Daniel 9:8

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

O Lord {H136}, to us belongeth confusion {H1322} of face {H6440}, to our kings {H4428}, to our princes {H8269}, and to our fathers {H1}, because we have sinned {H2398} against thee.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yes, ADONAI, shame falls on us, our kings, our leaders and our ancestors; because we sinned against you.

Berean Standard Bible

O LORD, we are covered with shame—our kings, our leaders, and our fathers—because we have sinned against You.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Daniel 9:8 encapsulates a profound moment of corporate confession within Daniel's intercessory prayer, where the prophet humbly acknowledges the deep shame and public disgrace that has befallen the people of Israel, their leaders, and their ancestors. This state of humiliation is directly attributed to their persistent rebellion and sin against God, highlighting the severe consequences of covenant disobedience and setting the stage for a plea for divine mercy and restoration.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of Daniel's extensive prayer of confession and supplication, recorded in [Daniel 9:3-19](/daniel/9-3-19 "Daniel's Prayer of Confession and Supplication"). Following his study of Jeremiah's prophecy regarding the [seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah's Prophecy of Seventy Years of Captivity"), Daniel is moved to profound intercession. The prayer begins with an acknowledgment of God's greatness and faithfulness ([Daniel 9:4](/daniel/9-4 "Daniel 9:4 - God's Greatness and Faithfulness")), transitions into a detailed confession of Israel's widespread sin and disobedience, encompassing all societal levels from kings to common people ([Daniel 9:5-11](/daniel/9-5-11 "Daniel 9:5-11 - Israel's Widespread Sin and Disobedience")), and then shifts to a fervent plea for God's mercy and restoration based on His righteousness, not Israel's merit ([Daniel 9:16-19](/daniel/9-16-19 "Daniel 9:16-19 - Daniel's Plea for Mercy and Restoration")). Verse 8 specifically articulates the shame resulting from this sin, framing it as a just consequence of their collective rebellion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Daniel's prayer takes place during the Babylonian exile, a period of immense national humiliation for Israel. The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, along with the forced deportation of its people, was understood by faithful Israelites as divine judgment for their persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. In the ancient Near East, "shame" (often publicly displayed as "confusion of face") was a powerful cultural concept, signifying a loss of honor, status, and dignity, particularly before a sovereign or deity. For Israel, this shame was compounded by their unique covenant relationship with Yahweh; their exile was a public indictment of their failure to live as God's chosen people, bringing reproach not only upon themselves but, in their view, upon God's name among the nations. Daniel's confession reflects this cultural understanding of honor and shame, acknowledging that their current state of subjugation and disgrace was a direct result of their historical and ongoing rebellion against God's law.
* **Key Themes:** Daniel 9:8 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Daniel and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Corporate Guilt and Confession**. Daniel does not confess only his personal sins but identifies with the collective transgressions of the entire nation, including its leadership and past generations, exemplifying a profound sense of shared responsibility for sin ([Nehemiah 9:2](/nehemiah/9-2 "Nehemiah 9:2 - Corporate Confession and Repentance")). Secondly, the phrase "confusion of face" powerfully articulates the theme of **Shame and Humiliation as a Consequence of Sin**. This is not merely personal embarrassment but a public, national disgrace before God and the world, a stark contrast to the divine favor that brings a shining countenance ([Psalm 4:6](/psalm/4-6 "Psalm 4:6 - The Light of God's Countenance")). Finally, the verse explicitly links their suffering to their actions ("because we have sinned against thee"), reinforcing the biblical theme of **Divine Justice and the Consequences of Disobedience**. It serves as a reminder that covenant unfaithfulness inevitably leads to judgment and suffering, both individually and corporately ([Deuteronomy 28:15-68](/deuteronomy/28-15-68 "Deuteronomy 28:15-68 - Curses for Disobedience")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Lord (Hebrew, _ʼĂdônây'_):** This term (H136) is an emphatic form of "adon" (lord, master) and is used as a proper name for God, emphasizing His absolute sovereignty, authority, and ownership. Daniel addresses God with profound reverence, acknowledging His supreme dominion even as he confesses the nation's failure to obey Him. It highlights the vast disparity between God's holy character and Israel's sinful state.
* **confusion (Hebrew, _bôsheth'_):** Derived from the root "bush" (to be ashamed), this word (H1322) signifies shame, disgrace, or humiliation. It denotes both the feeling of shame and the condition of being put to shame, often publicly. In the phrase "confusion of face," it refers to the visible manifestation of Israel's dishonor and the consequence of their sin, a state of being utterly exposed and disgraced before God and the nations, unable to lift their countenance.
* **sinned (Hebrew, _châṭâʼ'_):** This primitive root (H2398) fundamentally means "to miss the mark." Figuratively, it signifies moral failure, transgression, or deviation from God's standard. It encompasses a wide range of offenses, from unintentional errors to deliberate rebellion. Here, it explicitly states the cause of Israel's "confusion of face"—their repeated and comprehensive failure to adhere to God's covenant and commands.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"O Lord, to us [belongeth] confusion of face":** Daniel begins by addressing God as "Adonai," acknowledging His supreme authority. The phrase "confusion of face" vividly describes the deep shame, humiliation, and public disgrace that rightfully belongs to the people of Israel. It implies a state where they cannot lift their heads or look God in the eye due to their sin, a stark contrast to the honor that comes from divine favor.
* **"to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers":** This clause broadens the scope of the confession, emphasizing the corporate nature of Israel's sin. Daniel explicitly includes all levels of leadership—the reigning kings, the influential princes, and even the preceding generations ("our fathers"). This highlights that the sin was not isolated but pervasive, a generational pattern of disobedience that permeated the entire national fabric, leading to collective judgment.
* **"because we have sinned against thee":** This final clause provides the explicit reason for the widespread shame and judgment. It unequivocally states that Israel's state of humiliation is a direct and just consequence of their rebellion against God. The sin is directed "against thee," underscoring the personal offense against the holy and righteous God with whom they had a covenant relationship, making their transgression all the more grievous.

