Daniel 9:3

Daniel’s Prayer for His People · Daniel 9:1–19
Read Daniel 9

Translations

Modern
So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
Traditional
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Literal
And I set my face toward the Lord God to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.
Latin
Et posui faciem meam ad Dominum Deum meum rogare et deprecari in jejuniis, sacco, et cinere.

Interlinear

Hebrew
English
So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

Notes

  • Daniel realized the seventy years were almost over, so he asked the Lord God to restore his people and Jerusalem.

  • People who were mourning often wore rough burlap clothing and placed ashes on themselves as a sign of sorrow (compare Nehemiah 9:1; Esther 4:1; Lamentations 2:10; Luke 10:13).

  • Focused prayer often included fasting to prioritize spiritual concerns over physical needs.

Daniel prayed for his people, knowing that Jerusalem's seventy years of desolation were about to end. His prayer is similar to those of:

God answered Daniel's prayer quickly (see study note on Daniel 9:19; see also Daniel 9:20–27).

Theme notes and profiles

Daniel Apocalyptic Literature What Is Good

Events

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

Apocalyptic Ashes Book of Daniel Book of Jeremiah Cloth and Cloth Manufacturing Daniel (Person) Daniel, Additions to Fast, Fasting Jeremiah (Person) Mercy

Topics

Ashes: Repenting In Fasting of Saints Exemplified: Daniel Fasting: Accompanied by Prayer Fasting: On Account of the Captivity of the People, with Prayer for Their Deliverance Intercession: Exemplified Intercessory Prayer: Daniel Judgments: Saints: Pray for Those Under Nation: Chastised Nation: Prayer For Prayer: Accompanied With: Fasting Prayer: Daniel Prayer: Importunity In Private Prayer: Daniel Prophets: Inspiration of Sackcloth: A Symbol of Mourning Seekers: Daniel Seekers: General Scriptures Concerning Seeking God by Prayer Seeking God: Daniel