Nehemiah 9:16
What does Nehemiah 9:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 9:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 9:16 means
Despite God’s gracious acts, the people and their fathers acted proudly, stiffening their necks and refusing to heed His commandments. The verse names the heart of sin as pride and stubbornness. Rather than softening under mercy, they hardened under privilege. This is not merely a momentary lapse but a pattern of resisting God’s authority. By confessing this, the community acknowledges that the root problem lies within, not in circumstances. The verse also prepares the way for God’s mercy to shine even brighter: human sin is not met with divine abandonment. Honest confession starts with calling rebellion what it is—willful rejection of known commands.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to thy commandments,
KJV
King James Version · 1611But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to thy commandments,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But they and our fathers, in their pride, made their necks stiff, and gave no attention to your orders,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And they and our fathers have acted proudly, and harden their neck, and have not hearkened unto Thy commands,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks and hearkened not to thy commandments.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But they, our fathers, dealt proudly, and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to thy commandments,
Context
After the litany of God’s goodness, the narrative pivots to Israel’s unfaithfulness. Verse 16 introduces themes expanded in the next verses: refusal to obey, forgetfulness of wonders, and even a desire to return to bondage. This confession frames the golden calf episode (verse 18) and sets up the repeated refrain that, in spite of such provocations, God did not forsake His people.
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.
v.16This passage
v.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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 81:11
But my people hearkened not to my voice; And Israel would none of me.
- Psalms 78:8
And might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that set not their heart aright, And whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
- Nehemiah 9:29
and testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law. Yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thine ordinances (which if a man do, he shall live in them), and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
- Deuteronomy 1:26
Yet ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of Jehovah your God:
- Proverbs 29:1
He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
- Jeremiah 2:31
O generation, see ye the word of Jehovah. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? or a land of thick darkness? wherefore say my people, We are broken loose; we will come no more unto thee?
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…