Nehemiah 9:22
What does Nehemiah 9:22 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 9:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 9:22 means
God gave them kingdoms and peoples, allotting portions so they possessed the land of Sihon, king of Heshbon, and of Og, king of Bashan. Victories were gifts, not trophies of human prowess. The distribution language suggests God’s sovereign apportionment; He is the Lord of history who sets boundaries and grants possession. This verse begins the transition from wilderness provision to conquest, affirming that God’s promise takes concrete shape in land. The focus stays on divine initiative: He “gavest” them these domains. Remembering this will later heighten the tragedy that even in abundance, the people turned away, forgetting the Giver amid the gifts.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and peoples, which thou didst allot after their portions: so they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and peoples, which thou didst allot after their portions: so they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And you gave them kingdoms and peoples, making distribution to them in every part of the land: so they took for their heritage the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og, king of Bashan.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And Thou givest to them kingdoms, and peoples, and dost apportion them to the corner, and they possess the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And thou gavest them kingdoms, and nations, and didst divide lots for them: and they possessed the land of Sehon, and the land of the king of Hesebon, and the land of Og king of Basan.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And thou gavest them kingdoms and peoples, and didst divide them by countries; and they possessed the land of Sihon, as well the land of the king of Heshbon, as the land of Og king of Bashan.
Context
Having covered preservation in the wilderness, the prayer moves to initial conquests that prefigure full occupation of Canaan. Verse 23 will recall multiplication of their children as the stars and their entry into the land, connecting victories with covenant promises. This sets up a sequence of blessings in verses 24–25 that culminate in prosperity, which tragically becomes the context for renewed rebellion (verse 26).
v.21Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
v.22This passage
v.23Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land concerning which thou didst say to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 105:44
And he gave them the lands of the nations; And they took the labor of the peoples in possession:
- Psalms 78:65
Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, Like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
- Deuteronomy 3:1
Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, unto battle at Edrei.
- Psalms 136:17
To him that smote great kings; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever;
- Psalms 135:10
Who smote many nations, And slew mighty kings,
- Deuteronomy 32:26
I said, I would scatter them afar, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men;
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