Nehemiah 9 10

Nehemiah 9:10 kjv

And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day.

Nehemiah 9:10 nkjv

You showed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, Against all his servants, And against all the people of his land. For You knew that they acted proudly against them. So You made a name for Yourself, as it is this day.

Nehemiah 9:10 niv

You 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.

Nehemiah 9:10 esv

and performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for you knew that they acted arrogantly against our fathers. And you made a name for yourself, as it is to this day.

Nehemiah 9:10 nlt

You displayed miraculous signs and wonders against Pharaoh, his officials, and all his people, for you knew how arrogantly they were treating our ancestors. You have a glorious reputation that has never been forgotten.

Nehemiah 9 verses

Nehemiah 9 10 Meaning

Nehemiah 9:10 praises God for His powerful intervention against Pharaoh and the Egyptians during the Exodus. It highlights that God performed miraculous "signs and wonders" upon them because He fully knew their arrogant and oppressive treatment of His people, the Israelites. The ultimate purpose of these divine judgments was not merely punishment, but for God to establish and magnify His own glorious name and reputation, which remains renowned to the present day.

Nehemiah 9 10 Context

Nehemiah 9 is a magnificent prayer offered by the Levites during a great assembly following the rediscovery and public reading of the Law (Neh 8). The chapter transitions from communal repentance and worship to a sweeping review of Israel's history. This historical recitation serves multiple purposes: it recounts God's unfailing faithfulness despite Israel's persistent disobedience, reminds the people of their covenant identity, and lays the groundwork for a fresh covenant renewal.

Verse 10 specifically harks back to the pivotal Exodus event. It is placed within the section (verses 9-12) detailing God's specific and powerful deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage. The immediate context of verse 9 states that God "saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry by the Red Sea." Verse 10 then details God's specific response to that affliction. Historically, this prayer grounds the post-exilic community in the foundational story of God's redemptive work, emphasizing His omnipotence and unwavering commitment to His people, a contrast to the powerful empires (like Persia) that Israel was currently subject to, and implicitly reaffirming that Yahweh is above all earthly powers, including ancient Pharaohs and their contemporary counterparts. This grand historical recounting aims to instil trust and motivate obedience in the face of ongoing challenges.

Nehemiah 9 10 Word analysis

• And performed (וַתִּתֵּן - va-titten): From the Hebrew verb natan (נָתַן), meaning "to give," "to put," "to place," but in this context, it denotes an active and deliberate execution or display. God is depicted as the sole, sovereign actor wielding His power directly.
• signs (אֹתוֹת - otot): Plural of ot. These are miraculous occurrences serving as divine marks or indicators. They point to God's presence, authority, or specific message. In Exodus, the plagues were distinct "signs" designed to compel Pharaoh and educate Israel about Yahweh's identity and power.
• and wonders (וּמֹפְתִים - u-moftim): Plural of mofet. These are events that evoke awe, astonishment, or dread, often signifying extraordinary, supernatural power. Paired with otot, they form a common Hebrew expression, otot u'moftim, signifying a comprehensive display of God's supernatural power and miraculous intervention, usually with a revelatory or judgmental purpose.
• against Pharaoh (בְּפַרְעֹה - b'phar'oh): The preposition b' here implies direct confrontation or judgment "against" the specified entity. Pharaoh, the embodiment of Egyptian imperial power and oppressive might, represented the ultimate human authority that opposed God's will.
• and all his servants (וּבְכָל־עֲבָדָיו - u-v'chol-avadav): Refers to Pharaoh's officials, military leaders, and court, who actively participated in or benefited from the oppression of Israel. This shows the judgment was not only on the supreme ruler but extended to the entire administrative and executive arm of the regime.
• and all the people of his land (וּבְכָל־עַ֖ם אַרְצ֑וֹ - u-v'chol-am artzo): This indicates the universality and pervasiveness of the divine judgment, extending beyond the ruling class to affect the entire populace of Egypt, reflecting the national complicity in the oppression and illustrating the scope of God’s intervention.
• for You knew (כִּ֣י יָדַ֗עְתָּ כִּ֤י - ki yada'ta ki): This phrase emphasizes God's perfect knowledge and insight. His actions are never arbitrary or impulsive; they are always based on full awareness of circumstances and the deep motivations of the human heart. Yada' (יָדַע - to know) implies not just intellectual understanding, but intimate knowledge that often precedes decisive action.
• that they acted proudly (הֵזִ֙ידוּ֙ - hezidu): From the verb zid (זִיד), meaning "to boil up," "to be presumptuous," "to act defiantly" or "arrogantly." This is a crucial theological point: God responded to their overbearing, contemptuous, and deliberate resistance to His commands and His people. It signifies haughty, self-exalting pride that refuses to acknowledge divine authority.
• against them (עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם - alehem): Refers implicitly to "our fathers" (as mentioned in verse 9). God's action was a direct response to the specific injustice inflicted upon His chosen people.
• So You made a name for Yourself (וַתַּֽעֲשֶׂה־לְּךָ֥ שֵׁ֖ם - va-ta'aseh-lekha shem): This states the ultimate purpose of God’s actions. "To make a name" (asah shem) means to establish a reputation, to acquire fame or renown, to manifest one's true character and identity in such a way that it becomes universally known and remembered. Here, God's actions served to demonstrate His unique power, justice, and sovereignty over all false gods and human might.
• as it is this day (כַּיֹּ֥ום הַזֶּֽה׃ - kayyom ha-zeh): This phrase underscores the enduring and everlasting impact of God's deeds. The renown God acquired in Egypt was not fleeting but continued to be acknowledged and remembered generations later, even by the post-exilic community. It testifies to God's unchanging nature and the perpetual testimony of His historical acts.

