Daniel 9:3
Daniel 9:3 in Multiple Translations
So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
¶ And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
And turning my face to the Lord God, I gave myself up to prayer, requesting his grace, going without food, in haircloth and dust.
So I turned to the Lord God in prayer. I fasted and wore sackcloth and ashes, and I pleaded with him in prayer to act.
And I turned my face vnto the Lord God, and sought by prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
and I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek [by] prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.
I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
And I set my face to the Lord GOD, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
And I set my face to the Lord my God, to pray and make supplication with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.
After I read that, I pleaded to Yahweh my God to help us, praying and ◄fasting/abstaining from eating food►. While doing that, I was wearing rough cloth and sitting in ashes to show that I was very sad about what was going to happen to us.
Berean Amplified Bible — Daniel 9:3
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Daniel 9:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Daniel 9:3
Study Notes — Daniel 9:3
- Context
- Cross References
- Daniel 9:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Daniel 9:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Daniel 9:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Daniel 9:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Daniel 9:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on Daniel 9:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Daniel 9:3
- Cambridge Bible on Daniel 9:3
- Barnes' Notes on Daniel 9:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Daniel 9:3
- Sermons on Daniel 9:3
Context — Daniel’s Prayer for His People
3So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
4And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments, 5we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 33:3 | Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 29:10–13 | For this is what the LORD says: “When Babylon’s seventy years are complete, I will attend to you and confirm My promise to restore you to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. |
| 3 | James 5:16–18 | Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops. |
| 4 | Nehemiah 1:4–11 | When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses. Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’ They are Your servants and Your people. You redeemed them by Your great power and mighty hand. O Lord, may Your ear be attentive to my prayer and to the prayers of Your servants who delight to revere Your name. Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (At that time I was the cupbearer to the king.) |
| 5 | Esther 4:16 | “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish! ” |
| 6 | Ezra 9:5 | At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and cloak torn, and I fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God, |
| 7 | Ezra 10:6 | Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. And while he stayed there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. |
| 8 | James 4:8–10 | Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. |
| 9 | Ezra 8:21 | And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. |
| 10 | Psalms 35:13 | Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered. |
Daniel 9:3 Summary
[In Daniel 9:3, Daniel turns to God in prayer and fasting because he wants to understand and fulfill God's plan. He humbles himself by wearing sackcloth and ashes, which shows that he is serious about seeking God's guidance. This verse teaches us that when we want to know God's will, we should come to Him in humility and prayer, just like Daniel did, and trust in His sovereignty, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6, where it is written that we should trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Daniel turn to the Lord God in prayer and fasting?
Daniel turned to the Lord God in prayer and fasting because he was seeking to understand and fulfill God's plan, as seen in Jeremiah 29:12-13, where it is written that when we call out to God and come to Him with all our heart, He will listen and respond.
What is the significance of sackcloth and ashes in Daniel's prayer?
The use of sackcloth and ashes was a sign of humility and repentance, as seen in Job 42:6, where Job repents in dust and ashes, and in Jonah 3:6, where the king of Nineveh decrees that everyone should wear sackcloth and sit in ashes to show their repentance.
How does Daniel's example of prayer and fasting relate to our lives today?
Daniel's example shows us that when we are seeking God's guidance and direction, we should humble ourselves and come to Him in prayer and fasting, as Jesus taught in Matthew 6:16-18, where He instructs us on how to fast in a way that is pleasing to God.
What role does confession play in Daniel's prayer?
While Daniel 9:3 does not explicitly mention confession, the following verses, such as Daniel 9:4-5, show that confession is an integral part of Daniel's prayer, as he acknowledges the sins of his people and confesses them to God, which is in line with Psalm 51:17, where David says that a broken and contrite heart is what God desires.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I need to seek God's guidance and direction, and how can I apply Daniel's example of prayer and fasting to those areas?
- In what ways can I humble myself and come to God in repentance, like Daniel did with sackcloth and ashes?
- How does Daniel's prayer demonstrate his dependence on God, and what can I learn from his example about trusting in God's sovereignty?
- What are some ways that I can incorporate prayer and fasting into my regular spiritual disciplines, and how can I use these practices to deepen my relationship with God?
Gill's Exposition on Daniel 9:3
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Daniel 9:3
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Daniel 9:3
Trapp's Commentary on Daniel 9:3
Ellicott's Commentary on Daniel 9:3
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Daniel 9:3
Cambridge Bible on Daniel 9:3
Barnes' Notes on Daniel 9:3
Whedon's Commentary on Daniel 9:3
Sermons on Daniel 9:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Daniel: The Man God Uses #1) Christ the Goal by Ed Miller | In this sermon, the speaker makes three non-controversial observations about the book of Daniel. These observations are agreed upon by people who love the Lord. The first observati |
|
Revival in the Book of Ezra - Part 1 by Roy Hession | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of God's word being a living and active force. He questions why God would warn the people of Nineveh about their impending destruc |
|
Daniel - the Man of Prayer by William Fitch | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the importance of prayer and the need for diligent practice in order to become proficient in it. He compares prayer to other arts, emphasizin |
|
Marvelous Benefits of Repentance by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the four benefits that come with true repentance. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and confessing one's sins, making restitution |
|
The Seven Levels of Judgment - Proper Response Part 1 by Dan Biser | This sermon delves into the importance of understanding God's judgments and the need for a proper response to them. It emphasizes the consequences of sin and the levels of judgment |
|
The Seven Levels of Judgment - Proper Response Part 2 by Dan Biser | This sermon emphasizes the importance of a proper response to God's word, focusing on seeking wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from God, repentance, acknowledging sin, seeking |
|
(Through the Bible) Daniel by Zac Poonen | This sermon delves into the book of Daniel, focusing on the relevance of Daniel's life in times of persecution. It highlights Daniel's unwavering faith, prayer life, and commitment |






