Nehemiah 9:14
What does Nehemiah 9:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 9:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 9:14 means
God made known His holy sabbath and commanded commandments, statutes, and a law by Moses His servant. The sabbath stands out as a sanctified sign of rest and relationship, setting Israel’s weekly rhythm under God’s rule. Moses is recognized as the faithful mediator through whom God delivered His commands. The verse underscores that Israel’s way of life—rest, work, worship—was ordered by God’s revelation. This is grace: God does not leave His people to guess how to live. The holiness of the sabbath especially marks Israel as distinct, reminding them of creation’s pattern and redemption’s rest, both gifts rooted in God’s authority and care.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them commandments, and statutes, and a law, by Moses thy servant,
KJV
King James Version · 1611And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them commandments, and statutes, and a law, by Moses thy servant,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And you gave them word of your holy Sabbath, and gave them orders and rules and a law, by the hand of Moses your servant:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Thy holy sabbath Thou hast made known to them, and commands, and statutes, and law, Thou hast commanded for them, by the hand of Moses Thy servant;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Thou madest known to them thy holy sabbath, and didst prescribe to them commandments, and ceremonies, and the law by the hand of Moses thy servant.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And thou madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and prescribedst for them commandments and statutes and a law, through Moses thy servant.
Context
Having affirmed the goodness of God’s laws, the prayer names the sabbath and Moses to highlight key features of covenant life. Verse 15 will then recall God’s provision of food and water and His command to possess the land. Together these verses show that God forms, feeds, and leads His people, giving both instruction and sustenance toward their promised inheritance.
v.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,
v.14This passage
v.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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 2:3
And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it he rested from all his work which God had created and made.
- Exodus 20:8
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
- Leviticus 27:34
These are the commandments, which Jehovah commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.
- Exodus 21:1
Now these are the ordinances which thou shalt set before them.
- John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
- Deuteronomy 4:5
Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as Jehovah my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the midst of the land whither ye go in to possess it.
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