Nehemiah 9:32
What does Nehemiah 9:32 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 9:32 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 9:32 means
The prayer now directly addresses “our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God,” who keeps covenant and lovingkindness. They ask that the extensive travail that has come upon all segments of the nation—noting kings, princes, priests, prophets, fathers, and people—since the time of the kings of Assyria not be regarded as small. The appeal rests on God’s character and covenant-keeping love, not on their merit. By naming the breadth and duration of suffering, they invite God’s compassionate attention. This is humble petition: they do not demand deliverance but ask that their misery matter to the covenant God who has always cared for His people.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Now 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Now 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And now, our God, the great, the strong, the God who is to be feared, who keeps faith and mercy, let not all this trouble seem small to you, which has come on us, and on our kings and our rulers and on our priests and our prophets and our fathers and on all your people from the time of the kings of Assyria till this day.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And now, O our God--God, the great, the mighty, and the fearful, keeping the covenant and the kindness--let not all the travail that hath found us be little before Thee, for our kings, for our heads, and for our priests, and for our prophets, and for our fathers, and for all Thy people, from the days of the kings of Asshur unto this day;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Now therefore our God, great, strong, and terrible, who keepest covenant and mercy, turn not away from thy face all the labour which hath come upon us, upon our kings, and our princes, and our priests, and our prophets, and our fathers, and all the people from the days of the king of Assur, until this day.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And now, ourGod, the great, the mighty, and the terribleGod, who keepest covenant and loving-kindness, let not all the trouble 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 days of the kings of Assyria unto this day.
Context
Having affirmed that God has not made a full end, the community turns from history to present need. Verse 32 anchors their plea in God’s greatness and faithfulness. Verse 33 will immediately acknowledge that God is just in all that has happened, keeping confession central even as they ask for mercy. The flow models reverent, honest prayer.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Kings 17:3
Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and brought him tribute.
- Leviticus 26:18
And if ye will not yet for these things hearken unto me, then I will chastise you seven times more for your sins.
- Leviticus 26:28
then I will walk contrary unto you in wrath; and I also will chastise you seven times for your sins.
- 2 Kings 25:25
But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, so that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldeans that were with him at Mizpah.
- 2 Kings 15:29
In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maacah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria.
- 2 Chronicles 36:1
Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father’s stead in Jerusalem.
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