Daniel 9:17 · Bible study
Daniel 9:17 Commentary: Prayer for the Lord's Sake
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why Daniel prays 'for the Lord's sake' not our merit, and what that means for how we approach God in prayer.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Daniel pleads for God to restore His desolate sanctuary, basing the request entirely on God's own glory and character rather than on any human merit.
- Key words: 'face to shine' (Hebrew hiphil of 'or, 'cause to illuminate') alludes to the Aaronic blessing; 'for the Lord's sake' (lema'an Adonai) grounds prayer in God's reputation.
- Main debate: Whether 'the Lord' here refers to God the Father (most commentators) or to the Messiah (Wesley, Gill). The textual variant in ancient versions also suggests possible original readings.
- Theological theme: Prayer as a response to God's covenant faithfulness, not a claim on His favor by human obedience.
- Best use: A model for intercessory prayer when circumstances seem hopeless, reminding us that God's honor is at stake in the redemption of His people.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servant. For Your sake, O Lord, cause Your face to shine upon Your desolate sanctuary.
WEB World English Bible 2000
“Now therefore, our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his petitions, and cause your face to shine on your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.
KJV King James Version 1769
Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Now therefore, O our God, hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and now, hearken, O our God, unto the prayer of Thy servant, and unto his supplication, and cause Thy face to shine on Thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And now, our God, hearken to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Now, therefore, O our God, hear the supplication of thy servant, and his prayers: and shew thy face upon thy sanctuary, which is desolate, for thy own sake.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Ahora pues, Dios nuestro, oye la oración de tu siervo, y sus ruegos, y haz que tu rostro resplandezca sobre tu santuario asolado, por amor del Señor.
Agora pois, ó Deus nosso, ouve a oração de teu servo, e suas súplicas, e faze que teu rosto resplandeça sobre teu santuário assolado, por causa do Senhor.
Maintenant donc, ô notre Dieu, écoute la prière et les supplications de ton serviteur, et, pour l’ amour du Seigneur, fais briller ta face sur ton sanctuaire dévasté!
Und nun, unser Gott, höre das Gebet deines Knechtes und sein Flehen, und siehe gnädig an dein Heiligtum, das verstört ist, um des Herrn willen.
En nu, o onze God! hoor naar het gebed Uws knechts, en naar zijn smekingen; en doe Uw aangezicht lichten over Uw heiligdom, dat verwoest is; om des HEEREN wil.
Ora dunque, o Dio nostro, ascolta la preghiera del tuo servo e le sue supplicazioni, e fa’ risplendere il tuo volto sul tuo desolato santuario, per amor del Signore!
Teraz tedy wysłuchaj, o Boże nasz! modlitwę sługi twego i prośby jego, a oświeć oblicze twoje nad spustoszoną świątnicą twoją, dla Pana.
И ныне услыши, Боже наш, молитву раба Твоего и моление его и воззри светлым лицем Твоим на опустошенное святилище Твое, ради Тебя, Господи.
我們的 神啊，現在 求你垂聽 僕人的 祈禱 懇求，為 自己 使臉 光照 你荒涼的 聖所。
And now, give ear, O our God, to the prayer of your servant and to his request for grace, and let your face be shining on your holy place which is made waste, because of your servants, O Lord.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Daniel 9:17
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that the heart of this verse is an appeal grounded in God's character, not human worth. Barnes notes that Daniel's argument 'is based on the confession of sin; on the character of God; on the condition of the city and temple; on former Divine interpositions.' The request for God's face to shine borrows directly from the high priestly blessing (Numbers 6:25, 26), a plea for restored favor. The closing phrase 'for the Lord's sake' is the hinge: Calvin says Daniel 'wrestles with distrust' by fixing prayer on God's own glory rather than the people's merit. Gill sees this as a reference to Christ, while most others read it as God's name and reputation. All agree: Daniel models prayer that stakes everything on who God is, not on what we deserve.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Christological reading: Gill and Wesley identify 'the Lord' as Christ, citing the title 'Lord' (Adonai) as a reference to the Messiah, and connecting the sanctuary with Christ's body as the true temple.
- Theocentric reading: Most Reformed and Protestant commentators (Barnes, Calvin, Cambridge) read 'the Lord' as God the Father, emphasizing that God's own name and honor are the grounds of the appeal.
