Daniel 9:7

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible

"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.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Daniel 9:7 is a profound declaration within Daniel's intercessory prayer, articulating the stark contrast between God's inherent righteousness and Israel's profound shame and guilt. It serves as a foundational confession, acknowledging that the nation's calamitous exile and dispersion were not arbitrary acts of divine power but the just and deserved consequence of their persistent rebellion and covenant unfaithfulness against a holy God. This verse encapsulates the core theological truth that God remains perfectly just even in judgment, while humanity bears the rightful burden of its sin.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Daniel 9 is a pivotal chapter, situated within a broader narrative of prophetic visions and historical accounts. Following the vision of the ram and goat in [Daniel 8](/daniel/8 "Daniel 8 - Vision of the Ram and Goat"), Daniel is meditating on Jeremiah's prophecy concerning the seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem ([Jeremiah 25:11-12](/jeremiah/25-11-12 "Jeremiah 25:11-12 - Seventy Years of Desolation") and [Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - Jeremiah's Prophecy of Seventy Years")). This meditation prompts Daniel to turn to God in earnest prayer and confession, which spans [Daniel 9:4-19](/daniel/9-4-19 "Daniel's Prayer of Confession"). Verse 7 specifically initiates the core confession of Israel's sin, setting the stage for the subsequent pleas for mercy and restoration. It establishes the theological premise for the entire prayer: God is righteous, Israel is not.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Daniel's prayer occurs approximately 605-536 BC, specifically around 538 BC, during the first year of Darius the Mede's reign, marking the approximate end of the seventy-year Babylonian exile. The Jewish people, including Daniel, had been forcibly removed from their homeland, Jerusalem, and scattered across the vast Babylonian (and later Persian) Empire. This exile was understood by faithful Israelites as divine judgment for centuries of covenant disobedience, idolatry, and social injustice, as prophesied by Moses in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses") and later by prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah. The "confusion of faces" would have been a deeply felt public and personal shame in a culture where honor and shame were paramount, signifying the loss of national identity, sovereignty, and divine favor.
* **Key Themes:** Daniel 9:7 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the book of Daniel and biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Justice**, emphasizing that God is in ultimate control of history and that His judgments, though severe, are always righteous and deserved. Another prominent theme is **Human Sin and Corporate Responsibility**, as Daniel identifies with the collective guilt of his people, acknowledging that their suffering is a direct consequence of their "trespass that they have trespassed against thee." This highlights the concept of corporate solidarity in sin and its consequences, a theme also seen in [Nehemiah 9](/nehemiah/9 "Nehemiah 9 - The Levites' Prayer of Confession"). Finally, the verse underscores the theme of **Confession and Repentance**, demonstrating the necessary posture of humility and self-abasement before God as a prerequisite for seeking His mercy and restoration.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Lord (Hebrew, _ʼĂdônây'_):** This is an emphatic form of the Hebrew word for "lord" or "master," used here as a proper name for God. It signifies God's absolute sovereignty, authority, and ownership. By addressing God as "Adonai," Daniel acknowledges His supreme dominion and rightful claim over all creation, including Israel, and implicitly, His right to judge.
* **righteousness (Hebrew, _tsᵉdâqâh'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to be right" or "just," this term denotes moral rectitude, justice, and conformity to a divine standard. When ascribed to God, it speaks of His perfect character, His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant, and the inherent justice of all His actions, even those involving severe judgment. Daniel's declaration that "righteousness belongeth unto thee" affirms God's blamelessness and integrity in the face of Israel's suffering.
* **confusion (Hebrew, _bôsheth'_):** This word signifies shame, disgrace, or humiliation. It describes not merely a feeling of embarrassment but a profound state of public dishonor and inner degradation resulting from sinful or failed actions. In conjunction with "faces" (pânîym), "confusion of faces" vividly portrays the visible manifestation of this deep-seated shame, a public sign of Israel's dishonor and the loss of their former glory and favor before God and the nations.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"O Lord, righteousness [belongeth] unto thee,"**: Daniel begins his confession by unequivocally affirming God's perfect character. Despite the dire circumstances of exile, Daniel does not question God's justice but rather declares that all righteousness, all moral rectitude, and all just dealings are inherent to God's very being. This establishes the theological framework for the entire prayer: God is just, even in His judgment.
* **"but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day;"**: In stark contrast to God's righteousness, Daniel attributes "confusion of faces" to himself and his people. This powerful idiom, _boshet panim_ in Hebrew, signifies deep shame, public disgrace, and humiliation. It implies a visible manifestation of dishonor, a bowed head, or a face turned away in shame. The phrase "as at this day" underscores the present reality of their disgraced state, a direct and ongoing consequence of their actions.
* **"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,"**: Daniel broadens the scope of this confession to encompass the entire nation. "Men of Judah" and "inhabitants of Jerusalem" refer to the southern kingdom, which bore the brunt of the Babylonian invasion. "All Israel" includes those from the northern kingdom who had been scattered earlier, as well as all who were dispersed, whether "near" (in Babylon) or "far off" (in other parts of the empire). This comprehensive inclusion emphasizes the corporate nature of their sin and the widespread impact of God's judgment, acknowledging that the exile was a national experience.
* **"because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee."**: This concluding clause provides the explicit reason for Israel's shame and suffering. The repetition of the root word for "trespass" (maʻal, verb and noun) emphasizes the deliberate, persistent, and unfaithful nature of their sin. It refers to a breach of trust, a betrayal of covenant obligations, particularly against God Himself. This clarifies that their current predicament is not arbitrary but a direct and deserved consequence of their chronic unfaithfulness to the Lord.

