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Nehemiah 9:12

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Nehemiah 9:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Moreover in a pillar of cloud thou leddest them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Moreover in a pillar of cloud thou leddest them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.
Nehemiah 9:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Nehemiah 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9And thou sawest the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red Sea,
10and showedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land; for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them, and didst get thee a name, as it is this day.
11And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their pursuers thou didst cast into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters.
12Moreover in a pillar of cloud thou leddest them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.
13Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,
14and madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them commandments, and statutes, and a law, by Moses thy servant,
15and gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and commandedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.
← Nehemiah 9:11Nehemiah 9:13 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Moreover, thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar, etc.] The Israelites, to shelter them from the heat of the sun in a dry and barren wilderness: and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go; through a trackless desert, see (<021321>Exodus 13:21,22).”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“9:12-21 This prayer reminded the people of God’s miraculous direction of Israel in the wilderness (Exod 13:21-22), his personal appearance at Mount Sinai to reveal his covenant laws through Moses (see Exod 19–20), and his faithfulness in providing bread . . . and water (see Exod 16:4; 17:1-6). Despite all of that, Israel’s ancestors had been proud and stubborn and refused to obey (see Exod 32; Num 14:4). Yet in his grace, God remained faithful and had compassion (see Exod 34:6) and provided his Spirit to direct and teach them (cp. Exod 33:2; Num 11:17).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“thou leddest: Neh 9:19; Exo 13:21, Exo 13:22, Exo 14:19, Exo 14:20; Psa 78:14, Psa 105:39 in the way: Psa 107:7, Psa 143:8 Nehemiah 9:13”
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Related study paths

Read Nehemiah 9 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification