Nehemiah 9:16

THE MESSAGE

But they, our ancestors, were arrogant; bullheaded, they wouldn't obey your commands. They turned a deaf ear, they refused to remember the miracles you had done for them; They turned stubborn, got it into their heads to return to their Egyptian slavery. And you, a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, Incredibly patient, with tons of love— you didn't dump them. Yes, even when they cast a sculpted calf and said, "This is your god Who brought you out of Egypt," and continued from bad to worse, You in your amazing compassion didn't walk off and leave them in the desert. The Pillar of Cloud didn't leave them; daily it continued to show them their route; The Pillar of Fire did the same by night, showed them the right way to go.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But our ancestors acted arrogantly;they became stiff-necked and did not listen to your commands.

Hebrew Names Version
But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, and didn't listen to your mitzvot,

King James Version
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

English Standard Version
"But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments.

New Century Version
"But our ancestors were proud and stubborn and did not obey your commands.

New English Translation
"But they—our ancestors—behaved presumptuously; they rebelled and did not obey your commandments.

Amplified Bible
"But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly; They stiffened their necks and would not heed Your commandments.

New American Standard Bible
"But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly; They became stubborn and would not listen to Your commandments.

World English Bible
But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, and didn't listen to your commandments,

Geneva Bible (1587)
But they and our fathers behaued them selues proudely, and hardened their neck, so that they hearkened not vnto thy commandements,

Legacy Standard Bible
"But they, our fathers, acted presumptuously;They became stiff‑necked and would not listen to Your commandments.

Berean Standard Bible
But they and our fathers became arrogant and stiff-necked and did not obey Your commandments.

Contemporary English Version
Our stubborn ancestors refused to obey— they forgot about the miracles you had worked for them, and they were determined to return to Egypt and become slaves again.

Complete Jewish Bible
"‘But they and our ancestors were arrogant; they stiffened their necks and ignored your mitzvot;

Darby Translation
But they, our fathers, dealt proudly, and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

Easy-to-Read Version
But our ancestors became proud and stubborn. They refused to obey your commands.

George Lamsa Translation
But they and their fathers dealt wickedly and were stubborn and did not give ear to thy commandments,

Good News Translation
But our ancestors grew proud and stubborn and refused to obey your commands.

Lexham English Bible
"But they and our ancestors acted arrogantly and stiffened their neck and did not listen to your commandments.

Literal Translation
But they and our fathers acted presumptuously, and hardened their necks, and did not listen to Your commands.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Neuertheles oure fathers were proude and hardnecked, so that they folowed not yi comaundementes,

American Standard Version
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

Bible in Basic English
But they and our fathers, in their pride, made their necks stiff, and gave no attention to your orders,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But they and our fathers were proud and hardnecked, so that they folowed not thy commaundementes:

JPS Old Testament (1917)
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to Thy commandments,

King James Version (1611)
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkned not to thy commandements:

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
But they and our fathers behaved proudly, and hardened their neck, and did not hearken to thy commandments,

English Revised Version
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But `thei and oure fadris diden proudli, and maden hard her nollis, and herden not thi comaundementis.

Update Bible Version
But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, and didn't listen to your commandments,

Webster's Bible Translation
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

New King James Version
"But they and our fathers acted proudly, Hardened their necks, And did not heed Your commandments.

New Living Translation
"But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands.

New Life Bible
"But they, our fathers, acted with pride. They became strong-willed and would not listen to Your Words.

New Revised Standard
"But they and our ancestors acted presumptuously and stiffened their necks and did not obey your commandments;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, they and our fathers, dealt proudly, - and hardened their neck, and hearkened not unto thy commandments;

Douay-Rheims Bible
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks and hearkened not to thy commandments.

Revised Standard Version
"But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey thy commandments;

Young's Literal Translation
`And they and our fathers have acted proudly, and harden their neck, and have not hearkened unto Thy commands,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly; They became stubborn and would not listen to Your commandments.

