Nehemiah 9 28

Nehemiah 9:28 kjv

But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the land of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies;

Nehemiah 9:28 nkjv

"But after they had rest, They again did evil before You. Therefore You left them in the hand of their enemies, So that they had dominion over them; Yet when they returned and cried out to You, You heard from heaven; And many times You delivered them according to Your mercies,

Nehemiah 9:28 niv

"But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time.

Nehemiah 9:28 esv

But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies.

Nehemiah 9:28 nlt

"But as soon as they were at peace, your people again committed evil in your sight, and once more you let their enemies conquer them. Yet whenever your people turned and cried to you again for help, you listened once more from heaven. In your wonderful mercy, you rescued them many times!

Nehemiah 9 verses

Nehemiah 9 28 Meaning

Nehemiah 9:28 encapsulates the cyclical pattern of Israel's history, particularly during the period of the Judges: when granted peace and prosperity, the people repeatedly abandoned God and engaged in evil practices. Consequently, God delivered them into the hands of their enemies as a form of disciplinary judgment. However, whenever they genuinely repented and cried out to Him in their distress, God, demonstrating His abundant compassion and faithfulness, consistently heard their pleas from heaven and delivered them from their oppressors multiple times. The verse underscores God's unwavering mercy in the face of human persistent unfaithfulness.

Nehemiah 9 28 Context

Nehemiah 9:28 is an integral part of a lengthy prayer of confession and praise delivered by the Levites during a solemn assembly in the post-exilic period, following the dedication of the newly rebuilt wall of Jerusalem. This chapter, specifically from verse 5, recounts God's benevolent actions from creation through the calling of Abraham, the Exodus, the giving of the Law, wilderness wanderings, conquest of Canaan, and the era of the Judges, kingship, and the eventual Babylonian exile and return.

The immediate context of verse 28 focuses on the cycle that repeatedly occurred during Israel's history after the conquest of Canaan, notably reflecting the historical narrative found in the Book of Judges. It acknowledges Israel's tendency to backslide into sin after periods of peace, prompting divine judgment (handing them over to enemies). Yet, it also emphasizes God's consistent responsiveness to their cries of repentance and His repeated acts of deliverance, always driven by His inherent mercy rather than Israel's merit.

Historically, this prayer occurs well after the Babylonian exile, when the remnant has returned to Judah under Persian rule. While they are back in the land, they are not fully independent but subject to a foreign power. The prayer thus serves as a powerful theological reflection for the contemporary audience—a confession that their current diminished state is a result of their ancestors' persistent disobedience, but also a source of hope that God's mercy, which was evident "many times" in the past, remains available for their present and future struggles. The comprehensive review of Israel's history served to remind them of their heritage, their covenant obligations, and above all, God's enduring faithfulness.

Nehemiah 9 28 Word analysis

• But as soon as they had rest: Hebrew: וּכְנוֹחַ לָהֶם (u'khno'ach lahem). "Rest" (nuach) implies a state of peace, security, and prosperity granted by God, often after a period of affliction. This highlights Israel's pattern of forgetting God when conditions were good.

• they did evil again before you: Hebrew: וַיָּשׁוּבוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת רַע לְפָנֶיךָ (vayyashuvu la'asot ra' lifanekha). The verb shuv ("to return") emphasizes a repeated action. They "returned to doing evil," suggesting a ingrained inclination or relapse. "Before you" (lifanekha) stresses that their rebellion was a direct and open affront to God Himself.

• and you abandoned them: Hebrew: וַתִּתְּנֵם (vatittenem). Literally, "and you gave them." This indicates a deliberate act of divine judgment, not passive disinterest. God "gave them over" as a consequence of their sin, delivering them into enemy control.

• to the hand of their enemies: Hebrew: בְּיַד צָרֵיהֶם (b'yad tsarechem). "Hand" (yad) signifies power, authority, and control. God used their adversaries as instruments of His righteous discipline, allowing these enemies to exercise dominion.

• so that they had dominion over them: Hebrew: וַיִּשְׁלְטוּ בָּהֶם (vayyishtlu bahem). This describes the oppressive reality of being under the power and control of another. It represents the loss of national sovereignty and freedom.

• Yet when they turned: Hebrew: וַיָּשׁוּבוּ (vayyashuvu). Again, the verb shuv is used, but this time it signifies "returning to God," implying repentance. It contrasts their turning to evil with a turning towards their Deliverer.

