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Tuesday, July 15th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Bible in Basic English

Nehemiah 9:29

And gave witness against them so that you might make them come back again to your law: but their hearts were lifted up, and they gave no attention to your orders and went against your decisions (which, if a man keeps them, will be life to him), and turning their backs on you, made their necks stiff and did not give ear.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   God Continued...;   Idolatry;   Impenitence;   Repentance;   Self-Will;   Sin;   Thankfulness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Afflictions;   Impenitence;   Penitence-Impenitence;   The Topic Concordance - Disobedience;   Evil;   Hearing;   Life;   Obedience;   Rebellion;   Sin;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Afflictions of the Wicked, the;   Prayer, Public;   Self-Will and Stubbornness;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ezra;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Forgiveness;   Time;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Prayer;   Stephen;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ezra, Book of;   Nehemiah;   Providence;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Canon of the Old Testament;   Ezra;   Ezra, Book of;   Nehemiah, Book of;   Prayer;   Synagogue;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Prayer;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Shoulder;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Neck;   Shoulder;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
You warned them to turn back to your law,but they acted arrogantlyand would not obey your commands.They sinned against your ordinances,which a person will live by if he does them.They stubbornly resisted,stiffened their necks, and would not obey.
Hebrew Names Version
and testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law. Yet they dealt proudly, and didn't listen to your mitzvot, but sinned against your ordinances, (which if a man do, he shall live in them,) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
King James Version
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
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 Century Version
You warned them to return to your teachings, but they were proud and did not obey your commands. If someone obeys your laws, he will live, but they sinned against your laws. They were stubborn, unwilling, and disobedient.
New English Translation
And you solemnly admonished them in order to return them to your law, but they behaved presumptuously and did not obey your commandments. They sinned against your ordinances—those by which an individual, if he obeys them, will live. They boldly turned from you; they rebelled and did not obey.
Amplified Bible
And You admonished them and warned them to turn them back to Your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and arrogantly and did not heed Your commandments, but sinned against Your ordinances, Which by keeping, a man will live. But they turned a stubborn shoulder, stiffened their neck, and would not listen.
New American Standard Bible
And admonished them in order to turn them back to Your Law. Yet they acted arrogantly and did not listen to Your commandments but sinned against Your ordinances, Which, if a person follows them, then he will live by them. And they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck, and would not listen.
World English Bible
and testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law. Yet they dealt proudly, and didn't listen to your commandments, but sinned against your ordinances, (which if a man do, he shall live in them,) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And protestedst among them that thou mightest bring them againe vnto thy Lawe: but they behaued them selues proudely, and hearkened not vnto thy commaundements, but sinned against thy iudgements ( which a man should doe and liue in them) and pulled away the shoulder, and were stiffenecked, and woulde not heare.
Legacy Standard Bible
And testified to them in order to turn them back to Your law.Yet they acted presumptuously and did not listen to Your commandments but sinned against Your judgments,By which if a man does them, he shall live.And they gave a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck, and would not listen.
Berean Standard Bible
You admonished them to turn back to Your law, but they were arrogant and disobeyed Your commandments. They sinned against Your ordinances, by which a man will live if he practices them. They stubbornly shrugged their shoulders; they stiffened their necks and would not obey.
Contemporary English Version
You warned them to turn back and discover true life by obeying your laws. But they stubbornly refused and continued to sin.
Complete Jewish Bible
You warned them, in order to bring them back to your Torah; yet they were arrogant. They paid no attention to your mitzvot, but sinned against your rulings, which, if a person does them, he will have life through them. However, they stubbornly turned their shoulders, stiffened their necks and refused to hear.
Darby Translation
And thou testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law; but they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thine ordinances (which if a man do, he shall live in them); and they withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
Easy-to-Read Version
You warned them. You told them to come back, but they were too proud. They refused to listen to your commands. If people obey your laws, they will live. But our ancestors broke your laws. They were stubborn. They turned their backs on you. They refused to listen.
George Lamsa Translation
And thou didst testify against them, that thou mightest bring them again to thy law; yet they dealt wrongfully and did not obey thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments (which if a man observe them, he shall live in them); and they conspired and became stubborn and would not listen.
