THEOSISJerome of Stridon
You, O Lord, embody the truth, while we are filled with disgrace. Indeed, we rightly suffer the consequences of our actions.
Daniel 9:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
To thee, O Lord, justice: but to us confusion of face, as at this day to the men of Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, to them that are near, and to them that are far off, in all the countries whither thou hast driven them, for their iniquities, by which they have sinned against thee.
לְךָ֤ אֲדֹנָי֙ הַצְּדָקָ֔ה וְלָ֛נוּ בֹּ֥שֶׁת הַפָּנִ֖ים כַּיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה לְאִ֤ישׁ יְהוּדָה֙ וּלְיוֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֔ם וּֽלְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֞ל הַקְּרֹבִ֣ים וְהָרְחֹקִ֗ים בְּכָל־הָֽאֲרָצוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִדַּחְתָּ֣ם שָׁ֔ם בְּמַעֲלָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר מָֽעֲלוּ־בָֽךְ׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Theodoret of Cyrus
What You have created, O Lord, declares Your truth; yet in our deep sinfulness, we find ourselves ashamed and confess our unworthiness. Your goodness remains untouched by our wrongdoing; instead, we reap the consequences of our own actions and the sorrow they bring. The prophet, while pointing out the sins of his people, includes himself among those who have violated God's commandments.
Jungerow P.A.
In summarizing the teachings found throughout the Pentateuch, Moses articulates the principle of righteousness at the end of his days, stating that God embodies the truth of His deeds, and His pathways are just. God is steadfast, and there is no inequity in Him; the Lord is just and righteous (Deuteronomy 32:4). Similarly, the righteousness of God is disclosed by the prophets, particularly through their admonitions regarding the downfall of the nations, including that of the Jews and Israel.
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The demise of these kingdoms is viewed by the prophets as the rightful judgment of the Lord based on their actions (Isaiah 10:5-20; Isaiah 14:1-22; Isaiah 47:1-11; Jeremiah 46:20-28; Jeremiah 47:1-7; Jeremiah 48:1-20; Ezekiel 25:1-17; Ezekiel 26:1-21; Ezekiel 28:1-26, among many other prophetic messages regarding foreign nations). Concerning the prophecies directed at the Jewish nation, they are all permeated with this understanding. To illustrate this, one would have to cite the entirety of the prophetic writings, but the overall message and tone can be clearly observed in the book of Daniel and other post-tribulation authors, who frequently echoed in their prayers of repentance: The Lord is true, but we are filled with shame (1 Ezra 9:6-15; Nehemiah 9:33; cf. Isaiah 5:16; Isaiah 45:19; Isaiah 46:13; Jeremiah 9:24...).
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Jer 3:25We shall sleep in our confusion, and our shame shall cover us, because we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers from our youth even to this day, and we have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord our God.
- Deut 4:27And scatter you among all nations, and you shall remain a few among the nations, to which the Lord shall lead you.
- Dan 9:8O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, that have sinned.
- Ps 44 (43):15
- Jer 2:26As the thief is confounded when he is taken, so is the house of Israel confounded, they and their kings, their princes and their priests, and their prophets.
- Jer 2:27Saying to a stock: Thou art my father: and to a stone: Thou hast begotten me: they have turned their back to me, and not their face: and in the time of their affliction they will say: Arise, and deliver us.
- Dan 9:14And the Lord hath watched upon the evil, and hath brought it upon us: the Lord, our God, is just in all his works which he hath done: for we have not hearkened to his voice.
- Amos 9:9For behold I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, as corn is sifted in a sieve: and there shall not a little stone fall to the ground.