Nehemiah 9:16
New International Version
“But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey your commands.

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

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

Berean Standard Bible
But they and our fathers became arrogant and stiff-necked and did not obey Your commandments.

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

New King James Version
“But they and our fathers acted proudly, Hardened their necks, And did not heed Your commandments.

New American Standard Bible
“But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly; They became stubborn and would not listen to Your commandments.

NASB 1995
“But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly; They became stubborn and would not listen to Your commandments.

NASB 1977
“But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly; They became stubborn and would not listen to Thy commandments.

Legacy Standard Bible
“But they, our fathers, acted presumptuously; They became stiff-necked and would not listen to Your commandments.

Amplified Bible
“But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly; They stiffened their necks and would not heed Your commandments.

Christian Standard Bible
But our ancestors acted arrogantly; they became stiff-necked and did not listen to your commands.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But our ancestors acted arrogantly; they became stiff-necked and did not listen to Your commands.

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

Contemporary English Version
Our stubborn ancestors refused to obey--they forgot about the miracles you had worked for them, and they were determined to return to Egypt and become slaves again.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But they-our own ancestors-acted arrogantly. They became stubborn and wouldn't obey your commands.

Good News Translation
But our ancestors grew proud and stubborn and refused to obey your commands.

International Standard Version
"But they—our ancestors—became arrogant and stubborn, refusing to listen to your commands.

Majority Standard Bible
But they and our fathers became arrogant and stiff-necked and did not obey Your commandments.

NET Bible
"But they--our ancestors--behaved presumptuously; they rebelled and did not obey your commandments.

New Heart English Bible
"But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, did not listen to your commandments,

Webster's Bible Translation
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

World English Bible
“But they and our fathers behaved proudly, hardened their neck, didn’t listen to your commandments,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they and our fathers have acted proudly, "" And harden their neck, "" And have not listened to Your commands,

Young's Literal Translation
'And they and our fathers have acted proudly, and harden their neck, and have not hearkened unto Thy commands,

Smith's Literal Translation
And they and our fathers acted proudly, and they will harden their neck, and will not hear to thy commands,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks and hearkened not to thy commandments.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Yet truly, they and our fathers acted arrogantly, and they hardened their necks, and they did not listen to your commandments.

New American Bible
But they, our ancestors, proved to be insolent; they were obdurate and did not obey your commandments.

New Revised Standard Version
“But they and our ancestors acted presumptuously and stiffened their necks and did not obey your commandments;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But they and their fathers dealt wickedly and were stubborn and did not give ear to thy commandments,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
But they and their fathers did evil and they hardened their necks, and they did not listen to your commandments.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to Thy commandments,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But they and our fathers behaved proudly, and hardened their neck, and did not hearken to thy commandments,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The People Confess Their Sins
15In their hunger You gave them bread from heaven; in their thirst You brought them water from the rock. You told them to go in and possess the land which You had sworn to give them. 16But they and our fathers became arrogant and stiff-necked and did not obey Your commandments. 17They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them.…

Cross References
Exodus 32:9
The LORD also said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people.

Deuteronomy 9:6-7
Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people. / Remember this, and never forget how you provoked the LORD your God in the wilderness. From the day you left the land of Egypt until you reached this place, you have been rebelling against the LORD.

Psalm 78:8
Then they will not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose heart was not loyal, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Psalm 106:6-7
We have sinned like our fathers; we have done wrong and acted wickedly. / Our fathers in Egypt did not grasp Your wonders or remember Your abundant kindness; but they rebelled by the sea, there at the Red Sea.

Jeremiah 7:26
Yet they would not listen to Me or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and did more evil than their fathers.

Ezekiel 20:8
But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.

Isaiah 63:10
But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.

2 Kings 17:14
But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God.

2 Chronicles 30:8
Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you.

Hosea 4:16
For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?

Acts 7:51
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.

Romans 10:21
But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

Hebrews 3:7-11
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, / do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works. ...

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Mark 7:9
He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition.


Treasury of Scripture

But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and listened not to your commandments,

dealt.

Nehemiah 9:10,29
And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day…

Exodus 32:9
And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:

Deuteronomy 9:6,13,23,24,27
Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people…

hardened

Deuteronomy 31:27
For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?

