Nehemiah 9:31
What does Nehemiah 9:31 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 9:31 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 9:31 means
Despite all, God did not make a full end of them nor forsake them, because He is gracious and merciful. This is the heartbeat of Israel’s survival: divine compassion limited judgment and preserved a remnant. The verse asserts that covenant mercy outlasts human sin. Even in exile and distress, God’s faithfulness remained. This confession offers hope to the present community: their continued existence in the land and their ability to assemble and pray are tokens of God’s enduring kindness. Restoration is possible because God’s character is steady. Justice may fall, but mercy prevents annihilation, keeping open the door to repentance and renewed obedience.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Nevertheless in thy manifold mercies thou didst not make a full end of them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Nevertheless for thy great mercies’ sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Nevertheless in thy manifold mercies thou didst not make a full end of them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Even then, in your great mercy, you did not put an end to them completely, or give them up; for you are a God of grace and mercy.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and in Thine abundant mercies Thou hast not made them a consumption, nor hast forsaken them; for a God, gracious and merciful, <FI>art<Fi> Thou.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Yet in thy very many mercies thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them: because thou art a merciful and gracious God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Nevertheless for thy manifold mercies' sake, thou didst not make a full end of them nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and mercifulGod.
Context
After recounting prolonged rebellion and the just sentence of foreign domination, the prayer affirms God’s preserving mercy. This sets the tone for the petitions beginning in verse 32, where the people ask God to regard their present travail while confessing His justice and their own wickedness. The balance of truth and hope now turns the historical review into a heartfelt plea.
v.30Yet 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.
v.31This passage
v.32Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and lovingkindness, let not all the travail seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Nehemiah 9:17
and 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.
- 2 Kings 13:23
But Jehovah was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.
- Exodus 34:6
And Jehovah passed by before him, and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth;
- Psalms 145:8
Jehovah is gracious, and merciful; Slow to anger, and of great lovingkindness.
- Lamentations 3:22
It is of Jehovah’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
- Jeremiah 4:27
For thus saith Jehovah, The whole land shall be a desolation; yet will I not make a full end.
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…