Nehemiah 1:10 kjv

Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

Nehemiah 1:10 nkjv

Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand.

Nehemiah 1:10 niv

"They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.

Nehemiah 1:10 esv

They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.

Nehemiah 1:10 nlt

"The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants.

Nehemiah 1 verses

Nehemiah 1 10 Meaning

Nehemiah 1:10 declares the Israelites as God's special people and servants, chosen and set apart by His mighty act of redemption. This verse underscores God's unfathomable power and unwavering faithfulness, specifically recalling His historical deliverance of them from bondage through an display of divine might. Nehemiah bases his fervent prayer for their current deliverance and restoration not on their own merit, but solely on God's redemptive character and His powerful, sovereign actions in their history.

Nehemiah 1 10 Context

Nehemiah 1:10 forms part of Nehemiah’s profound prayer of confession and petition in chapter 1, following his distress at the report of Jerusalem's desolate state. Having heard of the broken-down walls and burned gates of the holy city (Neh 1:3), Nehemiah weeps, mourns, fasts, and prays to the "God of heaven" (Neh 1:4-5). His prayer is rooted in covenant theology, acknowledging God’s greatness and faithfulness to those who love and obey Him (Neh 1:5). He then confesses the sins of his people and ancestors, including his own (Neh 1:6-7), recognizing their covenant breaking. Verse 10, therefore, is a pivotal shift in his prayer: it transitions from corporate confession to an appeal based on God's unchanging character and His past redemptive acts, reminding God of His enduring commitment to "Your servants and Your people," whom He already powerfully redeemed from Egypt. This sets the theological foundation for Nehemiah’s audacious request to be granted favor to rebuild the walls. Historically, the setting is the post-exilic period, during the reign of Artaxerxes I, nearly a century after the initial return from Babylonian captivity, where the returned exiles faced significant challenges and shame due to the ruined condition of their capital city.

Nehemiah 1 10 Word analysis

• Now (וְעַתָּה, ve'attah): Connects the statement to the preceding confession, introducing a logical progression or an appeal. It marks a turn in Nehemiah's prayer, shifting from acknowledging Israel's sin to appealing based on God's identity and past actions.
• these (אֵלֶּה, 'elleh): Refers to "Your servants and Your people," clearly identifying the subjects of God's redemptive work. It points to the specific individuals who are in the covenant relationship with God.
• are Your servants (עֲבָדֶיךָ, 'avadayikha): 'Avad (עבד) means 'servant,' often implying service, allegiance, and devotion to a master. This term underscores Israel's relationship with God as one of dedicated service and covenant obedience. It implies a sense of ownership and divine protection over those who serve Him. The use of the possessive 'Your' emphasizes their divine belonging.
• and Your people (וְעַמֶּךָ, ve'ammekha): 'Am (עם) refers to a people, a nation, or kindred group. When coupled with "Your," it denotes Israel's unique status as God's chosen, beloved, and peculiar nation (Dt 7:6). This is an identity foundational to their covenant relationship, emphasizing a familial and exclusive bond.
• whom You have redeemed (אֲשֶׁר גָּאַלְתָּ, 'asher ga'alta):
  • whom ('asher): Connects the identity of the people to God's specific action.
  • redeemed (ga'alta - from the verb גָּאַל, ga'al): This verb signifies 'to redeem,' 'to buy back,' or 'to act as kinsman-redeemer.' The primary context here is the Exodus, where God "bought" Israel out of Egyptian bondage (Ex 6:6, Mic 6:4). It highlights God's initiative and sovereign act of liberation. The concept implies a powerful rescuer stepping in to save one from servitude, danger, or shame, establishing a permanent claim over the redeemed.
• by Your great power (בְּכֹחֲךָ הַגָּדֹל, bekochakha haggadol):
  • by (בְּ, be): Indicating the means or instrument.
  • great (gadol, גדול): Emphasizes immense size, importance, or intensity.
  • power (koach, כח): Refers to strength, might, vigor, or force. It speaks of inherent divine capability and effective agency. This highlights God's omnipotence and limitless ability to effectuate His will, particularly in acts of deliverance.
• and by Your strong hand (וּבְיָדְךָ הַחֲזָקָה, uvyadkha hachazaqah):
  • and by (u+בְּ, uveh): Continuing the parallel description of divine means.
  • strong (chazaqah, חזקה): Implies firmness, might, and durability. Often translated as "mighty" or "firm."
  • hand (yad, יד): Metonymy for action, agency, authority, and effective force. The "strong hand" is a pervasive anthropomorphism for God's irresistible power, famously used in descriptions of the Exodus from Egypt (Ex 3:19; Dt 4:34). It denotes direct, decisive, and forceful intervention.

Words-group by Words-group analysis:

• Your servants and Your people: This phrase collectively designates Israel’s divinely ordained identity and covenant status. It's a dual affirmation stressing their unique relationship with Yahweh—not only are they His obedient followers but also His chosen nation, distinguishing them from all other peoples. This emphasizes intimacy, ownership, and a shared history forged by divine initiative.
• whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand: This comprehensive phrase attributes Israel's very existence as a free people to God's exclusive, irresistible, and historically demonstrated power. The repetition of "Your" (redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand) places sole agency for their salvation on God, underscoring His sovereignty. "Great power" refers to His inherent might, while "strong hand" refers to the decisive, direct application of that power, primarily echoing the foundational act of redemption from Egypt (Exodus narratives) which set the pattern for God's interaction with Israel throughout history. This historical memory becomes the bedrock of Nehemiah's hope and petition.

Nehemiah 1 10 Bonus section

The phrase "great power and strong hand," especially when connected to redemption, carries significant weight in Old Testament theology. It is almost always a direct allusion to the Exodus from Egypt (e.g., Ex 32:11; 1 Ki 8:42). Nehemiah, therefore, isn't just speaking abstractly about God's strength; he's invoking the definitive historical act that established Israel as God's covenant nation. This linkage reinforces the theological principle that God's character (omnipotent deliverer) and His covenant promises are inseparable. Nehemiah’s prayer strategically grounds the present crisis and future hope in God’s unchanging historical faithfulness, emphasizing that what God did for Israel in the past, He is capable and obligated by covenant to do again. This theological reasoning is critical for intercessory prayer throughout the Bible, where the intercessor frequently recalls God's past mercies and power to appeal for present intervention.

Nehemiah 1 10 Commentary

Nehemiah 1:10 is a powerful appeal to God's covenant faithfulness and historical character. After confessing the corporate sin of Israel, Nehemiah pivots, reminding God of who Israel is in His eyes: "Your servants and Your people," not because of their righteousness, but because of His redemptive action. The double emphasis on "great power" and "strong hand" is a rich theological reference to the Exodus, Israel's foundational act of salvation, where God unilaterally delivered them from mighty Egypt. This phrase functions as a covenantal argument: "You did it before, You are the same God, and we are still Your people—therefore, act again on our behalf."

This verse encapsulates the essence of prayer that appeals to God’s nature and His past deeds rather than human merit. It serves as a reminder that despite human failure, God's commitment to His people, secured by His own power and promises, remains steadfast. Practically, this verse teaches believers to ground their prayers for deliverance, restoration, or revival in the unchanging character and proven faithfulness of God.For example:

• When facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, recall how God delivered in the past.
• In times of personal or corporate brokenness, appeal to God’s power to restore.
• For God’s people worldwide, remembering His redemptive work can strengthen faith for future interventions.