Daniel 9:5

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

We have sinned {H2398}, and have committed iniquity {H5753}, and have done wickedly {H7561}, and have rebelled {H4775}, even by departing {H5493} from thy precepts {H4687} and from thy judgments {H4941}:

We have sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled and turned away from your mitzvot and rulings.

we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances.

we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from thy precepts and from thine ordinances;

Commentary

Daniel 9:5 (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:"

Context of Daniel 9:5

This verse is part of Daniel's profound prayer of confession and intercession, offered during the Babylonian exile. Daniel, understanding from Jeremiah's prophecy that the seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem were nearing their end, turns to God in fervent prayer. His prayer is not merely a request for deliverance but a deep acknowledgment of the sins of his people, Israel, identifying himself with their transgressions, even though he was personally righteous. This corporate confession sets the stage for God's further revelation concerning the future of Israel and the coming of the Messiah.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Comprehensive Confession of Sin: Daniel uses a powerful accumulation of termsโ€”"sinned," "committed iniquity," "done wickedly," and "rebelled"โ€”to describe the depth and breadth of Israel's disobedience. This isn't a superficial acknowledgment but a thorough and honest recognition of collective guilt before a holy God.
  • Corporate Responsibility: Although Daniel himself was faithful, he includes himself in the "we," demonstrating a profound sense of solidarity with his people. This highlights the concept of corporate responsibility, where individuals identify with the sins and consequences of their community or nation.
  • Departure from God's Law: The essence of their sin is clearly stated: "departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments." This emphasizes that sin is fundamentally a rebellion against God's revealed will and His established moral order, found in the Law given through Moses. This departure led to the consequences of exile, as forewarned in passages like Deuteronomy 28.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used in this verse paint a vivid picture of sin:

  • Chata (ื—ึธื˜ึธื - "sinned"): This common word for sin means "to miss the mark" or "to go astray." It speaks of failing to meet God's standard.
  • Avah (ืขึธื•ึธื” - "committed iniquity"): Implies distortion or perversion, suggesting a bending or twisting of what is right, leading to moral crookedness.
  • Rasha (ืจึธืฉึทืืข - "done wickedly"): Denotes being guilty or unrighteous, acting contrary to justice and righteousness.
  • Marad (ืžึธืจึทื“ - "rebelled"): This is the strongest term, signifying open revolt, defiance, or insurrection against an authority. It highlights the intentional and defiant nature of their disobedience against God as their sovereign King.

Practical Application

Daniel's prayer in Daniel 9:5 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • The Necessity of Genuine Confession: Like Daniel, we are called to a deep and honest confession of our sins, individually and corporately. This involves acknowledging specific transgressions and recognizing our departure from God's will. 1 John 1:9 reminds us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.
  • Understanding the Nature of Sin: Sin is not merely a mistake; it is a rebellion against God's authority and a departure from His perfect standards. Recognizing this helps us appreciate the seriousness of sin and the magnitude of God's grace.
  • Intercession for Our Communities: Daniel's example encourages us to pray not only for ourselves but also to identify with the spiritual condition of our families, churches, and nations, interceding on their behalf and confessing collective failings.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Malachi 3:7

    ยถ Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept [them]. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

  • 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.

  • Daniel 9:15

    And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

  • Isaiah 64:5

    Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, [those that] remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.

  • Isaiah 64:7

    And [there is] none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

  • Psalms 106:6

    ยถ We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

  • Psalms 18:21

    For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.