Contextual Overview

⁴A group of Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani—stood on the platform and cried out to God , their God, in a loud voice. The Levites Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said, "On your feet! Bless God , your God, for ever and ever!" Blessed be your glorious name, exalted above all blessing and praise! You're the one, God , you alone; You made the heavens, the heavens of heavens, and all angels; The earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them; You keep them all alive; heaven's angels worship you! You're the one, God , the God who chose Abram And brought him from Ur of the Chaldees and changed his name to Abraham. You found his heart to be steady and true to you and signed a covenant with him, A covenant to give him the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Amorites, The Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites, —to give it to his descendants. And you kept your word because you are righteous. You saw the anguish of our parents in Egypt. You heard their cries at the Red Sea; You amazed Pharaoh, his servants, and the people of his land with wonders and miracle-signs. You knew their bullying arrogance against your people; you made a name for yourself that lasts to this day. You split the sea before them; they crossed through and never got their feet wet; You pitched their pursuers into the deep; they sank like a rock in the storm-tossed sea. By day you led them with a Pillar of Cloud, and by night with a Pillar of Fire To show them the way they were to travel. You came down onto Mount Sinai, you spoke to them out of heaven; You gave them instructions on how to live well, true teaching, sound rules and commands; You introduced them to your Holy Sabbath; Through your servant Moses you decreed commands, rules, and instruction. You gave bread from heaven for their hunger, you sent water from the rock for their thirst. You told them to enter and take the land, which you promised to give them. But they, our ancestors, were arrogant; bullheaded, they wouldn't obey your commands. They turned a deaf ear, they refused to remember the miracles you had done for them; They turned stubborn, got it into their heads to return to their Egyptian slavery. And you, a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, Incredibly patient, with tons of love— you didn't dump them. Yes, even when they cast a sculpted calf and said, "This is your god Who brought you out of Egypt," and continued from bad to worse, You in your amazing compassion didn't walk off and leave them in the desert. The Pillar of Cloud didn't leave them; daily it continued to show them their route; The Pillar of Fire did the same by night, showed them the right way to go. You gave them your good Spirit to teach them to live wisely. You never stinted with your manna, gave them plenty of water to drink. You supported them forty years in that desert; they had everything they needed; Their clothes didn't wear out and their feet never blistered. You gave them kingdoms and peoples, establishing generous boundaries. They took over the country of Sihon king of Heshbon and the country of Og king of Bashan. You multiplied children for them, rivaling the stars in the night skies, And you brought them into the land that you promised their ancestors they would get and own. Well, they entered all right, they took it and settled in. The Canaanites who lived there you brought to their knees before them. You turned over their land, kings, and peoples to do with as they pleased. They took strong cities and fertile fields, they took over well-furnished houses, Cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, and lush, extensive orchards. And they ate, grew fat on the fat of the land; they reveled in your bountiful goodness. But then they mutinied, rebelled against you, threw out your laws and killed your prophets, The very prophets who tried to get them back on your side— and then things went from bad to worse. You turned them over to their enemies, who made life rough for them. But when they called out for help in their troubles you listened from heaven; And in keeping with your bottomless compassion you gave them saviors: Saviors who saved them from the cruel abuse of their enemies. But as soon as they had it easy again they were right back at it—more evil. So you turned away and left them again to their fate, to the enemies who came right back. They cried out to you again; in your great compassion you heard and helped them again. This went on over and over and over. You warned them to return to your Revelation, they responded with haughty arrogance: They flouted your commands, spurned your rules —the very words by which men and women live! They set their jaws in defiance, they turned their backs on you and didn't listen. You put up with them year after year and warned them by your spirit through your prophets; But when they refused to listen you abandoned them to foreigners. Still, because of your great compassion, you didn't make a total end to them. You didn't walk out and leave them for good; yes, you are a God of grace and compassion. And now, our God, the great God, God majestic and terrible, loyal in covenant and love, Don't treat lightly the trouble that has come to us, to our kings and princes, our priests and prophets, Our ancestors, and all your people from the time of the Assyrian kings right down to today. You are not to blame for all that has come down on us; You did everything right, we did everything wrong. None of our kings, princes, priests, or ancestors followed your Revelation; They ignored your commands, dismissed the warnings you gave them. Even when they had their own kingdom and were enjoying your generous goodness, Living in that spacious and fertile land that you spread out before them, They didn't serve you or turn their backs on the practice of evil. And here we are, slaves again today; and here's the land you gave our ancestors So they could eat well and enjoy a good life, and now look at us—no better than slaves on this land. Its wonderful crops go to the kings you put over us because of our sins; They act like they own our bodies and do whatever they like with our cattle. We're in deep trouble. "Because of all this we are drawing up a binding pledge, a sealed document signed by our princes, our Levites, and our priests." ⁶ Then on the twenty-fourth day of this month, the People of Israel gathered for a fast, wearing burlap and faces smudged with dirt as signs of repentance. The Israelites broke off all relations with foreigners, stood up, and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their