Nehemiah 9 36

Nehemiah 9:36 kjv

Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it:

Nehemiah 9:36 nkjv

"Here we are, servants today! And the land that You gave to our fathers, To eat its fruit and its bounty, Here we are, servants in it!

Nehemiah 9:36 niv

"But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces.

Nehemiah 9:36 esv

Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves.

Nehemiah 9:36 nlt

"So now today we are slaves in the land of plenty that you gave our ancestors for their enjoyment! We are slaves here in this good land.

Nehemiah 9 verses

Nehemiah 9 36 Meaning

This verse serves as a profound confession and lament, expressing the humbling and painful reality of the post-exilic Jewish community. Despite having returned to the very land God had promised their ancestors for blessing and enjoyment, they find themselves in a state of subjugation and servitude under foreign rulers. They are "slaves" not in the literal sense of being owned property, but politically and economically subservient, with the fruits of their land benefiting their Persian overlords rather than themselves. It acknowledges the severity of the consequences of their nation's long history of disobedience, directly contrasting God's faithful promises with their present suffering.

Nehemiah 9 36 Context

Nehemiah 9:36 is located near the culmination of a powerful, extended prayer of confession and praise, initiated by the Levites during a great national assembly in Nehemiah’s time. Following the reading of the Law and the people's repentance, this prayer spans their entire history, from creation through God's covenant with Abraham, the deliverance from Egypt, the giving of the Law, their repeated disobedience, and God's consistent faithfulness in providing and punishing. The verses leading up to this point vividly recount Israel's apostasy, their rejection of God's prophets, and the just consequences that led to their exile and present humble state. Verse 36 dramatically expresses the bitter paradox of their current reality: being back in the Promised Land yet living as vassals under foreign dominion, a direct result of their forefathers' persistent rebellion and a fulfillment of the covenant curses predicted in the Law (e.g., Deuteronomy 28).

Nehemiah 9 36 Word analysis

• Behold (Hebrew: הִנֵּה, hinneh): This interjection serves to call attention to a surprising or significant reality. It acts like an emphatic "Look!" or "Indeed," underscoring the gravity and immediate truth of the following statement.
• we are slaves (Hebrew: אֲנַחְנוּ עֲבָדִים, 'anakhnu 'avadiym): A stark, collective confession of servitude. This is a profound and humbling admission for a people once delivered from Egyptian bondage and promised freedom. It signifies a loss of self-governance and true autonomy.
• this day (Hebrew: הַיּוֹם, hayyom): Emphasizes the immediate, present reality. It roots their confession firmly in their contemporary experience, distinguishing their present plight from past periods of national independence or future hopes.
• and in the land (Hebrew: וּבָאָרֶץ, uvara'eretz): Points directly to the Promised Land. This phrase highlights the profound irony and disappointment of their situation; the place meant for blessing has become a place of subjugation.
• that you gave (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּה, 'asher natatta): Acknowledges God's unchanging faithfulness in fulfilling His original covenant promise to grant the land. Despite their current distress, they confess God as the sovereign giver of their inheritance.
• to our fathers (Hebrew: לַאֲבֹתֵינוּ, la'avoteynu): Connects their present reality to the historical covenant with their ancestors, emphasizing their inherited rights and, by extension, their inherited consequences.
• to eat its fruit (Hebrew: לֶאֱכֹל פִּרְיָהּ, le'ekhol piryah): Signifies the intended blessing and prosperity associated with the land—the enjoyment of its produce without hindrance, reflecting independent livelihood and God’s abundant provision.
• and its good (Hebrew: וְטוּבָהּ, vetuvah): Expands on the idea of the land's blessings beyond just physical fruit, encompassing its overall prosperity, richness, and desirability (milk and honey, peace, security, full enjoyment).
• behold, we are slaves in it (Hebrew: הִנֵּה אֲנַחְנוּ עֲבָדִים בָּהּ, hinneh 'anakhnu 'avadiym bah): This phrase is a powerful repetition for heightened emphasis, bringing the full weight of their paradoxical situation to the fore. The reiteration of "slaves" within the land underscores the severity and specific nature of their bondage – it is in the very place of promised blessing.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Behold, we are slaves this day": This is a direct, honest, and almost shocking confession. It represents the pinnacle of their humble acknowledgement of divine judgment, cutting through any lingering nationalistic pride.
• "and in the land that you gave to our fathers to eat its fruit and its good": This segment paints the glorious picture of God's initial promise and intention for His people regarding the land. It recounts divine faithfulness and generosity, setting a powerful contrast for their current plight.
• "behold, we are slaves in it": This closing phrase powerfully drives home the antithesis to God's generous gift. The repetition of "behold, we are slaves" coupled with "in it" (referring to the land itself) solidifies the tragedy: their very inheritance has become a place of servitude, not freedom.

Nehemiah 9 36 Bonus section

• The poignant use of repetition of "behold, we are slaves" in this single verse highlights the deep shame and unfulfilled covenant ideal. It is a powerful rhetorical device, forcing a direct confrontation with their abject state.
• Historically, this verse accurately reflects the geopolitical reality of the Persian province of Judah, known as Yehud. They were under the authority of Persian governors, required to pay heavy taxes and furnish supplies, effectively functioning as vassals. This system deprived them of true self-determination and national sovereignty, directly impacting their ability to live according to God's intended purpose for them in the land.
• The confession implicitly rejects any notion that God had failed to deliver on His promises. Instead, it places the blame squarely on Israel's own historical unfaithfulness, recognizing their present servitude as a just consequence rather than a divine oversight or weakness.
• This verse contains an underlying polemic against human self-sufficiency or any belief in salvation apart from divine intervention. By confessing their powerlessness ("we are slaves"), they highlight their utter dependence on God to alleviate their distress. It also indirectly asserts God's ultimate sovereignty even over the mighty Persian empire that holds them captive, suggesting their enslavement is ultimately within His providential plan.

Nehemiah 9 36 Commentary

Nehemiah 9:36 stands as the climactic point in Israel's profound prayer of confession, encapsulating the paradoxical and painful reality of the post-exilic community. After meticulously recounting God's enduring faithfulness and their own relentless disobedience, they arrive at the raw admission: they are "slaves" in the very land promised to be their sovereign inheritance. This servitude, while not outright chattel slavery, represented a humiliating political and economic bondage under the Persian Empire. The nation, called to be a light and a free people enjoying God's rich provision, found itself compelled to pay tribute from the "fruit and good" of its own land, unable to fully enjoy the blessings freely. This served as a chilling fulfillment of the covenant curses outlined in the Torah, emphasizing that possessing the land did not guarantee blessing without obedience. The repetition of "we are slaves" intensifies the depth of their lament, underscoring the inescapable truth of their predicament and leaving them entirely dependent on God's future grace and intervention for genuine freedom and restoration.