Daniel 9:17 Meaning and Explanation
“Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A devastated holy place can make prayer feel urgent and painful. Daniel 9:17 shows how Daniel brings that pain before God. He asks for restored favor upon the sanctuary, yet he bases his plea on the Lord's sake. The verse gives language for seeking God's help when a place, people, or work bearing his name lies in ruin.
Daniel asks God to hear his prayer and restore favor to the desolate sanctuary. His appeal rests on the Lord's own name and cause, after a full confession of Israel's sin.
The Context of Daniel 9:17
Daniel's prayer follows his understanding that Jerusalem's desolation would last seventy years. He has confessed Israel's sin, rebellion, refusal to hear the prophets, and failure to obey God's law. In verses 15 and 16 he remembers the exodus and asks that God's anger turn from Jerusalem, God's holy mountain. Verse 17 asks God to hear and to cause his face to shine upon the desolate sanctuary. Daniel continues by appealing to God's great mercies and to the city and people called by God's name. During this prayer Gabriel arrives near the time of the evening oblation and brings instruction concerning the vision.
What Does Daniel 9:17 Mean?
Daniel calls himself God's servant, a humble title suited to a plea for mercy. He asks the Lord to hear both his prayer and his supplications, repeated language that presses the urgency of his request. To ask God to cause his face to shine is to seek his favorable, restoring presence. The object of the plea is "thy sanctuary that is desolate." Daniel feels the grief of a holy place left ruined, and he brings that grief directly to God. The closing words, "for the Lord's sake," guide the whole request. Daniel seeks action that will honor the Lord whose name is joined to Jerusalem, its people, and the sanctuary.
This verse belongs to the turning point of Daniel's confession. Earlier, Daniel has declared that righteousness belongs to the Lord and shame belongs to Israel. He has acknowledged the justice of the judgment that came upon Jerusalem. His request therefore rises from confession, remembrance of God's past deliverance, and confidence in God's mercies. The sanctuary matters because it belongs to God and serves the worship of the people he has called. Daniel's concern is neither private comfort nor national pride. He longs for God's favor to be seen again where his name has been dishonored through desolation. The following verses make the same appeal for God's own sake.
The plea for God's shining face has a strong biblical pattern of blessing and restoration. It recalls the priestly blessing in which Israel asks the LORD to make his face shine upon them and give peace. Daniel applies that covenant hope to a sanctuary lying desolate. The chapter also directs hope forward: Gabriel speaks of reconciliation for iniquity, everlasting righteousness, and Messiah the Prince. These later words give Daniel's prayer a larger horizon without removing its immediate concern for Jerusalem and the sanctuary. In Christ, believers may recognize God's reconciling purpose, while still hearing Daniel's earnest concern for the holy things God has given his people.
Bible Verses Related to Daniel 9:17
“The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:”
- Numbers 6:25
“And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,”
- Ezra 6:16
“O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.”
- Daniel 9:19
“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”
- Ephesians 2:18
How to Apply Daniel 9:17 Today
Daniel teaches us to bring damaged places and wounded communities into prayer with clarity. We may pray for congregations, families, neighborhoods, and works of service that have suffered loss, asking God to restore what honors his name. Honest prayer includes confession where sin has contributed to the harm. It also remembers that God's mercy is greater than our ability to repair everything by ourselves. Daniel's phrase "for the Lord's sake" can reshape our desires. We can ask that God's faithfulness, holiness, and saving kindness become visible through renewed worship, reconciliation, and faithful service.
Reflection & Prayer
What desolation do we carry before God, and how might his honor shape the way we ask for renewal? Name that burden honestly in prayer. Suggested prayer: O our God, hear our supplications and let thy favor rest upon the places and people that bear thy name. Restore us according to thy great mercies. Amen.