Nehemiah 9 27

Nehemiah 9:27 kjv

Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.

Nehemiah 9:27 nkjv

Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their enemies, Who oppressed them; And in the time of their trouble, When they cried to You, You heard from heaven; And according to Your abundant mercies You gave them deliverers who saved them From the hand of their enemies.

Nehemiah 9:27 niv

So you delivered them into the hands of their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.

Nehemiah 9:27 esv

Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies.

Nehemiah 9:27 nlt

So you handed them over to their enemies, who made them suffer. But in their time of trouble they cried to you, and you heard them from heaven. In your great mercy, you sent them liberators who rescued them from their enemies.

Nehemiah 9 verses

Nehemiah 9 27 Meaning

Nehemiah 9:27 explains a recurring pattern in the history of Israel: as a consequence of their disobedience and forsaking God, the Lord delivered them into the hands of their oppressors. However, when they cried out to Him in their distress, God, in His immense compassion and faithfulness, heard their desperate pleas from heaven and sent them deliverers, known as saviors, who rescued them from the grasp of their enemies. This verse highlights God's justice in discipline and His unfailing mercy in deliverance.

Nehemiah 9 27 Context

Nehemiah chapter 9 records a lengthy prayer offered by the Levites during a solemn day of national repentance and covenant renewal, following the reading of God's Law in Nehemiah 8. This prayer is a profound recounting of Israel's history, highlighting God's faithfulness from creation, through the covenant with Abraham, the Exodus, the wilderness wanderings, the conquest of Canaan, the period of the Judges, the monarchy, and finally, their current state in the post-exilic era. Nehemiah 9:27 specifically refers to the tumultuous period of the Judges (roughly 14th to 11th century BC). During this time, Israel repeatedly fell into idolatry and disobedience after the death of each deliverer, leading to divine judgment in the form of oppression by surrounding nations. This verse captures the cyclical pattern described in the Book of Judges: apostasy, oppression, crying out to God, and God's compassionate deliverance through a chosen "savior" (Judge). The prayer contrasts Israel's perpetual unfaithfulness with God's enduring and abundant mercy.

Nehemiah 9 27 Word analysis

• Therefore you delivered them (נָתַתָּם, natattam): The Hebrew word natan means "to give," "to place," "to deliver." Here, it signifies God's direct, intentional action of handing His people over to their enemies. This emphasizes God's sovereignty and agency in using adversaries as instruments of discipline for His covenant people. It is not merely permission, but an active 'giving over' as a consequence of their sin.

• into the hand of their enemies (בְּיַד צָרֵיהֶם, beyad tsarehem): "Hand" (יָד, yad) denotes power, control, and authority. "Enemies" (צָרִים, tsarim) plural, referring to those who inflict distress, oppressors. This phrase underscores their total subjugation and the severity of their condition.

• who oppressed them (וַיָּצֵרוּ לָהֶם, vayyatsru lahem): The verb (יָצֵר, yatsar) means "to press," "to distress," "to bind," "to besiege." It conveys the harsh reality of the persecution they suffered, a squeezing or confining experience due to their servitude.

• but when they cried to You (וּבְעֵת צָעֲקָם אֵלֶיךָ, uv'eht tsa'aqam eilekha): "Cried" (צָעַק, tsa'aq) refers to a loud, desperate cry or wail, usually from distress, indicating profound pain and urgent need for intervention. This suggests a turning point, a recognition of their helpless state and a desperate plea towards their only hope.

• in the time of their trouble (בְּעֵת צָרָתָם, b'eht tsaratam): "Trouble" (צָרָה, tsarah) is from the same root as tsarim (enemies), denoting distress, affliction, narrowness, or tightness. It highlights the direct link between their oppressors and the resulting affliction.

• You heard from heaven (שָׁמַעְתָּ מִשָּׁמַיִם, sham'ata mishamayim): "Heard" (שָׁמַע, shama) implies not just perception of sound, but attentive hearing that leads to action. "From heaven" signifies God's transcendence, omnipresence, and ultimate authority, as well as His attentiveness from His throne. It shows that despite their unfaithfulness, God was not distant.