Good News Translation
You warned them to obey your teachings, but in pride they rejected your laws, although keeping your Law is the way to life. Hard-headed and stubborn, they refused to obey.
Lexham English Bible
You warned them so that they would return to your law. Yet they acted arrogantly and did not listen to your commandments but sinned against your judgments that a person must do so that they may live. They turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not listen.
Literal Translation
And You testified against them to bring them again to Your Law, but they acted presumptuously, and did not listen to Your commands, but were against Your judgments; they sinned in them, which if a man does, he shall live in them. And they gave arebellious shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and testified vnto them, that they shulde turne agayne vnto thy lawe. Notwithstodinge they were proude, and herkened not vnto thy comaundementes, but synned in thy lawes (which a man shulde do, & lyue in them) & turned their shulder awaye, & were styffnecked, & wolde not heare.
American Standard Version
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 thine ordinances (which if a man do, he shall live in them), and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And testifiedst vnto them, that thou mightest bring them againe vnto thy lawe: Notwithstanding, they were proude, and hearkened not vnto thy commaundementes, but sinned in thy lawes, which if a man do, he shall lyue in them: and turned the shoulder away, and were stiffenecked, and would not heare.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
and didst forewarn them, that Thou mightest bring them back unto Thy law; yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto Thy commandments, but sinned against Thine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them, and presented a stubborn shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
King James Version (1611)
And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them againe vnto thy lawe: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not vnto thy commaundements, but sinned against thy iudgements, (which if a man doe, he shal liue in them) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their necke, and would not heare.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And thou didst testify against them, to bring them back to thy law: but they hearkened not, but sinned against thy commandments and thy judgments, which if a man do, he shall live in them; and they turned their back, and hardened their neck, and heard not.
English Revised Version
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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thou witnessidist to hem, that thei schulden turne ayen to thi lawe; but thei diden proudli, and herden not thin heestis, and synneden in thi domes, whiche a man that schal do schal lyue in tho; and thei yauen the schuldre goynge awei, and thei maden hard her nol.
Update Bible Version
and testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law. Yet they dealt proudly, and didn't listen to your commandments, but sinned against your ordinances, which if man does, he shall live in them, and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
Webster's Bible Translation
And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again to thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not to thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man doeth, he shall live in them:) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
New King James Version
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.' Leviticus 18:5 ">[fn] And they shrugged their shoulders,Stiffened their necks,And would not hear.
New Living Translation
"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.
New Life Bible
You spoke sharp words to them to turn them back to Your Law. Yet they acted in pride and did not listen to Your Words, but sinned against Your Laws, by which if a man obeys them he will live. They were strong-willed and made their hearts hard against You, and would not listen.
New Revised Standard
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 ordinances, by the observance of which a person shall live. They turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and didst testify against them, to bring them back unto thy law, yet, they, dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, and, against thy regulations, they sinned, the which - if any son of earth shall do - then shall he live by them, - and yielded a rebellious shoulder, and, their neck, they stiffened, and hearkened not.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And thou didst admonish them to return to thy law. But they dealt proudly, and hearkened not to thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, which if a man do, he shall live in them: and they withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
Revised Standard Version
And thou didst warn them in order to turn them back to thy law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey thy commandments, but sinned against thy ordinances, by the observance of which a man shall live, and turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey.
Young's Literal Translation
and dost testify against them, to bring them back unto Thy law; and they -- they have acted proudly, and have not hearkened to Thy commands, and against Thy judgments have sinned, -- which man doth and hath lived in them -- and they give a refractory shoulder, and their neck have hardened, and have not hearkened.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And admonished them in order to turn them back to Your law. Yet they acted arrogantly and did not listen to Your commandments but sinned against Your ordinances, By which if a man observes them he shall live. And they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck, and would not listen.

