Daniel 9:20

While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and that of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before the LORD my God concerning His holy mountain—

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Daniel addresses the LORD God while interceding for Israel at the holy mountain. He speaks this petition immediately after pleading for national forgiveness in Daniel 9:19.

The words — The Hebrew phrase וְ/ע֨וֹד אֲנִ֤י מְדַבֵּר֙ (ve.'od ani medaber) translates literally as "and still I was speaking." It marks the exact moment before Daniel completes his prayer.

The thread — This sequence of confession and petition appears in Daniel 9:3 and aligns with the universal confession in Romans 3:23. The posture of direct appeal matches the promise in Psalms 145:18.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to bring specific personal and corporate sins directly before God without mediation or delay. It demands honest verbal confession as the necessary condition for divine attention.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְע֨וֹדve./'odand/ still אֲנִ֤י'a.NiI מְדַבֵּר֙me.da.Ber[was] speaking וּמִתְפַּלֵּ֔לu./mit.pa.Leland/ [was] praying וּמִתְוַדֶּה֙u./mit.va.Dehand/ [was] confessing חַטָּאתִ֔יcha.ta.T/isin/ my וְחַטַּ֖אתve./cha.Tatand/ [the] sin of עַמִּ֣י'a.M/ipeople/ my יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsrael וּמַפִּ֣ילu./ma.Piland/ [was] making fall תְּחִנָּתִ֗יte.chi.na.T/isupplication/ my לִפְנֵי֙li/f.Nei<to>/ before יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהַ֔י'e.lo.Ha/iGod/ my עַ֖ל'alon הַר־har-[the] mountain of קֹ֥דֶשׁKo.desh[the] holiness of אֱלֹהָֽי׃'e.lo.Ha/iGod/ my

King James Version

And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God;

Cross-references

Psalms 145:18 The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.
Daniel 9:3 So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Isaiah 58:9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk,
Psalms 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
Isaiah 6:5 Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”
Isaiah 65:24 Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.
Daniel 9:16 O Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, I pray that Your anger and wrath may turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all around us.
Psalms 137:5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand cease to function.
Isaiah 56:7 I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”