Nehemiah 1:8 kjv

Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

Nehemiah 1:8 nkjv

Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations;

Nehemiah 1:8 niv

"Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,

Nehemiah 1:8 esv

Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples,

Nehemiah 1:8 nlt

"Please remember what you told your servant Moses: 'If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations.

Nehemiah 1 verses

Nehemiah 1 8 Meaning

Nehemiah 1:8 is part of Nehemiah's prayer, where he appeals to God by referencing a specific divine promise and warning given through Moses. This verse recalls God's covenant with Israel: a warning that disloyalty to Him would result in their dispersion among foreign nations, followed by a promise that if they repented and turned back to Him and obeyed His commands, He would certainly regather them, no matter how far they were scattered, and bring them back to Jerusalem, the place chosen for His name to dwell. Nehemiah's plea reminds God of His own sworn word, asserting God's faithfulness despite Israel's disobedience.

Nehemiah 1 8 Context

Nehemiah chapter 1 opens with Nehemiah, serving as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, receiving distressing news from his brother Hanani about the dire state of Jerusalem: its walls are broken down and its gates burned, leaving the remnant in great distress and disgrace. This news deeply grieves Nehemiah, leading him to mourn, fast, and pray for several days. Nehemiah 1:5-11 contains this heartfelt prayer. Verse 8 forms a pivotal part of this prayer, serving as Nehemiah's appeal to God's past commands and promises. Nehemiah doesn't present a new petition but rather reminds God of His own words, specifically the covenant warnings and promises given through Moses regarding Israel's future. This sets the stage for his courageous request to the king, confident that his plan aligns with God's stated will for restoration, echoing the prophetic declarations concerning their exile and eventual return to the land chosen by God for His name to reside. Historically, Israel had experienced scattering through the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, and the present state of Jerusalem confirmed the curse portion of the covenant. Nehemiah's prayer expresses hope in the redemptive portion.

Nehemiah 1 8 Word analysis

• Remember (זָכַר - zakhar): This is an imperative, not just asking God to recall mentally, but to act in accordance with His memory. It implies a request for God to manifest His covenant promises and fulfill them, especially concerning the regathering.
• the word (הַדָּבָר - haddevar): Refers to a specific, divine utterance, carrying authority and truth. Nehemiah is not appealing based on his own merit but on God's declared will.
• that you commanded (אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתָ - 'asher tsivita): Emphasizes the authoritative nature of the instruction, a divine decree. It wasn't merely a suggestion but a covenantal stipulation given by God Himself.
• your servant Moses (מֹשֶׁה עַבְדֶּךָ - mosheh avdekha): Highlights Moses' unique role as the covenant mediator and underscores the antiquity and foundational nature of this word.
• saying (לֵאמֹר - le'mor): Introduces the direct quote or summary of God's words given through Moses.

Words-Group Analysis:

• 'If you are unfaithful' (אִם תִּמְעֲלוּ - 'im tim'alu): The Hebrew verb ma'al implies committing treachery, being faithless, or acting in violation of a sacred trust, often concerning God or holy things. It points to a deep spiritual breach and willful turning away from God's ways.
• 'I will scatter you among the peoples' (אֲפִיץ אֶתְכֶם בָּעַמִּים - 'afits 'etkhem ba'ammim): This describes the direct divine judgment for their unfaithfulness—dispersion as a form of exile and punishment among foreign nations. The scattering is vast and far-reaching.
• 'but if you return to me' (וְשַׁבְתֶּם אֵלַי - veashavtem 'elai): The word 'return' (shuv) signifies genuine repentance—a turning back, a reversal of direction from rebellion to obedience to God. This is the crucial condition for restoration.
• 'and keep my commandments, and do them' (וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם מִצְוֹתַי וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם - ushmartem mitsvotai va'asitem 'otam): Emphasizes active, ongoing obedience to God's laws, not just hearing them but internalizing and living by them. This underscores the need for practical righteousness accompanying repentance.
• 'though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven' (אִם יִהְיֶה נִדַּחֲכֶם בִּקְצֵה הַשָּׁמָיִם - 'im yihyeh niddahakhem biq'tseh hashshamayim): A hyperbole signifying the absolute farthest reaches imaginable, implying that no matter how dispersed, lost, or distant, God's promise can still reach them. This stresses God's omnipresence and omnipotence.
• 'from there I will gather them' (מִשָּׁם אֲקַבְּצֵם - mishsham 'aqabbetsem): God's direct, sovereign action to collect and assemble His people, bringing them back from every conceivable corner of the earth. This is a promise of divine initiative in their restoration.
• 'and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there' (וַהֲבֵיאתִים אֶל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתִּי לְשַׁכֵּן שְׁמִי שָׁם - vahavi'itim 'el hammaqom 'asher bakahrti leshaken shemi sham): This refers to Jerusalem, specifically the Temple site, which God designated for His holy presence. "To make My name dwell there" signifies God's own reputation, glory, and permanent presence being linked to that place, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His chosen people and land.

Nehemiah 1 8 Bonus section

The deep reliance on Moses' words in Nehemiah's prayer, particularly from texts like Deuteronomy, underscores the post-exilic community's renewed emphasis on the Torah. This highlights a critical phase in Israel's spiritual development where adherence to God's law became paramount after experiencing the devastating consequences of disobedience. Nehemiah's appeal also implies a prophetic understanding; he sees the present distress as the fulfillment of the curse and seeks the fulfillment of the promise of gathering. This prayer is not just historical remembrance but a theological declaration that God's plan unfolds precisely as revealed in His Word. The focus on "My name dwelling there" emphasizes God's personal ownership and commitment to Jerusalem, elevating its status from merely a geographical location to the embodiment of His covenant presence among His people.

Nehemiah 1 8 Commentary

Nehemiah 1:8 is not just a reminder of historical prophecy but a vibrant appeal to God's immutable character. Nehemiah, acting as an intercessor, confesses the nation's failure ("unfaithful") but then pivots to God's enduring promises for restoration. The verse succinctly captures the cyclical pattern of judgment due to sin (scattering) and the path to redemption through repentance and obedience (return and gathering). It highlights the theological truth that God's covenant is conditional on human response yet ultimately secured by His faithfulness and sovereign choice of a place for His Name. Nehemiah's prayer recognizes that even from the most extreme dispersion, God is capable and committed to bringing His people back to Himself and His sacred dwelling. This empowers Nehemiah's faith for the monumental task ahead. It reminds believers that God's Word is dependable, and His promises are our secure foundation for prayer and action.