parents. While they stood there in their places, they read from the Book of The Revelation of God , their God, for a quarter of the day. For another quarter of the day they confessed and worshiped their God . A group of Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani—stood on the platform and cried out to God , their God, in a loud voice. The Levites Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said, "On your feet! Bless God , your God, for ever and ever!" Blessed be your glorious name, exalted above all blessing and praise! You're the one, God , you alone; You made the heavens, the heavens of heavens, and all angels; The earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them; You keep them all alive; heaven's angels worship you! ⁷You're the one, God , the God who chose Abram And brought him from Ur of the Chaldees and changed his name to Abraham. You found his heart to be steady and true to you and signed a covenant with him, A covenant to give him the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Amorites, The Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites, —to give it to his descendants. And you kept your word because you are righteous. ⁹You saw the anguish of our parents in Egypt. You heard their cries at the Red Sea; You amazed Pharaoh, his servants, and the people of his land with wonders and miracle-signs. You knew their bullying arrogance against your people; you made a name for yourself that lasts to this day. You split the sea before them; they crossed through and never got their feet wet; You pitched their pursuers into the deep; they sank like a rock in the storm-tossed sea. By day you led them with a Pillar of Cloud, and by night with a Pillar of Fire To show them the way they were to travel. You came down onto Mount Sinai, you spoke to them out of heaven; You gave them instructions on how to live well, true teaching, sound rules and commands; You introduced them to your Holy Sabbath; Through your servant Moses you decreed commands, rules, and instruction. You gave bread from heaven for their hunger, you sent water from the rock for their thirst. You told them to enter and take the land, which you promised to give them. ¹⁶But they, our ancestors, were arrogant; bullheaded, they wouldn't obey your commands. They turned a deaf ear, they refused to remember the miracles you had done for them; They turned stubborn, got it into their heads to return to their Egyptian slavery. And you, a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, Incredibly patient, with tons of love— you didn't dump them. Yes, even when they cast a sculpted calf and said, "This is your god Who brought you out of Egypt," and continued from bad to worse, You in your amazing compassion didn't walk off and leave them in the desert. The Pillar of Cloud didn't leave them; daily it continued to show them their route; The Pillar of Fire did the same by night, showed them the right way to go. ²⁰You gave them your good Spirit to teach them to live wisely. You never stinted with your manna, gave them plenty of water to drink. You supported them forty years in that desert; they had everything they needed; Their clothes didn't wear out and their feet never blistered. You gave them kingdoms and peoples, establishing generous boundaries. They took over the country of Sihon king of Heshbon and the country of Og king of Bashan. You multiplied children for them, rivaling the stars in the night skies, And you brought them into the land that you promised their ancestors they would get and own. ²⁴Well, they entered all right, they took it and settled in. The Canaanites who lived there you brought to their knees before them. You turned over their land, kings, and peoples to do with as they pleased. They took strong cities and fertile fields, they took over well-furnished houses, Cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, and lush, extensive orchards. And they ate, grew fat on the fat of the land; they reveled in your bountiful goodness. ²⁶But then they mutinied, rebelled against you, threw out your laws and killed your prophets, The very prophets who tried to get them back on your side— and then things went from bad to worse. You turned them over to their enemies, who made life rough for them. But when they called out for help in their troubles you listened from heaven; And in keeping with your bottomless compassion you gave them saviors: Saviors who saved them from the cruel abuse of their enemies. But as soon as they had it easy again they were right back at it—more evil. So you turned away and left them again to their fate, to the enemies who came right back. They cried out to you again; in your great compassion you heard and helped them again. This went on over and over and over. You warned them to return to your Revelation, they responded with haughty arrogance: They flouted your commands, spurned your rules —the very words by which men and women live! They set their jaws in defiance, they turned their backs on you and didn't listen. You put up with them year after year and warned them by your spirit through your prophets; But when they refused to listen you abandoned them to foreigners. Still, because of your great compassion, you didn't make a total end to them. You didn't walk out and leave them for good; yes, you are a God of grace and compassion. ³²And now, our God, the great God, God majestic and terrible, loyal in covenant and love, Don't treat lightly the trouble that has come to us, to our kings and princes, our priests and prophets, Our ancestors, and all your people from the time of the Assyrian kings right down to today. You are not to blame for all that has come down on us; You did everything right, we did everything wrong. None of our kings, princes, priests, or ancestors followed your Revelation; They ignored your commands, dismissed the warnings you gave them. Even when they had their own kingdom and were enjoying your generous goodness, Living in that spacious and fertile land that you spread out before them, They didn't serve you or turn their backs on the practice of evil. And here we are, slaves again today; and here's the land you gave our ancestors So they could eat well and enjoy a good life, and now look at us—no better than slaves on this land. Its wonderful crops go to the kings you put over us because of our sins; They act like they own our bodies and do whatever they like with our cattle. We're in deep trouble. ³⁸ "Because of all this we are drawing up a binding pledge, a sealed document signed by our princes, our Levites, and our priests."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