#### Literary Devices
Daniel 9:8 employs several potent **Literary Devices** to convey its message. The most prominent is **Metonymy**, specifically in the phrase "confusion of face." Here, "face" stands for the entire person or their public reputation, and "confusion" represents the resulting shame and disgrace. This idiom vividly communicates the profound humiliation experienced by the nation. The verse also utilizes **Anaphora** and **Parallelism** through the repeated structure "to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers," which emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the corporate guilt, extending across all societal strata and generations. This rhetorical repetition underscores the pervasive and historical nature of Israel's sin. Furthermore, the verse functions as a powerful **Confession**, a specific type of speech act where the speaker acknowledges guilt and responsibility. This confession is not merely an admission but a foundational step towards repentance and reconciliation, demonstrating Daniel's deep understanding of Israel's spiritual condition before a holy God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 9:8 powerfully encapsulates the biblical principle that sin, particularly covenant unfaithfulness, inevitably leads to shame and judgment. This verse underscores the corporate dimension of sin, demonstrating that the transgressions of leaders and past generations have cumulative effects on the entire community, resulting in a collective "confusion of face" before God and the nations. It highlights God's justice in holding His people accountable for their disobedience, yet it also implicitly sets the stage for His mercy, as true confession is the necessary precursor to divine restoration. The shame described is not merely a human emotion but a theological state of dishonor resulting from a broken relationship with a holy God.

* [Leviticus 26:36-39](/leviticus/26-36-39 "Consequences of Disobedience and Shame")
* [Ezra 9:6-7](/ezra/9-6-7 "Ezra 9:6-7 - Ezra's Prayer of Shame and Confession")
* [Psalm 44:15-16](/psalm/44-15-16 "Psalm 44:15-16 - Shame and Reproach of God's People")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Daniel 9:8 serves as a profound call to humility and honest self-assessment, both individually and corporately. It challenges us to move beyond superficial acknowledgments of wrongdoing to a deep, heartfelt confession that recognizes the full weight of our sin and its consequences. Just as Daniel identified with the sins of his nation and ancestors, we are invited to consider the collective spiritual state of our communities, churches, and nations, acknowledging areas where we, or those who came before us, have fallen short of God's righteous standards. This verse reminds us that true repentance begins with a clear-eyed recognition of our "confusion of face"—the shame and brokenness that sin brings—and a willingness to lay it bare before a holy God, trusting in His mercy rather than our own merit. It is a pathway to genuine spiritual renewal, prompting us to turn from our ways and back to the Lord.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do I, or my community, experience "confusion of face" or shame due to past or present sin?**
* **How does Daniel's corporate confession challenge my understanding of individual versus collective responsibility for sin?**
* **What specific actions can I take to cultivate a deeper spirit of humility and genuine confession in my personal life and within my community?**

### FAQ
**What does "confusion of face" mean in this context?**

Answer: "Confusion of face" is an ancient Hebrew idiom (Hebrew: _bôsheth pânîym_) that vividly describes profound shame, disgrace, and public humiliation. It signifies a state where one cannot lift their head or look others, especially God, in the eye due to overwhelming guilt and dishonor. In [Daniel 9:8](/daniel/9-8 "Daniel 9:8 - Confusion of Face"), it represents the public and national disgrace Israel experienced as a consequence of their persistent sin and disobedience to God's covenant, particularly evident in their exile and subjugation. It's a powerful image of lost honor and divine displeasure.

**Why does Daniel include "our kings, our princes, and our fathers" in his confession?**

Answer: Daniel's inclusion of "our kings, our princes, and our fathers" in his confession ([Daniel 9:8](/daniel/9-8 "Daniel 9:8 - Corporate Confession")) underscores the corporate nature of Israel's sin and the pervasive historical pattern of disobedience. It highlights that sin was not isolated to a few individuals but permeated all levels of society, from the highest leadership to previous generations. This demonstrates Daniel's profound understanding of corporate responsibility and the cumulative impact of generational unfaithfulness. His confession is a comprehensive acknowledgment that the entire nation, across time and social strata, was guilty before God, leading to their collective judgment and "confusion of face." This echoes similar corporate confessions found in [Nehemiah 9](/nehemiah/9 "Nehemiah 9 - Corporate Confession and Repentance") and [Ezra 9](/ezra/9 "Ezra 9 - Ezra's Prayer of Confession").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Daniel 9:8 vividly portrays the profound shame and guilt of humanity due to sin, it also implicitly points to the ultimate solution found in Christ. The "confusion of face" that belongs to a sinful people is a stark reminder of the separation and dishonor that sin brings before a holy God. Yet, in the person of Jesus, this shame is utterly reversed. Christ, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bore the ultimate shame and humiliation on the cross, becoming sin for us ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")) so that we might be clothed in His righteousness. Through His atoning sacrifice, believers are no longer subject to the "confusion of face" but are given boldness to [approach the throne of grace with confidence](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence"). The shame of our sin is absorbed by His perfect obedience and suffering, allowing us to lift our faces in His presence, not by our own merit, but by His glorious grace. He endured the cross, despising its shame ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus Endured the Cross")), to bring us honor and reconciliation, transforming our spiritual disgrace into eternal glory in Him.

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

Daniel 9:6

Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

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.

Lamentations 3:42

¶ We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.

Jeremiah 14:20

We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, [and] the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.

Lamentations 1:7

Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, [and] did mock at her sabbaths.

Lamentations 1:8

Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.

Lamentations 1:18

The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.