Contextual Overview

4 Then Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani took their places on the steps of the Levites, crying in a loud voice to the Lord their God. 5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said, Get up and give praise to the Lord your God for ever and ever. Praise be to your great name which is lifted up high over all blessing and praise. 6 You are the Lord, even you only; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens with all their armies, the earth and all things in it, the seas and everything in them; and you keep them from destruction: and the armies of heaven are your worshippers. 7 You are the Lord, the God, who took Abram and made him yours, guiding him from Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham; 8 You saw that his heart was true to you, and made an agreement with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Jebusite and the Girgashite, even to give it to his seed, and you have done what you said; for righteousness is yours: 9 And you saw the trouble of our fathers in Egypt, and their cry came to your ears by the Red Sea; 10 And you did signs and wonders on Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land; for you saw how cruel they were to them. So you got yourself a name as it is today. 11 By you the sea was parted before them, so that they went through the sea on dry land; and those who went after them went down into the deep, like a stone into great waters. 12 And you went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light on the way they were to go. 13 And you came down on Mount Sinai, and your voice came to them from heaven, giving them right decisions and true laws, good rules and orders:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

testifiedst: Nehemiah 9:26, Deuteronomy 4:26, Deuteronomy 31:21, 2 Kings 17:13, 2 Chronicles 24:19, 2 Chronicles 36:15, Jeremiah 25:3-7, Hosea 6:5

yet they: Nehemiah 9:10, Nehemiah 9:16, Exodus 10:3, Jeremiah 13:15-17, Jeremiah 43:2, Jeremiah 44:10, Jeremiah 44:16, Jeremiah 44:17, Daniel 5:20, James 4:6-10

which: Leviticus 18:5, Ezekiel 20:11, Luke 10:28, Romans 10:5, Galatians 3:12

withdrew the shoulder: Heb. gave a withdrawing shoulder, Zechariah 7:11, Zechariah 7:12

and hardened: Jeremiah 7:26, Jeremiah 17:23, Jeremiah 19:15

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:11 - proudly 2 Kings 17:15 - testimonies 2 Kings 21:9 - they hearkened 2 Chronicles 33:10 - General 2 Chronicles 36:13 - hardened Nehemiah 1:7 - dealt Nehemiah 13:15 - I testified Psalms 50:7 - testify Psalms 119:21 - cursed Proverbs 29:1 - hardeneth Isaiah 28:10 - For precept Isaiah 30:9 - will not Isaiah 63:10 - they rebelled Jeremiah 7:13 - and I spake Jeremiah 7:24 - backward Jeremiah 11:8 - obeyed Jeremiah 42:19 - admonished you Amos 2:4 - because Matthew 21:34 - he sent Acts 19:9 - divers 2 Corinthians 5:20 - as Galatians 5:3 - testify Ephesians 4:17 - testify

Cross-References

Genesis 5:5
And all the years of Adam's life were nine hundred and thirty: and he came to his end.
Genesis 5:20
And all the years of Jared's life were nine hundred and sixty-two: and he came to his end.
Genesis 5:27
And all the years of Methuselah's life were nine hundred and sixty-nine: and he came to his end.
Genesis 5:32
And when Noah was five hundred years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Genesis 9:11
And I will make my agreement with you; never again will all flesh be cut off by the waters; never again will the waters come over all the earth for its destruction.
Genesis 9:25
Cursed be Canaan; let him be a servant of servants to his brothers.
Psalms 90:10
The measure of our life is seventy years; and if through strength it may be eighty years, its pride is only trouble and sorrow, for it comes to an end and we are quickly gone.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And testifiedst against them,.... By sending prophets to them, to admonish them of their sins, and remind them of their duty:

that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law; to regard it, and walk according it:

yet they dealt proudly; with an haughty air rejected the counsel of God:

and hearkened not unto thy commandments; yielded not obedience to them:

but sinned against thy judgments; transgressed his laws, which were so just, righteous, reasonable, and equitable:

which if a man do, he shall live in them; or by them, in the land of Canaan, see Leviticus 18:5,

and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear; like oxen, that wriggle and struggle, and draw back, and will not admit the yoke upon them.


 
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