New International Version
Nehemiah 9:29
29“You warned them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’ Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen.
Nehemiah 9:29 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And testified against them, That You might bring them back to Your law. Yet they acted proudly, And did not heed Your commandments, But sinned against Your judgments, ‘Which if a man does, he shall live by them.’ And they shrugged their shoulders, Stiffened their necks, And would not hear.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands. They did not follow your regulations, by which people will find life if only they obey. They stubbornly turned their backs on you and refused to listen.
Context of Nehemiah 9:29
27So you delivered them into the hands of their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies. 28“But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time. “You warned them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’ Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen. 30For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. 31But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
Read all of Nehemiah 9Nehemiah 9:29 word by word
וַתָּ֨עַד בָּהֶ֜ם לַהֲשִׁיבָ֣ם אֶל־תּוֹרָתֶ֗ךָ וְהֵ֨מָּה הֵזִ֜ידוּ וְלֹא־שָׁמְע֤וּ לְמִצְוֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ וּבְמִשְׁפָּטֶ֣יךָ חָֽטְאוּ־בָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אָדָ֖ם וְחָיָ֣ה בָהֶ֑ם וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ כָתֵף֙ סוֹרֶ֔רֶת וְעָרְפָּ֥ם הִקְשׁ֖וּ וְלֹ֥א שָׁמֵֽעוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And testifiedstעוּד‛ûd · to testifyH5749
- against them, that thou mightest bring them againשׁוּבshûb · to return: repentH7725
- unto thy lawתּוֹרָהtôrâh tôrâh · instructionH8451
- yet they dealt proudlyזִידzûd zîyd · to boilH2102
- and hearkenedשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: obeyH8085
- not unto thy commandmentsמִצְוָהmitsvâh · commandmentH4687
- but sinnedחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
- against thy judgmentsמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941
- which if a manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- he shall liveחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
- in them;) and withdrewסָרַרsârar · to rebelH5637
- in them;) and withdrewנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
- the shoulderכָּתֵףkâthêph · shoulderH3802
- and hardenedקָשָׁהqâshâh · to hardenH7185
- their neckעֹ֫רֶף‛ôreph · neckH6203
Cross-references for Nehemiah 9:29
- Nehemiah 9:26“But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they turned their backs on your law. They killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies.
- Deuteronomy 4:26I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed.
- Deuteronomy 31:21And when many disasters and calamities come on them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do, even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.”
- 2 Kings 17:13The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”
- 2 Chronicles 24:19Although the Lord sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.
- 2 Chronicles 36:15The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place.
- Jeremiah 25:3For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.
- Hosea 6:5Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth— then my judgments go forth like the sun.
- Nehemiah 9:10You sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his officials and all the people of his land, for you knew how arrogantly the Egyptians treated them. You made a name for yourself, which remains to this day.
- Exodus 10:3So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.
- Jeremiah 13:15Hear and pay attention, do not be arrogant, for the Lord has spoken.
- Jeremiah 43:2Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to settle there.’
- Jeremiah 44:10To this day they have not humbled themselves or shown reverence, nor have they followed my law and the decrees I set before you and your ancestors.
- Daniel 5:20But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory.
- James 4:6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
- Leviticus 18:5Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord.
Commentaries on Nehemiah 9:29
- 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. 28-31The people did not learn from the mistakes made during the time of the judges (Nehemiah 9:26–27). The same pattern of disobedience appeared during the monarchy (compare 2 Kings 17). Despite the nation's ongoing disobedience (Nehemiah 9:29), God remained steadfast in his love, patience, compassion, and guidance through the spirit and the prophets.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 9:29
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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