Nehemiah 9 20

Nehemiah 9:20 kjv

Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.

Nehemiah 9:20 nkjv

You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, And did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, And gave them water for their thirst.

Nehemiah 9:20 niv

You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst.

Nehemiah 9:20 esv

You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst.

Nehemiah 9:20 nlt

You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them manna from heaven or water for their thirst.

Nehemiah 9 verses

Nehemiah 9 20 Meaning

Nehemiah 9:20 is part of a grand prayer of confession and praise by the Levites, recalling God's faithful provision for Israel during their forty years in the wilderness after the Exodus. This specific verse highlights God's two-fold provision: spiritual and physical. He gave His "good Spirit" to instruct and impart understanding to His people, ensuring they knew His ways and purposes. Simultaneously, He continually supplied their basic needs, never withholding "manna" for their hunger or "water" for their thirst. The verse underscores God's persistent grace and compassionate care, sustaining His people completely, despite their repeated rebellions and hardness of heart, which are recounted throughout Nehemiah 9.

Nehemiah 9 20 Context

Nehemiah 9 is a central chapter, detailing a comprehensive historical confession and worship of God by the Levites after the completion of the wall of Jerusalem and the reading of the Law (Nehemiah 8). The setting is a solemn assembly where the people fast, wear sackcloth, confess their sins, and recount Israel's history of rebellion and God's consistent faithfulness.Verse 20 falls within the section describing the Israelites' forty years in the wilderness (Neh 9:15-22). This period is depicted as a stark contrast between God's miraculous, comprehensive provision and Israel's obstinate unfaithfulness. The preceding verses lament Israel's stubbornness and their choice to return to Egypt, despite God's mighty acts (Neh 9:16-18). However, God, "in your great mercies, did not forsake them in the wilderness" (Neh 9:19). Verse 20, therefore, specifies the concrete ways in which God sustained them, providing both divine guidance through His Spirit and daily physical sustenance, even in their disobedience. It emphasizes the character of God—merciful, gracious, faithful—rather than the merit of Israel.

Nehemiah 9 20 Word analysis

• וְרוּחֲךָ (ve-ruachakha): "And your Spirit." The prefix וְ (ve-) means "and," linking this provision to previous mercies. רוּחֲךָ (ruachakha) refers to God's "Spirit." In the Old Testament, "Ruach" often denotes God's life-giving power, creative energy, and source of wisdom, skill, and prophetic inspiration. Here, it explicitly highlights the divine origin and nature of this guiding presence.
• הַטּוֹבָה (ha-tovah): "the good." This adjective directly modifies "Spirit," emphasizing its benevolent, beneficent, and helpful nature. It underscores that God's Spirit imparts wisdom not for control or manipulation, but for the true welfare and flourishing of His people, guiding them towards goodness. This sets the stage for the Spirit's role in the New Covenant as well.
• נָתַתָּ (natata): "You gave." This verb is repeated in the verse, emphasizing God as the active, gracious giver of these provisions. It highlights divine initiative, generosity, and unmerited favor, countering any idea of human achievement.
• לְהַשְׂכִּילָם (le-haskilam): "to instruct them," "to make them wise," "to give them understanding/insight." The Hiphil infinitive form indicates causation – God enabled them to comprehend. This wasn't merely imparting facts but granting deep spiritual insight necessary for obedience and righteous living. It means to cause one to prosper or gain success through wisdom and discernment, signifying practical guidance for navigating their journey and living according to God's laws given at Sinai.
• וּמַנְךָ (u-mancha): "And your manna." This refers to the miraculous "bread from heaven" (Exod 16) that sustained the Israelites in the wilderness. The possessive "your" signifies that this life-sustaining food was a direct, personal provision from God, not a natural phenomenon or a common commodity. It speaks to God's intimate involvement in meeting daily needs.
• לֹא מָנַעְתָּ (lo manata): "You did not withhold." לֹא (lo) is "not," and מָנַעְתָּ (manata) means "you withheld/kept back." This strong double negative powerfully conveys God's unwavering faithfulness. Despite Israel's rebellion and complaining (often provoked by hunger and thirst), God never stopped supplying their essential sustenance, showcasing His enduring patience and covenant commitment.
• מִפִּיהֶם (mipihem): "from their mouth." This literally refers to the direct consumption of the manna, emphasizing that God ensured their direct access to the provision necessary for physical survival, right down to their daily intake.
• וּמַיִם (u-mayim): "And water." Refers to the miraculous water provided from the rock (Exod 17, Num 20). Essential for life in the arid wilderness. Like manna, its supernatural origin signifies God's direct intervention.
• לָהֶם (lahem): "to them." Emphasizes the direct recipient of God's grace – His people, Israel.
• לִצְמָאָם (li-tsma'am): "for their thirst." This phrase specifically addresses the immediate and vital need the water satisfied, underlining God's compassionate response to their physical suffering and dire necessities in a desolate land.