dealt: Nehemiah 9:10, Nehemiah 9:29, Exodus 32:9, Deuteronomy 9:6, Deuteronomy 9:13, Deuteronomy 9:23, Deuteronomy 9:24, Deuteronomy 9:27, Deuteronomy 32:15, Psalms 78:8-72, Psalms 106:6, Isaiah 63:10, Jeremiah 2:31, Acts 7:51

hardened: Deuteronomy 31:27, 2 Kings 17:14, 2 Chronicles 30:8, 2 Chronicles 36:13, Psalms 95:8-10, Proverbs 29:1, Isaiah 48:4, Jeremiah 19:15, Romans 2:5, Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 3:15

hearkened: Exodus 15:26, Deuteronomy 5:29, Psalms 81:8, Psalms 81:11-14, Isaiah 48:18, There were two things to which the Israelites did not duly give heed, else they had not done as they did. The word of God they heard, but they gave no heed to God's commandments, and the works of God they saw, but were not mindful of his wonders. Had they really considered them as miracles, they would have obeyed from a principle of faith and holy fear: had they duly considered them as mercies, they would have obeyed from a principle of gratitude and holy love.

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:11 - proudly Numbers 14:4 - General Deuteronomy 9:7 - from the day 2 Chronicles 29:6 - For our fathers Psalms 119:21 - cursed Jeremiah 7:24 - they Jeremiah 7:25 - the day Jeremiah 7:26 - they hearkened Jeremiah 11:8 - obeyed Jeremiah 22:21 - This Jeremiah 32:30 - children Ezekiel 2:3 - rebelled Ezekiel 5:6 - for they Ezekiel 20:13 - rebelled Zechariah 1:4 - as Malachi 3:7 - from the Mark 10:5 - For Acts 7:39 - whom Acts 13:18 - about Acts 19:9 - divers Hebrews 3:8 - Harden

Cross-References

Genesis 9:8
Then God spoke to Noah and his sons: "I'm setting up my covenant with you including your children who will come after you, along with everything alive around you—birds, farm animals, wild animals—that came out of the ship with you. I'm setting up my covenant with you that never again will everything living be destroyed by floodwaters; no, never again will a flood destroy the Earth."

Genesis 17:19
But God said, "That's not what I mean. Your wife, Sarah, will have a baby, a son. Name him Isaac (Laughter). I'll establish my covenant with him and his descendants, a covenant that lasts forever.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But they and our fathers dealt proudly,.... Behaved in a haughty manner towards God, their kind benefactor:

and hardened their necks; refused to take the yoke of his law, as refractory oxen, that withdraw their necks from the yoke:

and hearkened not to thy commandments; to do them, though they promised they would, Exodus 24:7.