• and in Your great mercy (וּבְרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, uv'rakhamaiykha harabbim): "Mercy" (רַחֲמִים, rachamim) is a deep, visceral compassion, often described as a mother's tenderness for her child, stemming from the Hebrew word for "womb." "Great" (רַבִּים, rabbim) signifies abundance, emphasizing the vastness and overflowing nature of God's compassion, not deserved but freely given.

• gave them saviors (נָתַתָּ לָהֶם מוֹשִׁיעִים, natatta lahem moshi'im): "Gave" again emphasizes divine initiative. "Saviors" (מוֹשִׁיעִים, moshi'im) is plural and refers to the Judges raised up by God, such as Othniel, Ehud, Gideon, Deborah, Jephthah, and Samson. This term points to their divine appointment and specific function as deliverers. In the broader biblical context, it foreshadows the ultimate, singular Savior.

• who saved them from the hand of their enemies (וַיּוֹשִׁיעוּם מִיַּד צָרֵיהֶם, vayyoshieum miyyad tsarehem): The repetition of "saved" (יָשַׁע, yasha - to deliver, to rescue, to save) stresses the reality and completeness of the deliverance. "From the hand" reinforces their liberation from the oppressive power and control of their adversaries. This cyclical action highlights God's unwavering commitment to His covenant.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their enemies who oppressed them": This phrase succinctly states the divine judgment for sin. God is not merely passive, but actively orchestrates the consequences. The "hand of their enemies" signifies total subjection, and "oppressed them" vividly portrays the harsh reality of their suffering under judgment. This reflects the conditional nature of the Old Covenant where blessing followed obedience and curse followed disobedience (Deut 28).
  • "but when they cried to You in the time of their trouble, You heard from heaven": This is the turning point. It shows God's readiness to respond to genuine cries for help, regardless of the severity of past sin. Their cry in "trouble" is a desperate turning away from their reliance on self, back to the Lord. God's hearing "from heaven" emphasizes His transcendent nature and His attentive care, bridging the gap between divine holiness and human brokenness.
  • "and in Your great mercy gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies": This encapsulates God's character of unfailing compassion and grace. The phrase highlights the abundance ("great") of God's mercy as the motive for His intervention. He sovereignly "gave" them deliverers ("saviors"), reaffirming His role as the active provider of salvation. The repeated "saved them from the hand of their enemies" underscores the complete and practical nature of the deliverance He provided through these human instruments.

Nehemiah 9 27 Bonus section

The "saviors" (מוֹשִׁיעִים, moshi'im) mentioned in Nehemiah 9:27 are clearly identifiable with the Judges. This term holds significant theological weight, as Yasha, the root verb, is directly linked to "salvation" and the name "Jesus" (Yeshua). This makes the plural "saviors" in Judges a prophetic anticipation of the one, ultimate Savior, Jesus Christ. The cyclical nature of Israel's sin and God's repeated deliverance highlights that temporary human deliverers could not solve the fundamental problem of sin and a broken covenant relationship. Only a complete, once-for-all salvation, found in Christ, could truly break this cycle, not just from external enemies but from the inner power of sin itself. Thus, the passage, while reflecting on the past, subtly points forward to a greater redemptive work. This historical recounting emphasizes that God's mercy is rooted in His character, not contingent on Israel's merit, thereby showcasing His prevenient grace and unwavering covenant love.

Nehemiah 9 27 Commentary

Nehemiah 9:27 encapsulates the defining pattern of Israel's history during the Judges period: a repeating cycle of covenant infidelity, resulting in divine chastisement through enemy oppression, followed by a desperate cry for help, and then God's compassionate response by raising deliverers. It illustrates God's unyielding commitment to His covenant, even when His people are disobedient. His 'delivery' of them to their enemies underscores divine sovereignty and justice. Yet, the instant "when they cried," His response was not delay but immediate hearing from His transcendent dwelling "from heaven." The emphasis on "great mercy" reveals His character of profound compassion that overrides strict justice, compelling Him to provide "saviors." These 'saviors' (Judges) were God's appointed instruments of rescue, anticipating the ultimate singular Savior, Jesus Christ. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of God's longsuffering patience, His willingness to deliver despite unworthiness, and the importance of crying out to Him in times of distress. Practically, it encourages reliance on God even in self-inflicted hardship, knowing His mercy is abundant.