Nehemiah 9 20 Bonus section

The Hebrew phrase "good Spirit" (רוּחֲךָ הַטּוֹבָה) here in Nehemiah 9:20 has significant theological weight, serving as a rare direct reference to God's Spirit in a qualifying "good" sense within the Old Testament, though its role is often implied. This specific description connects the Spirit to God's benevolent and wise governance, linking it directly to instruction (לְהַשְׂכִּילָם). This concept anticipates the prophetic promise of a renewed Spirit (e.g., Ezekiel 36:27) who would empower people to live according to God's laws, moving from outward instruction to inward transformation. The mention of the "Spirit" alongside manna and water also hints at the holistic nature of God's salvation: He provides for physical survival and spiritual guidance concurrently, establishing a pattern that culminates in Christ, who offers both the bread of life (Himself) and living water (the Holy Spirit). The structure of the wilderness account in Nehemiah 9 often highlights parallelisms or chiastic structures (e.g., God's laws/instruction vs. manna/water), reinforcing that spiritual nourishment is as vital, if not more so, than physical. The divine generosity emphasized by "You gave" and "You did not withhold" in the face of Israel's repeated backsliding underscores the concept of God's hesed (steadfast love and loyalty), which remains immutable regardless of human fickleness.

Nehemiah 9 20 Commentary

Nehemiah 9:20 stands as a poignant testament to the unwavering grace and comprehensive provision of God during Israel's forty years in the wilderness. It paints a picture of a compassionate Father who cares for both the spiritual and physical well-being of His often rebellious children. The "good Spirit" underscores God's commitment to instructing His people, to imparting wisdom, and enabling them to understand and obey His divine law. This isn't just about information transfer; it's about life-giving wisdom and guidance that makes a people thrive in God's will.

Coupled with this spiritual provision, God also ensured their material survival by constantly supplying "manna" for their hunger and "water" for their thirst. The phrase "did not withhold" powerfully emphasizes God's unwavering faithfulness and patience even in the face of persistent grumbling, idol worship, and attempts to return to Egypt (rebellion that the preceding verses highlight). This constant, miraculous provision sustained them and served as a tangible sign of God's covenant love.

This verse reveals the nature of God's sustaining grace, which extends beyond merely tolerating disobedience; it actively provided the means for His people to live and learn from Him. It also implicitly highlights the spiritual and physical interconnectedness of human needs, both being met by divine intervention. The enduring provision serves as a foundational historical precedent for future generations, including those returned from exile, that God's faithfulness outlasts human failings. It teaches us that God's grace is often encountered not as a reward for obedience but as a constant, prevenient stream of sustenance, enabling further steps towards understanding and fidelity.

For practical usage, this verse encourages us to:

• Recognize and trust God's provision in all areas of life, spiritual and physical, even during times of "wilderness" or hardship.
• Attribute our understanding and discernment to God's "good Spirit," seeking His wisdom rather than relying solely on our own intellect.
• Remember that God's patience and faithfulness are constant, even when we fall short, and His mercies are new every morning.