 that "Against [the Lord], you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight." Many of the kings of Israel and Judah flagrantly disobeyed God and His will (see the books of 1 and 2 Kings).

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.