#### Literary Devices
Daniel 9:7 is rich in literary devices that enhance its impact and theological depth. The most prominent is **Contrast**, setting God's perfect righteousness against Israel's profound shame and guilt. This stark juxtaposition highlights the vast chasm between divine holiness and human sinfulness. The phrase "confusion of faces" functions as vivid **Imagery**, evoking a powerful visual of public disgrace and internal humiliation, making the abstract concept of shame tangible. The use of **Merism** is evident in "near, and that are far off," which is a rhetorical device where two contrasting parts represent the whole, indicating that all of Israel, wherever they were dispersed, shared in this collective shame and judgment. Finally, the repetition of the root word for "trespass" ("their trespass that they have trespassed") is a form of **Polyptoton** or **Emphasis**, intensifying the gravity and deliberate nature of Israel's sin and underscoring that their punishment was a direct and just consequence of their repeated covenant violations.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 9:7 is a profound theological statement on the nature of God's justice and humanity's accountability. It asserts that even in the midst of severe judgment, God's character remains unblemished; His actions are always consistent with His perfect righteousness. The nation of Israel's suffering and dispersion are not arbitrary acts of divine wrath but the just and inevitable outcome of their persistent and deliberate "trespass" against their covenant Lord. This verse serves as a model for true confession, where the focus is not on excusing sin or blaming circumstances, but on acknowledging God's holiness and taking full responsibility for one's own (and one's community's) failings. It underscores the biblical principle that sin has real, often painful, consequences, and that God's justice demands accountability, even from His chosen people.

* [Psalm 145:17](/psalms/145-17 "Psalm 145:17 - The Lord is Righteous in All His Ways")
* [Nehemiah 9:33](/nehemiah/9-33 "You Are Just in All That Has Come Upon Us")
* [Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "All Have Sinned and Fall Short of the Glory of God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Daniel 9:7 calls us to a posture of profound humility and honest self-assessment before God. In a world quick to blame external circumstances or deny personal culpability, Daniel's prayer offers a powerful counter-narrative. It challenges us to acknowledge God's inherent righteousness and justice, even when His ways are difficult to comprehend or when we face the consequences of sin. This verse encourages both individual and corporate confession, recognizing that we are often implicated in the collective failings of our communities, nations, and even the broader human family. True repentance begins with this clear-eyed recognition of our "confusion of faces" – our shame and guilt – stemming from our "trespass against" a holy God. It invites us to embrace responsibility for our actions and to give God the glory and righteousness that belong to Him alone, trusting that His justice is always tempered with mercy for the truly repentant.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Daniel's immediate affirmation of God's righteousness, even in the midst of national calamity, challenge my own perspective on suffering or difficult circumstances?**
* **In what areas of my life, or the life of my community, might there be a "confusion of faces" – a hidden or acknowledged shame – that needs to be brought before God in confession?**
* **What does Daniel's corporate confession teach me about my responsibility for the sins of my community or nation, even if I feel personally innocent of specific transgressions?**

### FAQ
**What does "confusion of faces" mean in Daniel 9:7?**

Answer: "Confusion of faces" (Hebrew: _boshet panim_) is a powerful idiom that signifies deep shame, public disgrace, and humiliation. It's not merely embarrassment, but a profound sense of dishonor that is so intense it's visibly reflected on one's face, perhaps through a downcast gaze, a blush, or a look of utter despair. In ancient Near Eastern culture, honor and shame were central values, and to experience "confusion of faces" meant a loss of status, dignity, and reputation, signifying that one had acted in a way that brought public disgrace upon oneself and one's community. Daniel uses this phrase to express the profound and deserved humiliation Israel experienced due to their sin, contrasting it sharply with God's unblemished righteousness. This state of shame was a direct consequence of their "trespass that they have trespassed against thee."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel 9:7, with its stark contrast between God's perfect righteousness and humanity's "confusion of faces" due to trespass, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Humanity's shame and guilt, stemming from countless acts of rebellion against God, are fully borne and atoned for by the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). While Israel, and indeed all humanity, deserved the "confusion of faces" and the consequences of their trespass, Christ, who "knew no sin, became sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness")). He endured the ultimate shame and disgrace, being "despised and rejected by mankind" ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - The Suffering Servant")), and suffering the cross, "scorning its shame" ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus Endured the Cross")), so that those who believe in Him might receive His righteousness and no longer bear the "confusion of faces" for their sins. Through His atoning work, the righteous demands of God are met, and a new covenant is established where sin is remembered no more ([Jeremiah 31:31-34](/jeremiah/31-31-34 "Jeremiah 31:31-34 - The New Covenant")), transforming our shame into the glory of adoption as children of God ([Romans 8:15](/romans/8-15 "Romans 8:15 - Spirit of Adoption")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.