New English Translation
Nehemiah 9:16
16“But they – our ancestors – behaved presumptuously; they rebelled and did not obey your commandments.
Nehemiah 9:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,
- New International Version (NIV)“But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey your commands.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“But they and our fathers acted proudly, Hardened their necks, And did not heed Your commandments.
Context of Nehemiah 9:16
14You made known to them your holy Sabbath; you issued commandments, statutes, and law to them through Moses your servant. 15You provided bread from heaven for them in their time of hunger, and you brought forth water from the rock for them in their time of thirst. You told them to enter in order to possess the land that you had sworn to give them. “But they – our ancestors – behaved presumptuously; they rebelled and did not obey your commandments. 17They refused to obey and did not recall your miracles that you had performed among them. Instead, they rebelled and appointed a leader to return to their bondage in Egypt. But you are a God of forgiveness, merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and unfailing in your loyal love. You did not abandon them, 18even when they made a cast image of a calf for themselves and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up from Egypt,’ or when they committed atrocious blasphemies.
Read all of Nehemiah 9Nehemiah 9:16 word by word
וְהֵ֥ם וַאֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ הֵזִ֑ידוּ וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙ אֶת־עָרְפָּ֔ם וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ אֶל־מִצְוֹתֶֽיךָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Nehemiah 9:16
- Nehemiah 9:10You performed awesome signs against Pharaoh, against his servants, and against all the people of his land, for you knew that the Egyptians had acted presumptuously against them. You made for yourself a name that is celebrated to this day.
- Exodus 32:9Then the Lord said to Moses: “I have seen this people. Look what a stiff-necked people they are!
- Deuteronomy 9:6Understand, therefore, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is about to give you this good land as a possession, for you are a stubborn people!
- Deuteronomy 32:15But Jeshurun became fat and kicked, you got fat, thick, and stuffed! Then he deserted the God who made him, and treated the Rock who saved him with contempt.
- Psalms 78:8Then they will not be like their ancestors, who were a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that was not committed and faithful to God.
- Psalms 106:6We have sinned like our ancestors; we have done wrong, we have done evil.
- Isaiah 63:10But they rebelled and offended his holy Spirit, so he turned into an enemy and fought against them.
- Jeremiah 2:31You people of this generation, listen to what the Lord says. “Have I been like a wilderness to you, Israel? Have I been like a dark and dangerous land to you? Why then do you say, ‘We are free to wander. We will not come to you any more?’
- Acts 7:51“You stubborn people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, like your ancestors did!
- Deuteronomy 31:27for I know about your rebellion and stubbornness. Indeed, even while I have been living among you to this very day, you have rebelled against the Lord; you will be even more rebellious after my death!
- 2 Kings 17:14But they did not pay attention and were as stubborn as their ancestors, who had not trusted the Lord their God.
- 2 Chronicles 30:8Now, don’t be stubborn like your fathers! Submit to the Lord and come to his sanctuary which he has permanently consecrated. Serve the Lord your God so that he might relent from his raging anger.
- 2 Chronicles 36:13He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him vow allegiance in the name of God. He was stubborn and obstinate, and refused to return to the Lord God of Israel.
- Psalms 95:8He says, “Do not be stubborn like they were at Meribah, like they were that day at Massah in the wilderness,
- Proverbs 29:1The one who stiffens his neck after numerous rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.
- Isaiah 48:4I did this because I know how stubborn you are. Your neck muscles are like iron and your forehead like bronze.
Commentaries on Nehemiah 9:16
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-38Verses 4-38 The summary of their prayers we have here upon record. Much more, no doubt, was said. Whatever ability we have to do any thing in the way of duty, we are to serve and glorify God according to the utmost of it. When confessing our sins, it is good to notice the mercies of God, that we may be the more humbled and ashamed. The dealings of the Lord showed his goodness and long-suffering, and the hardness of their hearts. The testimony of the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-21This prayer reminded the people of God's miraculous guidance of Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 13:21–22), his personal appearance at Mount Sinai to reveal his covenant laws through Moses (see Exodus 19–20), and his faithfulness in providing bread and water (see Exodus 16:4; 17:1–6). Despite all of that, Israel's ancestors were proud and stubborn and refused to obey (see Exodus 32; Numbers 14:4). Yet in his grace, God remained faithful and compassionate…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-386-38. Thou, even thou, art Lord alone, &c.--In this solemn and impressive prayer, in which they make public confession of their sins, and deprecate the judgments due to the transgressions of their fathers, they begin with a profound adoration of God, whose supreme majesty and omnipotence is acknowledged in the creation, preservation, and government of all. Then they proceed to enumerate His mercies and distinguished favors to them as a nation, from the…Read the comment
Topics related to Nehemiah 9:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Nehemiah 9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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