Daniel 9:5 - we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from your precepts and from your ordinances.

Generated Verse: Daniel 9:5

What does "Daniel 9:5" mean?


Daniel 9:5 is a powerful confession of national sin spoken by the prophet Daniel. Let's break down what each phrase means:

"We have sinned..." This is a general acknowledgement of transgression against God's law. Sin encompasses any action, thought, or motive that falls short of God's perfect standard.

"...and have dealt perversely..." This goes beyond simple mistakes. It implies a deliberate choice to deviate from what is right. "Perversely" suggests acting contrary to what is expected or just, twisting and distorting what should be straight.

"...and have done wickedly..." "Wickedly" indicates moral corruption and evil intent. It suggests actions motivated by bad desires and a disregard for God's will.

"...and have rebelled..." This is a strong term indicating open defiance and opposition to God's authority. Rebellion is a conscious choice to reject God's rule and go one's own way.

"...even turning aside from your precepts and from your ordinances." This specifies how the people sinned: by ignoring and abandoning God's specific commands ("precepts") and established rules ("ordinances"). "Precepts" could refer to moral guidelines, while "ordinances" could refer to rituals, laws, and structures God had put in place for their society.

In summary, the verse means:

The speaker (Daniel, representing the people of Israel) acknowledges that they have not merely made unintentional errors, but have deliberately and consistently violated God's laws. They have twisted what is right, acted with evil intentions, and openly rebelled against God's authority by ignoring and abandoning His specific instructions and established order.

Context and Significance:

This verse is part of Daniel's prayer of repentance for the sins of the Israelites who were in exile in Babylon. He recognizes that their exile is a consequence of their long history of disobedience to God. This confession is significant because:

It's a model for repentance: Daniel's prayer shows a genuine and thorough acknowledgement of sin, without making excuses.
It acknowledges corporate guilt: Daniel includes himself and the current generation in the sins of their ancestors, recognizing that they are all part of a shared history of rebellion.
It sets the stage for God's mercy: Daniel believes that by confessing their sins, they can appeal to God's compassion and seek restoration.

The verse highlights the seriousness of sin and the importance of repentance in seeking God's forgiveness and restoration. It provides an example of how to approach God with humility and honesty when seeking reconciliation after a period of disobedience.