What is clear: All Christians agree that Daniel prays based on God's character and glory, not human merit, and that the petition is for God's restoring presence to dwell among His people again.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The basis for prayer in Daniel 9:17 | All traditions agree that the ground of Daniel's appeal is God's own character and reputation, not the people's righteousness. The phrase 'for the Lord's sake' explicitly rejects any claim of human merit. | Catholic and Orthodox teaching often emphasizes the corporate nature of this prayer, the whole Church joins in Christ, while Protestant traditions stress the direct appeal to God's glory alone. Both see the verse as a model of grace-based prayer. |
| The identity of 'the Lord' in 'for the Lord's sake' | Christians across traditions read 'Adonai' as a divine title, referencing the God of Israel. The phrase points to God's own self-interest in restoring His sanctuary. | Some (Gill, Wesley) identify 'the Lord' specifically as Christ, understanding the petition as mediated through the coming Messiah, while others (Barnes, Calvin, Cambridge) read it more directly as Yahweh's own name and honor. |
| Textual reading of 'for the Lord's sake' | The Masoretic Text reads 'for the Lord's sake' (Adonai) and all major English translations follow this reading. It is consistent with the prayer's theme of God's honor. | A minority of scholars (noted in Cambridge Bible) suggest the original may have read 'for your sake, O Lord' (Theodotion) or 'for your servants' sake' (LXX). These proposals are not widely adopted, but they reflect an ancient awareness of the phrase's unusual third-person form in a second-person context. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Daniel prays from Babylon, near the end of the seventy-year captivity prophesied by Jeremiah (Daniel 9:2). Jerusalem lies in ruins, the temple destroyed, the city a reproach among surrounding nations (v. 16). The sanctuary (miqdash) is specifically 'desolate' (shamem), a term also used in Lamentations 5:18 for Mount Zion. The physical desolation mirrors the spiritual breach between God and His people.
The prayer follows a pattern of confession (vv. 4, 15) that echoes Solomon's temple dedication (1 Kings 8:28, 30). Daniel grounds his plea in God's past acts: the exodus from Egypt (v. 15) and the covenant faithfulness of 'keeping covenant and mercy' (v. 4). The metaphor of God's face shining is drawn from the Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:25), a benediction that promised peace and favor. In the Psalms (80:3, 7, 19) this same phrase becomes a cry for national restoration, 'Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.'
The phrase 'for the Lord's sake' (lema'an Adonai) is emphatic. Cambridge Bible notes that while 'for your name's sake' is more common (Jeremiah 14:7, Psalm 79:9), here the third person 'Adonai' appears in a second-person prayer. This unusual form may reflect deliberate solemnity, or possibly a textual issue. But the meaning is clear: Daniel argues that God's own honor is at stake in the desolation of His sanctuary.
Textual Notes
The Masoretic Text of Daniel 9:17 reads lema'an Adonai ('for the Lord's sake'), with the divine title in the third person amidst a series of second-person petitions. The Cambridge Bible notes this as 'very strange' and suggests a possible letter loss. The Greek versions (Theodotion) support reading 'for your own sake, O Lord,' while the Old Greek (LXX) may reflect 'for your servants' sake.' No Hebrew manuscripts vary from the Masoretic reading, and the majority of commentators accept the traditional text as original, understanding the third-person form as a deliberate solemnity or as a quotation (e.g., from Joel 2:17). The textual issues do not affect the central meaning of the verse.
Reception History
Daniel's prayer has been a source of comfort for believers facing exile and desolation across the centuries. Early Christian writers saw in 'for the Lord's sake' a foreshadowing of prayer through Christ the Mediator. Reformers like Calvin and later Wesleyan interpreters (Wesley, Clarke) used the verse to teach that true prayer rests on God's mercy alone. The phrase 'cause your face to shine' entered Christian liturgy through the Aaronic blessing and remains a common petition for God's favor. In times of national or personal crisis, this verse has been used to remind the Church that our hope is not in our own righteousness but in the mercy and glory of God.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The crisis that drives us to prayer. Daniel's prayer emerges from prolonged ruin, seventy years of exile, a temple in rubble, a people under reproach. Not all suffering moves us to pray; this one did because Daniel saw the deeper desolation: separation from God's favor.
- The plea that centers on God's face. 'Cause your face to shine on your sanctuary' is not a request for mere relief. It is a plea for the restored presence of God, the same blessing that made Israel distinct among nations. Barnes describes it as a desire that God would 'look upon it benignly and favorably.'
- The foundation that rests on God's name. 'For the Lord's sake' refuses any claim of human merit. Calvin says Daniel 'wrestles with distrust' by leaning entirely on God's own reputation. Prayer becomes not a negotiation but a surrender to God's glory.
Five-point outline
- Daniel's position as a mediator. He calls himself 'your servant' (eved) in conscious imitation of Moses and the prophets (Lange).
- The method of prayer before God. He brings not only prayer (tephillah) but supplications (tachanunim), earnest pleas for grace.
- The object of prayer: the sanctuary. The temple, though a building, represents God's dwelling and the people's access to Him.
- The turning point: 'For the Lord's sake.' Wesley and Gill identify this as a direct reference to the Messiah; most others see it as a plea for God's own name. Both readings agree: the ultimate ground of our hope is God Himself, not our righteousness.
- The posture of confidence. Despite the desolation, Daniel prays with expectation. The evening offering (v. 21) signals that even in exile, the rhythm of worship continues.