• and cried to you: Hebrew: וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אֵלֶיךָ (vayyiz'aqu eilekha). This signifies a desperate, urgent cry for help, a distress signal from those under oppression. It expresses helplessness and a plea for divine intervention.

• you heard from heaven: Hebrew: וְאַתָּה שָׁמַעְתָּ מִשָּׁמַיִם (v'attah shama'ta mishamayim). "From heaven" denotes God's transcendent dwelling place, emphasizing His divine authority, omnipresence, and readiness to intervene in human affairs. His hearing is an act of attentive responsiveness.

• and delivered them: Hebrew: וַתַּצִּילֵם (vattatzilem). "Delivered" (natzal) means to rescue, snatch away, or save. This signifies God's active intervention to liberate His people.

• many times: Hebrew: פְּעָמִים רַבּוֹת (p'amim rabbot). This phrase highlights the frequent and repeated nature of God's acts of rescue. It emphasizes His enduring patience and willingness to save His people repeatedly despite their recidivism.

• according to your mercies: Hebrew: כְּרַחֲמֶיךָ (k'rakhamykha). "Mercies" (rakhamim) refers to God's deep, compassionate love, often described as a mother's profound pity for her child. It denotes an inner disposition of pity and compassion that moves God to act. This phrase is crucial; it explicitly states that God's repeated acts of deliverance were not based on Israel's merit, but solely on His inherent, boundless compassion and steadfast love.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "But as soon as they had rest, they did evil again before you": This highlights Israel's persistent spiritual amnesia and moral degradation in times of blessing. When physical and national security were attained, they forgot their Deliverer and reverted to sin, revealing a deep-seated spiritual rebellion.
  • "and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them": This phrase explains divine disciplinary action. God's act of "abandoning" them to enemies was not arbitrary but a just consequence for their rebellion. It led to their subjugation, intended to bring them to repentance.
  • "Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven and delivered them many times": This demonstrates God's consistent responsiveness to sincere repentance. Despite repeated disobedience, His ear was never closed to their cries for help when they acknowledged their need and sought Him. This part emphasizes God's proactive role in rescuing them.
  • "according to your mercies": This profound theological declaration underlines the core motivation for all God's deliverances. It reveals that His faithfulness and intervention stem purely from His divine character—His boundless compassion and enduring steadfast love—not from any deserving actions or merit on the part of Israel.

Nehemiah 9 28 Bonus section

The repetitive use of the Hebrew root shuv ("to return") is a crucial literary and theological device in this verse. It is first used negatively, "they returned to do evil" (vayyashuvu la'asot ra), signifying apostasy and relapse into sin. Then, it is used positively, "when they turned and cried to you" (vayyashuvu vayi’za’aqu), signifying repentance and a turning back towards God. This stark contrast highlights the dual aspect of teshuvah (repentance) in biblical thought: a turning away from sin and a turning towards God.

This verse strongly aligns with the concept of God's hesed (steadfast love/covenant faithfulness) and rahamim (mercy/compassion) which are central themes woven throughout this chapter and indeed, the entire Old Testament. The phrase "according to your mercies" (כְּרַחֲמֶיךָ, k'rakhamykha) draws directly from descriptions of God's character revealed at Sinai (e.g., Exod 34:6-7) and reinforces that God's actions are consistently rooted in His essential being rather than a transactional response to human merit. This deep well of divine compassion is the ultimate source of Israel's repeated deliverance and hope.

Nehemiah 9 28 Commentary

Nehemiah 9:28 is a microcosm of Israel's pre-exilic history, particularly the chaotic period of the Judges. It paints a stark picture of human frailty and divine faithfulness. Israel repeatedly demonstrated a spiritual amnesia, forgetting God when blessed with peace and reverting to idol worship and wickedness. This consistently led to divine judgment, where God allowed them to be oppressed by enemies, not out of malice, but as a disciplinary measure designed to turn their hearts back to Him. The powerful truth is that whenever the people, humbled by suffering, genuinely cried out to God in repentance, He, consistent with His compassionate nature, heard their pleas "from heaven" and delivered them "many times." This constant cycle underscores the inexhaustible patience and boundless mercy of God. For the returned exiles confessing this prayer, it served as a sobering confession of their historical tendency towards rebellion and a foundational reminder of God's unchanging readiness to save based on His character, not theirs. It encourages present-day humility, swift repentance, and reliance on God's unwavering compassion, rather than trusting in fleeting periods of comfort or human strength.