Nehemiah 9:26
What does Nehemiah 9:26 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 9:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 9:26 means
Despite extraordinary goodness, the people became disobedient and rebellious. They “cast thy law behind their back,” a vivid picture of willful disregard, and they killed the prophets who testified against them to turn them back to God. This is hardened resistance: discarding God’s Word and silencing His messengers. Such actions are called “great provocations,” emphasizing that sin is personal offense against God. The verse captures the tragedy of Israel’s history—blessing met with betrayal. It also explains why judgment came. Prophetic ministry aimed at repentance was rejected, escalating guilt and making discipline necessary. Confession requires naming not only sins of omission but also active hostility to God’s corrective voice.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their back, and slew thy prophets that testified against them to turn them again unto thee, and they wrought great provocations.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their back, and slew thy prophets that testified against them to turn them again unto thee, and they wrought great provocations.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But they were hard-hearted, and went against your authority, turning their backs on your law, and putting to death your prophets, who gave witness against them with the purpose of turning them back again to you, and they did much to make you angry.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And they are disobedient, and rebel against Thee, and cast Thy law behind their back, and Thy prophets they have slain, who testified against them, to bring them back unto Thee, and they do great despisings,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But they provoked thee to wrath, and departed from thee, and threw thy law behind their backs: and they killed thy prophets, who admonished them earnestly to return to thee: and they were guilty of great blasphemies.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets who testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.
Context
Having recorded prosperity, the prayer now recounts the nation’s spiritual collapse. Verse 27 will show God answering with discipline—handing them over to adversaries—yet hearing their cries and sending deliverers. This introduces the Judges-like cycle of rebellion, oppression, repentance, and mercy that marks much of Israel’s history in the land.
v.25And they took fortified cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit-trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.
v.26This passage
v.27Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours who saved them out of the hand of their adversaries.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 7:52
Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? and they killed them that showed before of the coming of the Righteous One; of whom ye have now become betrayers and murderers;
- 2 Chronicles 24:20
And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of Jehovah, so that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken Jehovah, he hath also forsaken you.
- Matthew 21:35
And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
- Nehemiah 9:30
Yet many years didst thou bear with them, and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit through thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
- Jeremiah 26:20
And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of Jehovah, Uriah the son of Shemaiah of Kiriath-jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah.
- Judges 3:6
and they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods.
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