Nehemiah 9:16

16 “But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey your commands.

Nehemiah 9:16 in Other Translations

16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

16 “But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments.

16 “But our ancestors were proud and stubborn, and they paid no attention to your commands.

16 But they, our ancestors, were arrogant; bullheaded, they wouldn't obey your commands.

16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

16 But they--our own ancestors--acted arrogantly. They became stubborn and wouldn't obey your commands.

16 But our ancestors acted arrogantly; they became stiff-necked and did not listen to Your commands.

16 "But our people before us became proud and stubborn. They didn't obey your commands.

Nehemiah 9:16 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 9:16

But they and our fathers dealt proudly
Behaved in a haughty manner towards God, their kind benefactor:

and hardened their necks;
refused to take the yoke of his law, as refractory oxen, that withdraw their necks from the yoke:

and hearkened not to thy commandments;
to do them, though they promised they would, ( Exodus 24:7 ) .

Nehemiah 9:16 In-Context

14 You made known to them your holy Sabbath and gave them commands, decrees and laws through your servant Moses.

15 In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven and in their thirst you brought them water from the rock; you told them to go in and take possession of the land you had sworn with uplifted hand to give them.

16 “But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey your commands.

17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them,

18 even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ or when they committed awful blasphemies.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 32:9; Jeremiah 7:26; Jeremiah 17:23; Jeremiah 19:15
• 2. Deuteronomy 1:26-33; Deuteronomy 31:29