Words-group analysis:

• "Performed signs and wonders": This hendiadys emphasizes the totality of God's miraculous display, proving His omnipotence and demonstrating His active involvement in human affairs to accomplish His purposes. It highlights divine revelation through extraordinary acts.
• "against Pharaoh, against all his servants, and all the people of his land": This expansive target signifies that God's judgment was comprehensive, impacting the entire system of oppression, from the leader to the common populace. It underscores His dominion over all earthly authorities and peoples.
• "for You knew that they acted proudly against them": This phrase reveals God's perfect omniscience and righteous basis for judgment. It underscores that God's justice is always informed by His intimate knowledge of human hearts and actions, particularly the sin of pride and defiance against His will.
• "So You made a name for Yourself, as it is this day": This encapsulates the theological climax. God's ultimate motivation is not merely to punish but to reveal His unique, powerful, and just character to all, ensuring His eternal glory and reputation endure through time, serving as an ongoing witness to His sovereignty and faithfulness.

Nehemiah 9 10 Bonus section

• The term "name" (shem) in the Old Testament is often more than just an identifier; it embodies a person's character, reputation, and essence. For God, His "name" represents His complete revelation, encompassing His attributes, power, and covenant faithfulness. Therefore, when God "made a name for Himself," He fully disclosed His nature through His deeds.
• The recalling of specific historical events, particularly the Exodus, is a central motif in biblical worship and confession. This specific verse demonstrates how remembrance of past divine actions informs the community's identity and reinforces their trust in God for their current and future needs. The Levites in Nehemiah's time drew strength and identity from these ancestral testimonies of God's enduring power and covenant loyalty.
• The chutzpah (arrogance, brazenness) of Pharaoh and the Egyptians described by hezidu is a significant theme in the Hebrew Bible, portraying a profound human sin. This type of pride directly challenges divine authority, prompting God's severe judgment. It serves as a stark warning across generations about the perils of defying God.

Nehemiah 9 10 Commentary

Nehemiah 9:10 captures a foundational truth about God's character and purposes revealed through the Exodus: God acts decisively and justly against prideful oppression, and His ultimate goal is the establishment of His glorious name. The verse begins with a declaration of God's potent interventions ("performed signs and wonders"), demonstrating His absolute power over all earthly realms and forces. The targets of this divine power—Pharaoh, his court, and the entire nation of Egypt—signify that God's judgment is thorough and systemic against those who align with evil.

The crucial theological insight is that God's actions were not arbitrary but were precipitated by His intimate knowledge of Egyptian pride ("You knew that they acted proudly against them"). This pride (Hebrew hezidu) is highlighted as a direct and arrogant defiance of God's authority and His chosen people, an affront that necessitated divine intervention. God always opposes human arrogance, especially when it leads to the subjugation and abuse of others.

The profound outcome and true purpose of these historical deeds are "You made a name for Yourself, as it is this day." God's judgment on Egypt served as a universal declaration of His unique sovereignty, holiness, and power. His renown became globally recognized, a reputation solidified by His deliverance of Israel. This means God acts not only for His people's liberation but fundamentally for His own glory, making Himself known to all creation. This legacy endures ("as it is this day"), meaning the memory of His power and justice continues to reverberate through generations, serving as a perpetual reminder to both Israel and the nations of His supreme authority and faithfulness. This powerful remembrance should bolster believers' trust in God’s present and future interventions.