Illustration hooks
- A child who has broken a neighbor's window. The parent pays for the repair not because the child deserves it, but because the family name is at stake. The plea becomes: 'Do this for our family's sake.'
- A community garden that has become overgrown and neglected. Neighbors don't clean it because they are proud of their own efforts; they do it because the garden's original purpose matters more than their reputation.
- A spouse who has failed repeatedly in a marriage. The only hope for restoration is not a list of promises, but an appeal to the covenant itself: 'For love's sake, let us try again.'
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can I pray when I know I have not earned God's favor?
- What does it mean for God's glory to be the center of my prayers, not my needs?
- Is it selfish to ask God to act for His own sake, or is that the most unselfish prayer possible?
Leading a Discussion
Daniel's prayer in this passage gives us a model for approaching God when our failures are obvious and our only hope is God's character. Notice that he does not bargain with God or promise to do better. Instead, he rests everything on who God is: 'for the Lord's sake.' As you discuss, consider how your own prayers reflect that same trust.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What specific words does Daniel use to describe both the problem (the sanctuary's condition) and the solution (God's face shining)? How do these words echo other parts of Scripture?
- Interpretation: Why does Daniel shift from confessing sin (vv. 4, 15) to appealing for God to act 'for the Lord's sake'? What does that transition tell you about the basis of his hope?
- Connection: In what ways does this verse echo the high priestly blessing of Numbers 6:24, 26? How does that blessing give shape to Daniel's petition?
- Application: Think of a situation in your life or community that feels 'desolate', a relationship, a church, a personal struggle. How might you pray for that situation 'for the Lord's sake' rather than for your own comfort?
- Reflection: The concept of God's 'face shining' conveys favor, warmth, and presence. Where in your life right now do you most need God's face to shine?
- Challenge: Discuss the difference between praying 'for the Lord's sake' and praying 'for my sake' (or even 'for the sake of others'). Which kind of prayer comes more naturally to you? Why?
- Wider witness: How does this verse shape your understanding of what the whole Church prays for when we ask for God's kingdom to come?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 6:23 | “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘This is how you shall bless the children of Israel.’ You shall tell them, |
| Numbers 6:26 | Yahweh lift up his face toward you, and give you peace.’ |
| Psalms 4:6 | Many say, “Who will show us any good?” Yahweh, let the light of your face shine on us. |
| Psalms 67:1 | For the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song. May God be merciful to us, bless us, and cause his face to shine on us. Selah. |
| Psalms 80:1 | For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm by Asaph. Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who sit above the cherubim, shine out. |
| Psalms 80:3 | Turn us again, God. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved. |
| Psalms 80:7 | Turn us again, God of Armies. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved. |
| Psalms 80:19 | Turn us again, Yahweh God of Armies. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke interprets "cause thy face
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that the prayer rests on confession, God's character, and past mercy, but his focus is the phrase "for the Lord's sake." He argues that true prayer aims at God's glory above all else, making that the supreme desire rather than merely our own welfare.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin highlights that Daniel's repeated plea for God to hear is a deliberate wrestling with distrust, not for himself but for the whole Church. He explains that all believers face doubts that make prayer grow cold, and such earnest repetition is the remedy God's servants need
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary highlights an odd shift in Daniel's prayer: after a series of petitions addressed directly to God, verse 17 suddenly refers to "the Lord" in the third person. This suggests a possible copying error in the Hebrew, with ancient versions reading either "for Your own sake, O Lord" or "for Your servants' sake, O Lord."
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights that Daniel grounds his plea not in Israel's worthiness but in God's own honor. He asks God to restore the desolate sanctuary for the Lord's sake, meaning for the glory of God's name and the fulfillment of His covenant promises.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill reads the phrase "for the Lord's sake" in a distinctly christological way. He insists it refers to Christ, who alone is Lord of all and the only Mediator. For Gill, the request for God's favour toward the ruined temple rests entirely on Christ's blood, righteousness, and mediation, since Christ himself is the true reality the temple foreshadowed.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB explains that "cause thy face to shine" draws directly from the sun's effect: just as sunlight cheers everything it touches, so God's face brings joy. The phrase echoes the priestly blessing in Numbers and anticipates the "Sun of righteousness" in Malachi.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues the seventy weeks prophecy points to the Messiah only indirectly, through types. He sees Daniel linking the Messianic age too closely to the Maccabean period, failing to foresee the centuries-long gap between the predicted tribulation and Christ's actual coming. The prophecy is thus typological, not directly messianic.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that Daniel prays with deep reverence, calling God both great and dreadful while still clinging to His covenant mercy. Far from excusing himself, Daniel identifies fully with the nation's sin, and Henry highlights that the people's own failure to plead with God was itself part of their transgression.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley identifies the phrase "for the Lord's sake" as referring specifically to the Messiah, not to God the Father in general. He notes that the Old Testament frequently gives the title "Lord" to Christ, so this verse directly ties the reader's motivation to Christ's person.