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Nehemiah 9:16

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Nehemiah 9:16 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to thy commandments,” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to thy commandments,
Nehemiah 9:16 — American Standard Version

Context — Nehemiah 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
16But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to thy commandments,
17and refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and forsookest them not.
18Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;
19yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud departed not from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go.
← Nehemiah 9:15Nehemiah 9:17 →
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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
“But they and our fathers dealt proudly, etc.] Behaved in a haughty manner towards God, their kind benefactor: and hardened their necks; refused to take the yoke of his law, as refractory oxen, that withdraw their necks from the yoke: and hearkened not to thy commandments; to do them, though they promised they would, (<022407>Exodus 24:7).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“dealt: Neh 9:10, Neh 9:29; Exo 32:9; Deu 9:6, Deu 9:13, Deu 9:23, Deu 9:24, Deu 9:27, Deu 32:15; Psa. 78:8-72, Psa 106:6; Isa 63:10; Jer 2:31; Act 7:51 hardened: Deu 31:27; Kg2 17:14; Ch2 30:8, Ch2 36:13; Psa 95:8-10; Pro 29:1; Isa 48:4; Jer 19:15; Rom 2:5; Heb 3:13, Heb 3:15 hearkened: Exo 15:26; Deu 5:29; Psa 81:8, Psa 81:11-14; Isa 48:18; There were two things to which the Israelites did not duly give heed, else they had not done as they did. The word of God they heard, but they gave no heed to God's commandments, and the works of God they saw, but were not mindful of his wonders. Had they really considered them as miracles, they would have obeyed from a principle of faith and holy fear:…”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Even the fathers to whom God had shown such favour, repeatedly departed from and rebelled against Him; but God of His great mercy did not forsake them, but brought them into possession of the promised land. Neh 9:16-17 "And they, even our fathers, dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to Thy commandments. Neh 9:17 They refused to obey, and were not mindful of Thy wonders that Thou didst amongst them; and hardened their necks, and appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not." In these verses the conduct of the children of Israel towards God is…”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification