Daniel 9:7

O Lord, righteousness [belongeth] unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, [that are] near, and [that are] far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.

O Lord {H136}, righteousness {H6666} belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion {H1322} of faces {H6440}, as at this day {H3117}; to the men {H376} of Judah {H3063}, and to the inhabitants {H3427} of Jerusalem {H3389}, and unto all Israel {H3478}, that are near {H7138}, and that are far off {H7350}, through all the countries {H776} whither thou hast driven {H5080} them, because of their trespass {H4604} that they have trespassed {H4603} against thee.

"To you, Adonai, belongs righteousness; but to us today belongs shame - to us, the men of Y'hudah, the inhabitants of Yerushalayim and all Isra'el, including those nearby and those far away, throughout all the countries where you have driven them; because they broke faith with you.

To You, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but this day we are covered with shame—the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, and all Israel near and far, in all the countries to which You have driven us because of our unfaithfulness to You.

O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.

Daniel 9:7 is a pivotal verse within Daniel's profound prayer of confession, uttered during the Babylonian exile. It encapsulates the core contrast between God's perfect character and humanity's abject failure, articulating the reason for Israel's dire circumstances.

Historical and Cultural Context

At the time of this prayer, Daniel was living in Babylon, well into the seventy-year period of exile prophesied by Jeremiah the prophet. The Jewish people, including the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, had been driven from their homeland and scattered "through all the countries" by divine judgment. This dispersion and subjugation were the direct consequences of generations of persistent disobedience to God's covenant laws, as outlined in books like Deuteronomy and Leviticus. Daniel, deeply understanding their history and the prophecies, articulates the collective guilt and shame of his people before a righteous God.

Key Themes

  • God's Unblemished Righteousness: Daniel begins by declaring, "O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee." This is a foundational truth. Even in judgment, God is perfectly just, faithful, and morally upright. His actions are always consistent with His holy nature, affirming that His dealings with Israel, though severe, were entirely deserved and righteous.
  • Human Shame and Sin: In stark contrast to God's righteousness, Daniel confesses, "but unto us confusion of faces." The Hebrew phrase for "confusion of faces" is boshet panim, meaning "shame of faces" or "disgrace of face." It vividly portrays the deep humiliation, public disgrace, and inner shame experienced by the people of Israel. This shame was a direct result of their "trespass that they have trespassed against thee" – their prolonged rebellion, idolatry, and unfaithfulness to God's covenant. It signifies the visible evidence of their dishonor.
  • Corporate Confession and Responsibility: Daniel identifies fully with his people, including "the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off." This highlights the concept of corporate confession, where one acknowledges the collective sin and its consequences, even if personally innocent of all specific transgressions. It underscores the shared responsibility for the nation's spiritual state.

Linguistic Insights

The term "confusion of faces" (Hebrew: boshet panim) is particularly potent. It's not merely embarrassment, but a profound sense of public disgrace and internal shame that results from having acted shamefully. In ancient Near Eastern culture, shame was a powerful social and personal consequence for dishonorable behavior, often more feared than physical punishment. Daniel acknowledges that this shame is rightfully theirs, a visible sign of their broken relationship with God.

Practical Application

Daniel 9:7 offers timeless lessons for believers today. It calls us to a posture of humility and honest self-assessment, recognizing God's perfect righteousness and our own fallenness. It encourages both individual and corporate confession of sin, acknowledging our failings and God's justice even when His ways are difficult to understand. This verse reminds us that true repentance begins with recognizing our sin, accepting its consequences, and giving God the glory and righteousness that belong to Him alone.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 3:25

    We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.

  • Deuteronomy 4:27

    And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.

  • Daniel 9:8

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

  • Psalms 44:15

    My confusion [is] continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,

  • Jeremiah 2:26

    As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,

  • Jeremiah 2:27

    Saying to a stock, Thou [art] my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned [their] back unto me, and not [their] face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

  • Daniel 9:14

    Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God [is] righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.

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