Nehemiah 9 23

Nehemiah 9:23 kjv

Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

Nehemiah 9:23 nkjv

You also multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, And brought them into the land Which You had told their fathers To go in and possess.

Nehemiah 9:23 niv

You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land that you told their parents to enter and possess.

Nehemiah 9:23 esv

You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you had told their fathers to enter and possess.

Nehemiah 9:23 nlt

You made their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and brought them into the land you had promised to their ancestors.

Nehemiah 9 verses

Nehemiah 9 23 Meaning

Nehemiah 9:23 declares God's steadfast faithfulness in fulfilling His ancient covenant promises to Israel's forefathers. It recounts how God multiplied their descendants to be countless, like the stars, and personally brought them into the Promised Land of Canaan, precisely as He had promised their ancestors. This verse highlights God's active, sovereign work in bringing about His spoken word, even through generations of Israelite history.

Nehemiah 9 23 Context

Nehemiah 9:23 is part of a grand historical prayer offered by the Levites during a solemn assembly in post-exilic Jerusalem, as recounted in Nehemiah chapter 9. This prayer serves as a national confession, reviewing Israel's long history from creation to their current state of servitude. The Levites acknowledge God's continuous goodness and faithfulness despite Israel's persistent rebellion and disobedience. Specifically, verse 23 falls within the section detailing God's miraculous provision during the wilderness wandering and His act of bringing the Israelites into the Promised Land, emphasizing the direct fulfillment of His covenant with their forefathers. This historical overview provides a foundation for the renewed covenant commitment the people were undertaking, reminding them of God's unchanging character as a covenant-keeping God who is true to His word.

Nehemiah 9 23 Word analysis

• You multiplied their children (וַתֶּרֶב אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶם – va-tterev et-b'neihem)

  • וַתֶּרֶב (va-tterev): "And You caused to multiply/to be great." This Hebrew verb (root: רבה, rabah, to be numerous or great) highlights God's direct, active, and causative role. It stresses that Israel's numerical growth was not a natural demographic event but a divine intervention.
  • אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶם (et-b'neihem): "their children/sons." Refers to the countless descendants that sprung from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
  • Significance: Directly affirms the fulfillment of God's foundational promise to Abraham, highlighting divine power and intentionality in overcoming human limitations to produce a vast nation.

• as the stars of heaven (כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם – k'chochevei ha-shamayim)

  • כְּכוֹכְבֵי (k'chochevei): "like the stars of." The prefix כְּ (kə) denotes comparison, vividly linking to God's oath to Abraham in Gen 15:5 and 22:17.
  • הַשָּׁמָיִם (ha-shamayim): "the heavens." This refers to the vast, immeasurable expanse above.
  • Significance: This is a profoundly theological and cultural metaphor in ancient Near Eastern thought, signifying an innumerable multitude and a divine guarantee. It underlines the supernatural aspect of Israel's growth from a single, barren couple into a populous nation. It is a powerful affirmation of divine omnipotence and promise-keeping.

• and brought them into the land (וַתָּבִיאֵם אֶל־הָאָרֶץ – va-tavi'em el-ha'aretz)

  • וַתָּבִיאֵם (va-tavi'em): "And You brought them in." (root: בוא, bo, to come, bring). Again, emphasizing God's direct action in leading His people. The "them" refers to the multiplied descendants.
  • אֶל־הָאָרֶץ (el-ha'aretz): "into the land." This refers specifically to the land of Canaan, repeatedly promised to Abraham and his descendants.
  • Significance: Fulfilled the second critical component of the Abrahamic covenant. It underscores God's sovereignty over nations and territories, directly bringing His chosen people into their inheritance. This divine initiative contrasts with the common ancient Near Eastern belief that land belonged to local deities or was gained purely through military might.

