Nehemiah 9:13
What does Nehemiah 9:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 9:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 9:13 means
God descended upon Mount Sinai and spoke from heaven, giving right ordinances, true laws, and good statutes and commandments. The emphasis lies on the goodness and truthfulness of God’s revealed will. Sinai is not merely a set of rules but the gracious disclosure of how to live in covenant with a holy God. The Law reflects His character and is intended for the people’s good. This verse corrects any notion that divine commands are burdensome in themselves; they are just and reliable. After rescue, God dignifies His people by addressing them and shaping their life together with righteous instruction that distinguishes them from the nations.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,
KJV
King James Version · 1611Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And you came down on Mount Sinai, and your voice came to them from heaven, giving them right decisions and true laws, good rules and orders:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And on mount Sinai Thou hast come down, even to speak with them from the heavens, and Thou dost give to them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commands.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Thou camest down also to mount Sinai, and didst speak with them from heaven, and thou gavest them right judgments, and the law of truth, ceremonies, and good precepts.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And thou camest down on mount Sinai, and didst speak with them from the heavens, and gavest them right judgments and true laws, good statutes and commandments.
Context
Guidance in the wilderness is now paired with guidance through revelation. Verse 13 lays the foundation for verse 14’s focus on the Sabbath and on Moses as God’s servant. The prayer moves from deliverance to instruction because true freedom involves knowing and doing God’s will, not merely escaping from Egypt.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 4:33
Did ever a people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?
- Isaiah 64:3
When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains quaked at thy presence.
- Deuteronomy 4:10
the day that thou stoodest before Jehovah thy God in Horeb, when Jehovah said unto me, Assemble me the people, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.
- Deuteronomy 33:2
And he said, Jehovah came from Sinai, And rose from Seir unto them; He shined forth from mount Paran, And he came from the ten thousands of holy ones: At his right hand was a fiery law for them.
- Psalms 119:160
The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever. ש SHIN.
- Psalms 119:137
Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, And upright are thy judgments.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Nehemiah 9
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Nehemiah 9.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Confession of Sin
Confession of sin is an essential step in drawing near to God and receiving His forgiveness and cleansing.
Topic
Bible Verses About Fasting
Fasting in the Bible is a spiritual discipline involving abstinence from food for a period, often coupled with prayer and repentance.
What the Bible says about…