Daniel 9:20-23

Gabriel Brings an Answer

20 1While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the LORD my God for 2the holy hill of my God,
21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man 3Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, 4came to me in swift flight at 5the time of the evening sacrifice.
22 6He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, "O Daniel, I have now come out to give you 7insight and understanding.
23 8At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, 9and I have come to tell it to you, for 10you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word 11and understand the vision.

Daniel 9:20-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL 9

This chapter contains a prayer of Daniel, and the answer to it. The time, occasion, and manner of his prayer, or circumstances of it, are observed, Da 9:1-3, the parts of it, an address unto God, under various suitable epithets and characters, Da 9:4 confession of sin, of his own, of the inhabitants of the land, kings, princes, and people, which are largely dwelt upon and exaggerated, Da 9:5-15 and petitions for mercy, Da 9:16-19, then the answer follows; the time when it was ordered and given, and the person by whom it was sent, are expressed, Da 9:20-23 who delivered to him the vision of the seventy weeks to be considered by him; in which both the work of the Messiah, and the time of his coming, are clearly pointed out, Da 9:24-27.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Isaiah 65:24
  • 2. See ver. 16
  • 3. See Daniel 8:16
  • 4. See Daniel 8:18
  • 5. Exodus 29:39; [1 Kings 18:36; Ezra 9:4, 5]
  • 6. [Daniel 8:16]
  • 7. [Daniel 1:4, 17]
  • 8. [ver. 20]
  • 9. [Daniel 10:12, 14]
  • 10. Daniel 10:11, 19
  • 11. [Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.