2 Kings 17:14
Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.

2 Chronicles 30:8
Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.

hearkened

Exodus 15:26
And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Deuteronomy 5:29
O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

Psalm 81:8,11-14
Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; …

Jump to Previous
Acted Arrogant Arrogantly Attention Commandments Commands Dealt Fathers Forefathers Harden Hardened Hearkened Neck Necks Obey Orders Presumptuously Pride Proudly Stiff Stiffened Stiff-Necked Stubborn
Jump to Next
Acted Arrogant Arrogantly Attention Commandments Commands Dealt Fathers Forefathers Harden Hardened Hearkened Neck Necks Obey Orders Presumptuously Pride Proudly Stiff Stiffened Stiff-Necked Stubborn
Nehemiah 9
1. A solemn fast, and repentance of the people
4. The Levites make a confession of God's goodness, and their wickedness














But they and our fathers
This phrase sets the stage by identifying the subjects of the verse—"they" refers to the Israelites, and "our fathers" points to their ancestors. The Hebrew word for "fathers" is "אָבוֹת" (avot), which often signifies not just immediate parents but the patriarchs and previous generations. This acknowledgment of generational sin is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, emphasizing the continuity of disobedience and the need for repentance. Historically, this reflects the Israelites' repeated cycle of rebellion and return to God, as seen throughout the books of Judges and Kings.

became arrogant
The Hebrew root for "arrogant" is "זִיד" (zid), which conveys a sense of pride and presumption. This arrogance is not merely a personal failing but a spiritual one, as it represents a turning away from reliance on God. In the biblical context, arrogance often leads to downfall, as seen in the accounts of figures like Pharaoh in Exodus. The Israelites' arrogance is a reminder of the dangers of self-reliance and the importance of humility before God.

and stiff-necked
The term "stiff-necked" is translated from the Hebrew "קְשֵׁה־עֹרֶף" (qesheh-oref), literally meaning "hard of neck." This metaphor describes stubbornness and an unwillingness to submit to God's will, akin to an ox that refuses to be guided by the yoke. This imagery is powerful in the agrarian society of ancient Israel, where such behavior in animals would be seen as both frustrating and counterproductive. Scripturally, this term is used to describe the Israelites' resistance to God's guidance, as seen in Exodus 32:9 and Deuteronomy 9:6.

and did not obey
The Hebrew word for "obey" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which means to hear or listen with the intent to act. In the biblical sense, obedience is not just about hearing God's commandments but responding to them with action. The failure to obey is a central theme in the narrative of Israel, highlighting the consequences of ignoring God's laws. This disobedience is often linked to the Israelites' suffering and exile, serving as a cautionary tale for future generations.

Your commandments
The term "commandments" comes from the Hebrew "מִצְוֹתֶיךָ" (mitzvot), referring to the laws and decrees given by God. These commandments are not arbitrary rules but are designed to guide the Israelites in living a life that is pleasing to God and beneficial to the community. The emphasis on "Your" underscores the divine origin of these laws, distinguishing them from human-made rules. In the broader biblical narrative, adherence to God's commandments is portrayed as the path to blessing and prosperity, while disobedience leads to judgment and hardship.

(16) Dealt proudly.--Like the Egyptians themselves (Nehemiah 9:10). It is remarkable that the same word is used as in the Hebrew of Exodus 18:11 and Deuteronomy 1:43.

Verse 16. - They and our fathers. Rather, "they, our fathers." The vau is used exegetically. Dealt proudly. i.e. "acted insolently." Compare Deuteronomy 1:43, where the same verb is translated "were presumptuous" (marg.). Hardened their necks. So in 2 Kings 17:14.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But they
וְהֵ֥ם (wə·hêm)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

and our fathers
וַאֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ (wa·’ă·ḇō·ṯê·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 1: Father

became arrogant
הֵזִ֑ידוּ (hê·zî·ḏū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2102: To boil up, seethe, act proudly or presumptuously or rebelliously

and stiff-necked
וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙ (way·yaq·šū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7185: To be hard, severe or fierce

and did not
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

obey
שָׁמְע֖וּ (šā·mə·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

Your commandments.
מִצְוֺתֶֽיךָ׃ (miṣ·wō·ṯe·ḵā)
Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4687: Commandment


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OT History: Nehemiah 9:16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 9:15
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