Daniel 9:19

O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

O Lord {H136}, hear {H8085}; O Lord {H136}, forgive {H5545}; O Lord {H136}, hearken {H7181} and do {H6213}; defer {H309} not {H408}, for thine own sake, O my God {H430}: for thy city {H5892} and thy people {H5971} are called {H7121} by thy name {H8034}.

Adonai, hear! Adonai, forgive! Adonai, pay attention, and don't delay action - for your own sake, my God, because your city and your people bear your name!"

O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people bear Your name.”

O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God, because thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

Commentary

Daniel 9:19 (KJV) is the passionate climax of Daniel's profound prayer of confession and intercession for his people, Israel, and their desolate city, Jerusalem. This verse encapsulates Daniel's urgent plea for God's immediate action, rooted not just in Israel's plight but in God's own character and reputation.

Context

This verse concludes Daniel's extended prayer found in Daniel 9:3-19. Daniel, having understood from the prophet Jeremiah that the seventy years of Babylonian exile were nearing their end, pours out his heart in confession of Israel's sins and appeals to God's mercy. The city of Jerusalem lay in ruins, and the people were still in captivity. Daniel's prayer is a model of humility, repentance, and fervent appeal to God's covenant promises, setting the stage for the crucial prophecy of the seventy weeks that follows.

Key Themes

  • Fervent, Urgent Prayer: The repeated "O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not" demonstrates Daniel's intense earnestness and belief in God's immediate power to intervene. It's a cry for divine attention and swift action.
  • Appeal to God's Character and Glory: Daniel pleads "for thine own sake, O my God." His primary motivation is not merely the relief of his people, but the vindication of God's holy name and the honor due to Him. God's reputation is intrinsically linked to His covenant people and city.
  • Divine Forgiveness and Restoration: The prayer is centered on the need for God's forgiveness for Israel's persistent rebellion. Daniel understands that restoration, both of the people and the city, is contingent upon God's grace and mercy, not Israel's merit.
  • Covenant Relationship: The phrase "thy city and thy people are called by thy name" underscores the special relationship between God, Jerusalem, and Israel. They belong to Him, and their desolation reflects poorly on His name among the nations. Daniel appeals to God's faithfulness to His own covenant promises.

Linguistic Insights

The repetition of "O Lord" (Hebrew: Adonai), which signifies sovereign Master, highlights Daniel's humble submission and recognition of God's ultimate authority. The strong verbs "hear," "forgive," "hearken," and "do" (Hebrew: shama', salach, qashab, 'asah) convey a desperate, active plea for divine engagement. The phrase "called by thy name" (Hebrew: niqra' shimkha 'aleihem) emphasizes ownership and identification, meaning they are consecrated to God and represent Him. It's an appeal to God's honor to act on behalf of what bears His name.

Practical Application

Daniel 9:19 offers powerful lessons for believers today:

  • Persistence in Prayer: Daniel's fervent and repeated pleas encourage us to be persistent and earnest in our own prayers, not giving up when answers seem delayed.
  • Praying for God's Glory: This verse reminds us to prioritize God's honor and purposes above our own desires. When we pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done (Matthew 6:10), we align our prayers with His ultimate glory.
  • Intercession for Community: Daniel models intercessory prayer for his people and city. We are called to pray for our communities, nations, and the Church, especially when they face spiritual or physical desolation.
  • Trust in God's Faithfulness: Even in the midst of national disgrace and ruin, Daniel appeals to God's unchanging character and covenant faithfulness. This encourages us to trust that God will act for His own sake and according to His good purposes, even when circumstances seem bleak.
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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Daniel 9:18

    O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.

  • Luke 11:8

    I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

  • Amos 7:2

    And it came to pass, [that] when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he [is] small.

  • Numbers 14:19

    Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.

  • Ephesians 1:12

    That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

  • Jeremiah 14:7

    O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou [it] for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.

  • 2 Chronicles 6:25

    Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.
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