Nehemiah 9:16 - “But they and our fathers behaved proudly, hardened their neck, didn’t listen to your commandments,
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What does "Nehemiah 9:16" mean?
Nehemiah 9 is a prayer of confession by the Israelites, acknowledging their sins and the sins of their ancestors. Verse 16 specifically highlights the following:
"But they and our fathers behaved proudly": This refers to the Israelites and their ancestors. "Behaved proudly" suggests they were arrogant, self-righteous, and likely thought they didn't need God's guidance. It indicates a lack of humility and dependence on God.
"Hardened their neck": This is a common idiom in the Old Testament to describe stubbornness and defiance. It paints a picture of someone refusing to bow in submission or listen to authority. In this context, it means they stubbornly refused to submit to God's will.
"Didn’t listen to your commandments": This is a direct consequence of their pride and stubbornness. Because they were arrogant and defiant, they refused to obey God's commands, leading them to sin and stray from His path.
In essence, the verse means:
The Israelites and their forefathers were arrogant and stubbornly refused to obey God's laws. They were unwilling to submit to His authority and chose to follow their own desires instead.
The verse sets the stage for the rest of the prayer, where the Israelites acknowledge their rebellion against God's grace and mercy, and plead for His continued forgiveness and restoration. It emphasizes the contrast between God's faithfulness and their persistent sinfulness.
Nehemiah 9:16 - “But they and our fathers behaved proudly, hardened their neck, didn’t listen to your commandments,
What does "Nehemiah 9:16" mean?
Nehemiah 9 is a prayer of confession by the Israelites, acknowledging their sins and the sins of their ancestors. Verse 16 specifically highlights the following:
"But they and our fathers behaved proudly": This refers to the Israelites and their ancestors. "Behaved proudly" suggests they were arrogant, self-righteous, and likely thought they didn't need God's guidance. It indicates a lack of humility and dependence on God.
"Hardened their neck": This is a common idiom in the Old Testament to describe stubbornness and defiance. It paints a picture of someone refusing to bow in submission or listen to authority. In this context, it means they stubbornly refused to submit to God's will.
"Didn’t listen to your commandments": This is a direct consequence of their pride and stubbornness. Because they were arrogant and defiant, they refused to obey God's commands, leading them to sin and stray from His path.
In essence, the verse means:
The Israelites and their forefathers were arrogant and stubbornly refused to obey God's laws. They were unwilling to submit to His authority and chose to follow their own desires instead.
The verse sets the stage for the rest of the prayer, where the Israelites acknowledge their rebellion against God's grace and mercy, and plead for His continued forgiveness and restoration. It emphasizes the contrast between God's faithfulness and their persistent sinfulness.