The Church Fathers on this verse

Daniel 9:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

O Lord, against all thy justice: let thy wrath and thy indignation be turned away, I beseech thee, from thy city, Jerusalem, and from thy holy mountain. For by reason of our sins, and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem, and thy people, are a reproach to all that are round about us.

Douay-Rheims

אֲדֹנָ֗י כְּכָל־צִדְקֹתֶ֙ךָ֙ יָֽשָׁב־נָ֤א אַפְּךָ֙ וַחֲמָ֣תְךָ֔ מֵעִֽירְךָ֥ יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם הַר־קָדְשֶׁ֑ךָ כִּ֤י בַחֲטָאֵ֙ינוּ֙ וּבַעֲוֺנ֣וֹת אֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ יְרוּשָׁלַ֧͏ִם וְעַמְּךָ֛ לְחֶרְפָּ֖ה לְכָל־סְבִיבֹתֵֽינוּ׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

2 Church Fathers comment on this verse

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

Even after addressing the transgressions committed by the Jews and detailing the consequences they endured, Daniel still does not deem them worthy of forgiveness. Observe the dedication of this faithful servant! He illustrates that the Jews had not yet faced the full extent of their just deserts for their sins, nor had their sufferings compensated for their wrongdoings.

Read more (88 words)

Ultimately, he appeals to the mercy and compassion of God, declaring, "And now, O Lord our God, who brought Thy people out of the land of Egypt by a mighty hand, and hast revealed Thy glory as this day, we have sinned, we have acted wickedly." Just as You rescued them, not on account of their righteousness but because You witnessed their oppression and heard their cries, so save us from our current troubles, solely in accordance with Your boundless mercy; we possess no other claim to salvation.

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

The prophet reflects on past blessings and, through heartfelt remembrance, invokes grace, saying: It is not beyond Your power, O Lord, to provide us salvation. Having performed numerous wonders and plagues against the Egyptians, You have already liberated Your people from this harsh oppression, and the renown of these miracles has been widely known, revealing Your might to all. Acknowledging our own transgressions and recognizing our unworthiness of Your compassion, we earnestly ask for Your mercy upon Your city and on that mountain which You have sanctified by Your presence.

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As he continues to intercede for the city, the prophet laments: ‘Because of our sins, and our iniquities, and our fathers' iniquities, Jerusalem and Thy people were reproached in all our neighbourhood.’ Due to our failings, and the wrongdoings of our ancestors, we have become a source of mockery for the surrounding nations, and this once-renowned and glorious city now lies in ruins.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.