Daniel 9 7

Daniel 9:7

ESV: To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you.

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.

NIV: "Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame?the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you.

NKJV: O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day?to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You.

NLT: "Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you.

Meaning

Daniel 9:7 is a profound declaration of God's character and humanity's fallen state. It proclaims that righteousness belongs solely to the Lord, affirming His inherent justice, faithfulness, and moral perfection. In stark contrast, it attributes shamefacedness, a deep sense of humiliation and disgrace, to the people of Judah, Jerusalem, and all Israel, both those in proximity to their homeland and those scattered across the lands of their exile. This shame is presented as a present reality and direct consequence of their collective treachery and unfaithfulness against God, acknowledging His righteous judgment in their suffering.

Cross References

Context

Daniel 9:7 is part of Daniel's great prayer of confession and intercession for his people during the Babylonian exile. Daniel has been studying the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning the seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem (Dan 9:2; Jer 25:11-12; 29:10). Realizing that this period is nearing its end, he turns to God in deep repentance, not just for himself, but for the entire nation. This prayer occurs at a critical juncture in Israel's history, highlighting the consequence of generations of covenant unfaithfulness. The historical context is one of a scattered and defeated people, bearing the weight of God's just judgment for their idolatry, disobedience, and moral corruption. Daniel's prayer acknowledges this judgment as righteous and attributes their suffering and dispersion to their own persistent sin rather than God's failure or the strength of their enemies.

Word analysis

• To You, O Lord (לְךָ אֲדֹנָי, lekha Adonai): The emphatic placement "To You" highlights that God alone possesses this quality. "Adonai" is a Hebrew title for God, meaning "my Lord" or "my Master," emphasizing His sovereign authority, ownership, and position of reverence. It contrasts sharply with human status.
• belongs righteousness (הַצְּדָקָה, hatztzedakah): "Tzedakah" denotes God's inherent moral perfection, justice, and rectitude. In a covenantal context, it also refers to His faithfulness to His promises, even when fulfilling warnings of judgment. It signifies God doing what is right and just in all circumstances.
• but to us shamefacedness (וְלָנוּ בּשֶׁת פָּנִים, velanu boshet panim): "Shamefacedness" or "shame of face" refers to profound public humiliation, disgrace, and guilt that causes one to hide their face or hang their head in deep embarrassment. It is the direct opposite of righteousness and reflects a deserved loss of honor and status due to their sin.
• as it is this day (כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה, kayyom hazzeh): This phrase underscores the current, ongoing, and tangible reality of their shame and judgment. It’s not just a past event but a present experience of living under God's righteous consequences in exile.
• to the men of Judah (לְאִישׁ יְהוּדָה, le'ish Yehudah): Specifically mentions the southern kingdom, Judah, whose remnants comprised much of the exiled population, highlighting their direct culpability.
• to the inhabitants of Jerusalem (וּלְיֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלַם, uleyoshvei Yerushalayim): Focuses on the capital city, the religious and political center, whose leaders and citizens were deeply implicated in the national apostasy and rebellion against God.
• and to all Israel (וּלְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל, ulekhol Yisrael): Broadens the scope to include the entire nation, not just Judah, emphasizing a collective, pan-Israelite responsibility for covenant breaking. This includes the northern tribes long dispersed and all descendants.
• those near and those far off (הַקְּרֹבִים וְהָרְחֹקִים, haqqerovim veharaqoqim): Refers to the scattered condition of the exiles—some might have been closer to Judah, others further flung across the various provinces of the Persian Empire. It shows the wide-ranging extent of their punishment.
• in all the countries to which You have driven them (בְּכָל הָאֲרָצוֹת אֲשֶׁר הִדַּחְתָּם שָׁם, bekhol ha'aratzot asher hiddaḥtem sham): Emphasizes God's active role ("You have driven them") in their exile and scattering. This wasn't merely the result of a stronger enemy, but God's sovereign hand executing judgment, as prophesied in the Mosaic covenant.
• because of the treachery which they committed against You (עַל מַעֲלָם אֲשֶׁר מָעֲלוּ בָךְ, al maʿalam asher maʿalu vakh): "Maʿal" (treachery or unfaithfulness) signifies a grave offense, a deliberate breach of trust, particularly against God or in relation to sacred things (e.g., Num 5:6-7, Josh 7:1). It highlights a deep, ongoing disloyalty to the covenant relationship established with God. This is presented as the foundational reason for their state of shame and exile.

Commentary

Daniel 9:7 serves as a model of true repentance. It begins with the unwavering acknowledgment of God's inherent and supreme righteousness. This isn't just a theological statement, but an acceptance that all God's actions, including the current painful exile, are perfectly just and consistent with His character. In direct contrast, Daniel, identifying completely with his people, takes full responsibility for Israel's collective "shamefacedness" and humiliation. This shame is explicitly attributed to generations of persistent "treachery"—a profound and deliberate unfaithfulness to God and His covenant. The verse underscores God's sovereign hand in bringing about the judgment of exile, indicating that their dispersion was a divine disciplinary act, not merely political defeat. It emphasizes that Israel's suffering was fully deserved, a righteous consequence of their choices.

Bonus section

The concept of "shamefacedness" in the ancient Near East was extremely powerful, representing not merely an internal feeling but a public loss of honor and a public mark of disgrace, something antithetical to one's societal standing and perceived divine favor. Daniel’s comprehensive inclusion of "men of Judah," "inhabitants of Jerusalem," and "all Israel," spanning "near and far off," demonstrates the total and unifying nature of their guilt and God’s judgment, leaving no one exempt. This collective confession highlights Daniel's deep solidarity with his people, choosing to share in their sin and shame, despite his personal piety. It sets the stage for God’s eventual demonstration of both justice and mercy. The repetitive "because of the treachery which they committed against You" pinpoints the specific covenantal betrayal as the root cause, grounding their suffering not in arbitrary fate, but in their own historical choices.

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