Daniel 9:11

Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that [is] written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

Yea, all Israel {H3478} have transgressed {H5674} thy law {H8451}, even by departing {H5493}, that they might not obey {H8085} thy voice {H6963}; therefore the curse {H423} is poured {H5413} upon us, and the oath {H7621} that is written {H3789} in the law {H8451} of Moses {H4872} the servant {H5650} of God {H430}, because we have sinned {H2398} against him.

Yes, all Isra'el flouted your Torah and turned away, unwilling to listen to your voice. Therefore the curse and oath written in the Torah of Moshe the servant of God was poured out on us, because we sinned against him.

All Israel has transgressed Your law and turned away, refusing to obey Your voice; so the oath and the curse written in the Law of Moses the servant of God has been poured out on us, because we have sinned against You.

Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even turning aside, that they should not obey thy voice: therefore hath the curse been poured out upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God; for we have sinned against him.

Commentary

Commentary on Daniel 9:11

Daniel 9:11 is a profound statement of confession and recognition of God's righteous judgment, uttered by the prophet Daniel during the Babylonian exile. This verse is part of Daniel's powerful prayer of repentance on behalf of his people, Israel, as he sought God's mercy and restoration for Jerusalem.

Context

At this point in the Book of Daniel, the prophet is nearing the end of the seventy-year period of desolation prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11). Daniel, understanding the times, turns to God in earnest prayer, acknowledging the deep-seated sin of Israel that led to their captivity. This verse specifically highlights the widespread nature of their disobedience and the direct consequence of breaking God's covenant. The people, from king to commoner, had collectively turned away from God's commands, leading to the fulfillment of warnings given centuries earlier in the Law of Moses.

Key Themes

  • Universal Transgression: Daniel declares that "all Israel have transgressed thy law." This emphasizes the collective and pervasive nature of the nation's sin, not just isolated acts, but a systemic "departing" from God's way.
  • Deliberate Disobedience: The phrase "even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice" underscores a conscious and willful refusal to listen to and follow God's commands. It wasn't ignorance but active rebellion.
  • Consequences of Sin: The verse explicitly links Israel's disobedience to the "curse is poured upon us." This highlights the biblical principle that sin has inevitable and often severe consequences, a foundational truth seen throughout Scripture.
  • God's Righteous Judgment: Daniel acknowledges that the suffering Israel endured was not arbitrary but the just fulfillment of God's covenantal warnings. The "oath that is written in the law of Moses" refers to the specific blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience detailed in books like Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26. God was faithful to His word, even in judgment.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "transgressed" is 'abar (Χ’ΦΈΧ‘Φ·Χ¨), which means to cross over, pass through, or go beyond a boundary. In this context, it signifies overstepping divine limits and rebelling against God's established law.
  • The "curse" ('alah, ΧΦΈΧœΦΈΧ”) denotes a solemn oath or imprecation, often involving divine judgment. It emphasizes the gravity of the covenant violations and the binding nature of the consequences foretold in the Law.
  • "Law of Moses the servant of God" (Torah Moshe 'eved ha'Elohim) stresses the divine origin and authority of the commands given through Moses, underscoring that Israel's rebellion was against God Himself.

Reflection and Application

Daniel's prayer in Daniel 9:11 offers timeless lessons for believers today. It teaches the importance of honest confession of sin, both individually and corporately, acknowledging that our disobedience has consequences. Like Daniel, we are called to understand that God's judgments are always righteous and just, stemming from His faithfulness to His own word. This verse reminds us that true repentance begins with recognizing our departure from God's voice and understanding that His commands are for our good. It calls us to reflect on areas where we might have "departed" from His law and to seek His mercy and restoration, just as Daniel did for Israel. For further reading on Daniel's confession, see Daniel 9:5.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 8:5

    Why [then] is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.

  • Jeremiah 8:10

    Therefore will I give their wives unto others, [and] their fields to them that shall inherit [them]: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

  • Deuteronomy 28:15

    ΒΆ But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

  • Deuteronomy 28:68

    And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy [you].

  • Isaiah 1:4

    Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

  • Isaiah 1:6

    From the sole of the foot even unto the head [there is] no soundness in it; [but] wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

  • Deuteronomy 29:20

    The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.
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