Nehemiah 9 7

Nehemiah 9:7 kjv

Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;

Nehemiah 9:7 nkjv

"You are the LORD God, Who chose Abram, And brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans, And gave him the name Abraham;

Nehemiah 9:7 niv

"You are the LORD God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham.

Nehemiah 9:7 esv

You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham.

Nehemiah 9:7 nlt

"You are the LORD God, who chose Abram and brought him from Ur of the Chaldeans and renamed him Abraham.

Nehemiah 9 verses

Nehemiah 9 7 Meaning

Nehemiah 9:7 declares the enduring identity and specific actions of God as Lord God, the one who supernaturally chose Abram. This divine selection involved calling Abram out from the polytheistic civilization of Ur of the Chaldeans, a significant act of separation and pilgrimage. Furthermore, it highlights God's personal relationship with Abram through the renaming to Abraham, signifying a transformation tied to the divine promise and covenant to become the "father of a multitude." This verse establishes the foundational act of God in initiating the covenant relationship with Israel through their patriarch.

Nehemiah 9 7 Context

Nehemiah 9:7 is situated within a lengthy communal prayer of confession, remembrance, and intercession offered by the Levites during a solemn assembly. This prayer follows the reading and understanding of the Law, particularly the Festival of Booths, which ignited deep spiritual introspection among the people of Judah upon their return from Babylonian exile. The chapter serves as a theological retrospect, rehearsing God's consistent faithfulness throughout Israel's history despite the nation's persistent rebellion. The prayer begins by acknowledging God's unique identity as YHWH (Neh 9:6) and then recounts pivotal moments from salvation history, starting with the foundational call of Abraham, as a testimony to God's initiating and sustaining grace. It establishes the theological premise that Israel’s very existence as a distinct people is a result of God’s sovereign choice and action, not their own merit, setting the stage for their corporate confession of sin and plea for divine mercy. Historically, the people stood at a juncture of rebuilding and recommitting, looking back at their past failures but clinging to God's enduring covenant promises, exemplified by His faithfulness to Abraham.

Nehemiah 9 7 Word analysis

• You are the Lord God, (אַתָּה הוּא יְהוָה הָאֱלֹהִים - Atah Hu YHWH Ha-Elohim):
  • אַתָּה (Atah): Hebrew pronoun for "You." Emphasizes God's direct personal address and singular nature.
  • הוּא (Hu): "He," "it is He." Functions here as a definite article or an intensifying particle, reinforcing God's unique identity. "You are He, YHWH, the God."
  • יְהוָה (YHWH): The personal, covenantal name of God (Tetragrammaton). It speaks of His eternal, self-existent, faithful nature. Signifies God as the one who always keeps His promises. This name was revealed specifically to Moses and embodies God's covenant relationship with Israel.
  • הָאֱלֹהִים (Ha-Elohim): "The God." Elohim is a generic term for God, but with the definite article, "the," it refers to the one true God, highlighting His supreme authority and creative power over all other so-called gods. The combination "YHWH Ha-Elohim" uniquely identifies the specific, personal, covenant-keeping God who is the sole true deity. This combination refutes polytheism and acknowledges Him as the unique source of all existence.
• who chose (אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתָּ - asher bacharta):
  • אֲשֶׁר (asher): "who" or "that," introducing a relative clause.
  • בָּחַרְתָּ (bacharta): Qal perfect, 2nd person masculine singular of bachar, "to choose, elect, select." Implies a sovereign, intentional, and deliberate act of divine preference. It denotes a proactive and gracious choice without prior merit from the chosen one. This highlights God's initiation of the covenant relationship.
• Abram (אַבְרָם - Avram):
  • The original name, meaning "exalted father" or "my father is exalted." This name reflects his early identity before God's specific promises. It is mentioned to underscore the contrast with his later divinely-given name and the transformation that occurred.
• and brought him forth (וְהוֹצֵאתָ - vehotzeta):
  • וְ (ve): "and."
  • הוֹצֵאתָ (hotzeta): Hiphil perfect, 2nd person masculine singular of yatza, "to go out, come forth." The Hiphil stem makes it causative, meaning "caused to go forth," "brought out," or "led forth." This signifies God's powerful, guiding action, physically removing Abram from his previous environment.
• from Ur of the Chaldeans (מֵאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים - me’Ur Kasdim):
  • מֵ (me): "from."
  • אוּר (Ur): A major Mesopotamian city, culturally and religiously advanced but steeped in idolatry and polytheism, particularly the worship of the moon god Nanna (or Sin). This emphasizes the context of Abram's origin: he was called from a place that embodied the opposite of monotheistic worship.
  • כַּשְׂדִּים (Kasdim): "Chaldeans." A Semitic people who dominated southern Mesopotamia, indicating the region where Ur was located. Their civilization was known for its astrology and worship of many gods. This context heightens God's unique, singular call to Abram to be separated for a special purpose.
• and gave him the name (וַתִּתֶּן־לוֹ שֵׁם - vattitten-lo shem):
  • וַתִּתֶּן (vattitten): waw consecutive + imperfect of nathan, "to give, set, place." Expresses God's direct, authoritative act of conferring a new identity.
  • לוֹ (lo): "to him."
  • שֵׁם (shem): "name." In the ancient Near East, a name was not merely a label but often signified character, destiny, or a new identity/role.
• Abraham (אַבְרָהָם - Avraham):
  • The new, divinely conferred name, meaning "father of a multitude" (Gen 17:5). This name encapsulates God's specific promise of abundant progeny and the foundation of a nation, linking directly to the covenant of fertility and land. This renaming highlights God's transformational power and His faithfulness to His word, reshaping a man's identity to align with His divine plan.

Nehemiah 9 7 Bonus section

This verse reflects a significant theological concept known as divine election or choice, where God takes the first step in establishing a relationship, a pattern repeated throughout biblical history. It subtly serves as a polemic against the polytheism and astral worship prevalent in Ur of the Chaldeans by emphasizing YHWH's unique sovereignty and ability to call out a single individual for His purposes, demonstrating that there is no other god who initiates history in this manner. The act of bringing Abram forth from Ur is a prototype of spiritual deliverance and separation, foreshadowing Israel's deliverance from Egypt and even the New Testament call for believers to be "in the world but not of the world." The renaming from Abram to Abraham is a key covenant marker, illustrating how God alters one's identity and destiny in line with His promises and transforming power. This re-naming connects deeply with God's ongoing work of sanctification and making His people new creations in Christ.

Nehemiah 9 7 Commentary

Nehemiah 9:7 encapsulates the divine initiative at the dawn of Israel's history. It asserts that God is not merely a distant deity, but the active "Lord God" (YHWH Elohim), personal and all-powerful, who proactively chose Abram, an individual from an idolatrous background. This highlights God's grace and sovereignty: He selects whom He wills, not based on merit. The calling "from Ur of the Chaldeans" emphasizes separation from paganism and a divine redirection towards a new identity and purpose. This historical act underscored the covenant, setting Abram apart as the progenitor of a distinct people, chosen by God. The renaming to Abraham signifies God's transformative power, embedding His promise into Abram's very being – he would be the "father of a multitude." This verse lays the groundwork for Israel's identity as a people chosen and led by a faithful God, setting the stage for subsequent historical recountings in the prayer where God's unwavering faithfulness is contrasted with Israel's often-straying heart. It serves as a reminder that their entire existence is rooted in God's unilateral election and covenant-keeping nature.