Daniel 9:12
And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּ֜קֶם
And he hath confirmed
H6965
וַיָּ֜קֶם
And he hath confirmed
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
1 of 23
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
דְּבָר֣יוֹ׀
his words
H1697
דְּבָר֣יוֹ׀
his words
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
3 of 23
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
דִּבֶּ֣ר
which he spake
H1696
דִּבֶּ֣ר
which he spake
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
5 of 23
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
עָלֵ֗ינוּ
H5921
עָלֵ֗ינוּ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
6 of 23
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְעַ֤ל
H5921
וְעַ֤ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
7 of 23
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
שְׁפָט֔וּנוּ
against us and against our judges
H8199
שְׁפָט֔וּנוּ
against us and against our judges
Strong's:
H8199
Word #:
8 of 23
to judge, i.e., pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literal
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
9 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
שְׁפָט֔וּנוּ
against us and against our judges
H8199
שְׁפָט֔וּנוּ
against us and against our judges
Strong's:
H8199
Word #:
10 of 23
to judge, i.e., pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literal
לְהָבִ֥יא
us by bringing
H935
לְהָבִ֥יא
us by bringing
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
11 of 23
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
עָלֵ֖ינוּ
H5921
עָלֵ֖ינוּ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
12 of 23
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
גְדֹלָ֑ה
upon us a great
H1419
גְדֹלָ֑ה
upon us a great
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
14 of 23
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
15 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
16 of 23
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
נֶעֶשְׂתָ֖ה
as hath been done
H6213
נֶעֶשְׂתָ֖ה
as hath been done
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
17 of 23
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
תַּ֚חַת
H8478
תַּ֚חַת
Strong's:
H8478
Word #:
18 of 23
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
19 of 23
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
for under the whole heaven
H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
for under the whole heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
20 of 23
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
21 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Ezekiel 5:9And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.Isaiah 44:26That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:Lamentations 1:12Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.Job 12:17He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.Lamentations 2:17The LORD hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.Lamentations 2:13What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?
Historical Context
Jerusalem's 586 BC destruction was catastrophic: Nebuchadnezzar burned the temple, destroyed the walls, executed royal family, exiled leadership, and left only the poorest residents. For Israel, this represented comprehensive judgment—loss of land, temple, monarchy, and national independence. Ancient Near Eastern peoples understood such defeat as indicating their god's weakness or abandonment. Yet Israel's prophets (particularly Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel) reframed it: this fulfilled Yahweh's covenant warnings, demonstrating His justice and faithfulness to His word. The exile wasn't Yahweh's defeat but His disciplinary judgment. This interpretation preserved Israel's faith: rather than abandoning Yahweh for seemingly more powerful gods, they acknowledged His righteous judgment and hoped for promised restoration.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing God's faithfulness in fulfilling warnings paradoxically strengthen rather than weaken faith?
- What does acknowledging judgment as 'great evil' while also affirming God's justice teach about holding both truths simultaneously?
- Why is it spiritually mature to praise God's word-keeping even when His words were warnings we experienced?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Daniel acknowledges God's justice in judgment: 'And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.' The phrase 'confirmed his words' means fulfilled His prophetic warnings—every threatened consequence materialized. God proved faithful to His word, even the hard aspects. The description of judgment as 'great evil' and unprecedented 'under the whole heaven' emphasizes Jerusalem's destruction severity: temple razed, city burned, population exiled, monarchy ended. Yet this wasn't divine cruelty but just response to covenant violation. The verse paradoxically praises God's faithfulness: He keeps His word, including warnings. This reflects mature spirituality: recognizing God's justice in our suffering rather than questioning His character.