SPECIAL TOPIC: SIN IN THE OT

The book of Daniel has two summary passages that describe Israel's faithless behavior toward God and His Covenant.

Daniel 9:5: "we have sinned"
Notice the recurrent theme, Dan. 9:5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17. Daniel identifies himself with his people and makes confession, as did Moses (e.g., Exod. 32:32; Num. 11:2; 21:7) and Isaiah (e.g., Isa. 6:5).

What a list of willful covenant disobedience! Israel had violated the covenant over and over again. The Assyrian and Babylonian exiles and the complete destruction of Jerusalem and the temple were the consequences.
1. "Sinned" (BDB 306, KB 305, Qal PERFECT) - the basic meaning is missing the mark.
2. "Committed iniquity" (BDB 731, KB 796 Qal PERFECT) - the basic meaning is guilty acts ("to be bent" or "to make crooked").
3. "Acted wickedly" (BDB 957, KB 1294, Hiphil PERFECT) - the basic meaning is to be loose or disjointed (cf. Dan. 9:5).
4. "Rebelled" (BDB 597, KB 632, Qal PERFECT) - the basic meaning is bold in acts of known disobedience (cf. Dan. 9:9).
5. "turning aside" (BDB 693, KB 747, Qal INFINITIVE) - the basic meaning is to knowingly depart from a clear path (cf. Dan. 9:11).
Daniel 9:11: "transgressed"
Notice the series of expressions used in Dan. 9:11 to show Israel's covenant breaking.
1. transgressed ("pass over," BDB 716, KB 778, Qal PERFECT)
2. turned aside (BDB 693, KB 747, Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE)
3. not obeying (cf. Dan. 9:14) ("not listen," BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT)
4. we have sinned (cf. Dan. 9:5,15; BDB 306, KB 305, Qal PERFECT)
Also notice in Dan. 9:11 what they sinned against
1. "Your law"
2. "Your voice"
3. "against Him" (cf. Dan. 9:8,9)

All sin is ultimately against a personal God. We have not just broken rules, we have broken our relationship with the One in whose image we were fashioned (cf. Gen. 1:26-27)! Sin destroys the essence of our created purpose — fellowship with God.