• that you had told their fathers (אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ לַאֲבֹתָם – asher dibbarta la'avotam)

  • אֲשֶׁר (asher): "which, that." Connects the bringing into the land with a prior divine utterance.
  • דִּבַּרְתָּ (dibbarta): "You spoke/declared." (root: דבר, dabar, to speak). Points to the clear, authoritative divine promise.
  • לַאֲבֹתָם (la'avotam): "to their fathers." Specifically refers to the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, establishing a clear link to the initial covenant declaration.
  • Significance: This phrase highlights God's unchangeable word and His enduring covenant with Israel across generations. It reaffirms the long-term, multi-generational nature of God's plans and His unwavering faithfulness despite the intervening periods of Israelite disobedience.

• to enter and possess (לָבוֹא לָרֶשֶׁת – la-vo larachet)

  • לָבוֹא (la-vo): "to enter." (infinitive of בוא, bo, to come, enter).
  • לָרֶשֶׁת (la-reshet): "to possess/inherit." (infinitive of ירשׁ, yarash, to take possession, inherit).
  • Significance: These infinitive phrases detail the explicit purpose for which God brought them into the land – not just to see it or temporarily reside, but to fully occupy, inherit, and exercise dominion over it. This demonstrates the completeness of God's promise fulfillment, leading to a permanent habitation in the covenant land.

• Word-Groups Analysis:

  • "You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven": This group underscores God's power over demographic growth and natural limitations. It fulfills a key Abrahamic promise that initially seemed impossible. This also subtly stands against pagan fertility cults by affirming YHWH as the sole source of true, supernatural fruitfulness.
  • "and brought them into the land that you had told their fathers to enter and possess": This group encapsulates the entire conquest and settlement narrative as a divinely orchestrated act. It emphasizes God's faithfulness to His sworn oath concerning the physical inheritance of the land. This contrasts with common ancient Near Eastern military conquest narratives by centering divine promise and power as the true source of victory and possession.

Nehemiah 9 23 Bonus section

• Theology of Promise-Keeping: This verse stands as a core testament to God's hesed (loyal love and covenant faithfulness). It is a pivotal verse in understanding the continuity of God's work throughout Israel's history, highlighting that His plan is not easily thwarted by human weakness.
• Literary Placement: Its placement in Nehemiah 9, immediately following descriptions of wilderness provision but before enumerating Israel's further apostasies (vv. 25b-30), underscores that God's grace and fulfillment precede and endure through human failure. This creates a striking contrast between divine faithfulness and human faithlessness that permeates the entire chapter.
• Anti-Imperial Polemic: By attributing Israel's multi-generational population growth and land acquisition to God's specific command and action, the text implicitly counters any imperial claims of other nations to possess lands solely through conquest or their deities' favor. It grounds Israel's existence and land tenure firmly in divine election and promise.
• The Land as Inheritance: The use of "to possess" (לָרֶשֶׁת, la-reshet) implies an inheritance, linking it not just to conquest, but to a divinely ordained right and long-term possession, much like a family inheritance. This speaks to a lasting covenant and relationship with God.

Nehemiah 9 23 Commentary

Nehemiah 9:23 provides a profound theological anchor within the great prayer of Nehemiah 9. It functions as a clear statement of God's unfailing commitment to His covenant. Far from leaving the destiny of Israel to chance or their own capabilities, the verse explicitly attributes both their demographic explosion ("as the stars of heaven") and their physical establishment in Canaan ("brought them into the land") to God's direct, active hand. This emphasis on divine agency is crucial: Israel's blessings and their very existence as a nation in the Promised Land are rooted solely in God's character and His freely given, faithfully executed word, rather than their own merits.

The reference to "their fathers" reminds the people in Nehemiah's time of God's long-term faithfulness across generations. It asserts that despite periods of disobedience, exile, and seemingly broken promises, God consistently moves to fulfill His stated purpose. This serves as a powerful encouragement for the returned exiles to renew their covenant commitment, as they are part of this continuing story of God's reliable grace and enduring love. The verse illustrates God as both the Promise-Giver and the Promise-Keeper, a benevolent sovereign whose word is efficacious and sure.