Nehemiah 9 16

Nehemiah 9:16 kjv

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

Nehemiah 9:16 nkjv

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

Nehemiah 9:16 niv

"But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey your commands.

Nehemiah 9:16 esv

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

Nehemiah 9:16 nlt

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

Nehemiah 9 verses

Nehemiah 9 16 Meaning

Nehemiah 9:16 states a key aspect of Israel's historical relationship with God: despite God's consistent provision and leading, their ancestors demonstrated deep-seated spiritual rebellion. This verse highlights three interconnected failures: they "dealt proudly" (acting arrogantly and presumptuously against divine will), "stiffened their neck" (showing obstinate and stubborn resistance to correction and submission), and consequently "did not obey" God's commandments (actively defying His revealed word). It succinctly encapsulates a recurrent theme of human unfaithfulness contrasted with divine faithfulness.

Nehemiah 9 16 Context

Nehemiah 9:16 is an integral part of a lengthy confessional prayer offered by the Levites during a solemn assembly of the restored Israelite community in Jerusalem. Following the reading of God's Law by Ezra (Neh 8) and a period of celebrating the Feast of Booths, the people gather for fasting, wearing sackcloth, and public confession of sins. The prayer, which spans Nehemiah 9:5-38, is a sweeping historical recounting of God's unfailing goodness to Israel from creation, through the Abrahamic covenant, the Exodus, the giving of the Law at Sinai, the wilderness wandering, and their settlement in Canaan. This detailed historical review serves to magnify God's persistent mercy and provision, sharply contrasted with Israel's equally persistent pattern of rebellion and disobedience. Verse 16 specifically targets the generation of the wilderness exodus, often identified as the archetype of stiff-necked defiance, but its placement within the larger historical overview indicates a recurring, systemic problem that characterized their ancestors throughout their history. The prayer culminates in a renewed commitment to covenant faithfulness by the current generation.

Nehemiah 9 16 Word analysis

• But they, our ancestors,

  • "But" (וְאִם - we'im): Functions as a strong adversative, introducing a sharp contrast between God's steadfast kindness (described in preceding verses, Neh 9:15) and Israel's unfaithfulness. It highlights the irrationality of their actions given God's grace.
  • "they, our ancestors" (אֲבֹתֵינוּ - 'ǎḇôṯênū): Literally "our fathers." This is a collective self-identification, acknowledging the continuity of their lineage. It's a humble and honest confession, taking responsibility not just for individual sins but for the inherited tendency towards corporate spiritual failing. It shows their solidarity with the generations before them who often walked in disobedience. This connects the present generation's understanding of their spiritual heritage directly to the historical acts of rebellion.

• dealt proudly

  • "dealt proudly" (הֵזִידוּ - hezidu): From the root ZYD (זיד), meaning "to act presumptuously, defiantly, insolently." This word carries the nuance of acting with an arrogant, willful disregard for God's authority or instruction. It signifies high-handed sin, a conscious and deliberate rebellion against what is known to be God's will. It's more than mere pride; it implies a rebellious action born from arrogance. It’s an internal attitude of self-exaltation that manifests as external defiance, reminiscent of presumption that dares to challenge God’s wisdom or power.

• and stiffened their neck

  • "stiffened their neck" (וַיַּקְשׁוּ אֶת־עָרְפָּם - wayyaqshu et-‘orpam): This is a very common idiom in the Old Testament (e.g., Ex 32:9; Deut 9:13; 2 Ki 17:14; Jer 7:26; Acts 7:51). The root qasha means "to be hard, to make hard." The image is of a draft animal refusing to submit to the yoke, or a person who refuses to bow in humility or receive correction. It indicates obstinacy, stubbornness, recalcitrance, and an unwillingness to humble oneself before God's commands or prophetic warnings. It's a firm, willful refusal to change direction, confess wrong, or obey divine instruction, embodying resistance to God's leadership.

• and did not obey your commandments,

  • "did not obey" (לֹא שָׁמְעוּ - lo sham‘u): From the verb shama‘ (שָׁמַע), which means "to hear, listen, understand, obey." In Hebrew thought, hearing God's word is intrinsically linked to doing it. Therefore, "did not obey" directly flows from a failure to genuinely "hear" or heed God's voice and instructions. It denotes a deliberate neglect or refusal to act in accordance with God's commands, implying a lack of submission and respect for divine authority.
  • "your commandments" (וּמִצְוֺתֶיךָ - umitzẇoteikha): Refers to the divine decrees, statutes, and laws given by God, particularly those revealed through Moses at Sinai. These were God’s specific instructions for how Israel was to live in covenant relationship with Him, distinguishing them from other nations and reflecting His holiness.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "dealt proudly and stiffened their neck": This phrase presents a clear cause-and-effect or progression. Pride (acting presumptuously, internal attitude) leads to an outward manifestation of stubbornness (stiffening the neck, external refusal to bend). The inner defiance fuels the outer resistance.
  • "stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments": This connects the act of obstinacy directly to the outcome of disobedience. Their stubbornness wasn't just a posture; it resulted in concrete actions of not listening and failing to live according to God's revealed will. This highlights the practical consequences of spiritual hardheartedness. The verse provides a chain of progression from inner disposition to outward conduct to resultant action of rebellion against God.

Nehemiah 9 16 Bonus section

The consistent use of this language—pride, stiff neck, disobedience—across different books and centuries of the Old Testament underscores that this was not an isolated incident but a pervasive national characteristic of Israel, demonstrating a fundamental aspect of fallen human nature. The Nehemiah prayer recognizes this not just as past historical fact, but as a crucial lesson for their present and future. By admitting the sin of their ancestors as their own heritage, they express true repentance and recognize the profound grace of God, who patiently endures such rebellion. This acknowledgment serves as a cautionary tale for all who claim God's name, reminding them of the continuous need for humility, submission, and genuine obedience to His commandments, contrasting the New Covenant promise of a new heart to obey with the old covenant struggles of the flesh.

Nehemiah 9 16 Commentary

Nehemiah 9:16 powerfully encapsulates the recurring pattern of Israel's rebellion, emphasizing their self-willed determination to disregard God's way despite His constant faithfulness. It goes beyond simple failure by highlighting the underlying attitudes: "dealt proudly" reveals an arrogant defiance, not merely weakness, against God's supreme authority. This pride led directly to them "stiffening their neck," a stubborn refusal to submit, humble themselves, or heed divine counsel—much like an animal refusing the yoke. This hardened disposition inevitably culminated in their active "disobedience" to God's specific and gracious commandments, revealing that spiritual stubbornness finds its expression in willful disregard for His word. The verse serves as a crucial theological insight into the human heart's capacity for deep-seated rebellion even in the face of immense divine goodness, establishing a contrast that underscores God's enduring patience and grace which persevered despite Israel's persistent unfaithfulness. The confessors in Nehemiah are owning this history as their own, paving the way for a genuine spiritual renewal and repentance.