Nehemiah 9:19
New International Version
“Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take.

New Living Translation
“But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night.

English Standard Version
you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go.

Berean Standard Bible
You in Your great compassion did not forsake them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud never turned away from guiding them on their path; and by the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go.

King James Bible
Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.

New King James Version
Yet in Your manifold mercies You did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day, To lead them on the road; Nor the pillar of fire by night, To show them light, And the way they should go.

New American Standard Bible
You, in Your great compassion, Did not abandon them in the wilderness; The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day, To guide them on their way, Nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go.

NASB 1995
You, in Your great compassion, Did not forsake them in the wilderness; The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day, To guide them on their way, Nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go.

NASB 1977
Thou, in Thy great compassion, Didst not forsake them in the wilderness; The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day, To guide them on their way, Nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go.

Legacy Standard Bible
But You, in Your abundant compassion, Did not forsake them in the wilderness; The pillar of cloud did not depart from them by day, To lead them on their way, Nor the pillar of fire by night, To light for them the way in which they were to go.

Amplified Bible
You, in Your great mercy and compassion, Did not abandon them in the wilderness; The pillar of the cloud did not leave them by day, To lead them in the way, Nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way they should go.

Christian Standard Bible
you did not abandon them in the wilderness because of your great compassion. During the day the pillar of cloud never turned away from them, guiding them on their journey. And during the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You did not abandon them in the wilderness because of Your great compassion. During the day the pillar of cloud never turned away from them, guiding them on their journey. And during the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go.

American Standard Version
yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud departed not from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go.

Contemporary English Version
Because of your great mercy, you never abandoned them in the desert. And you always guided them with a cloud by day and a fire at night.

English Revised Version
yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud departed not from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But because of your endless compassion, you didn't abandon them in the desert. The column of smoke didn't leave them during the day, but it led them on their way. The column of fire didn't leave them during the night, but it gave them light to see the way they should go.

Good News Translation
But you did not abandon them there in the desert, for your mercy is great. You did not take away the cloud or the fire that showed them the path by day and night.

International Standard Version
You, in your great compassion, did not abandon them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud did not leave them in daylight, in order to provide light for them on the path they took. Nor did the pillar of fire abandon them at night, in order to provide light for them and lead them on the path they took.

Majority Standard Bible
You in Your great compassion did not forsake them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud never turned away from guiding them on their path; and by the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go.

NET Bible
"Due to your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. The pillar of cloud did not stop guiding them in the path by day, nor did the pillar of fire stop illuminating for them by night the path on which they should travel.

New Heart English Bible
yet you in your manifold mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud did not depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go.

Webster's Bible Translation
Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go.

World English Bible
yet you in your manifold mercies didn’t forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud didn’t depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither did the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and You, in Your abundant mercies, "" Have not forsaken them in the wilderness—The pillar of the cloud has not turned aside from off them by day, "" To lead them in the way, "" And the pillar of the fire by night, "" To give light to them and the way in which they go.

Young's Literal Translation
and Thou, in Thine abundant mercies, hast not forsaken them in the wilderness -- the pillar of the cloud hath not turned aside from off them by day, to lead them in the way, and the pillar of the fire by night, to give light to them and the way in which they go.

Smith's Literal Translation
And thou in thy many compassions forsookest them not in the desert: not removing the pillar of cloud from above them in the day to guide them in the way; and the pillar of fire in the night, to enlighten to them, and the way that they shall go in it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Yet thou, in thy many mercies, didst not leave them in the desert: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day to lead them in the way, and the pillar of fire by night to shew them the way by which they should go.

Catholic Public Domain Version
even so, in the multitude of your mercies, you did not send them away in the desert. The pillar of cloud did not withdraw from them by day, so that it might lead them on the way, nor the pillar of fire by night, so that it might show them the way along which they might advance.

New American Bible
Yet in your great mercy you did not forsake them in the desert. By day the column of cloud did not cease to lead them on their journey, by night the column of fire did not cease to light the way they were to travel.

New Revised Standard Version
you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness; the pillar of cloud that led them in the way did not leave them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night that gave them light on the way by which they should go.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Yet thou in thy manifold mercies didst not forsake them in the wilderness; the pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day, to lead them on their journey; neither the pillar of fire by night, to lighten the way by which they should go.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you in your many mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness, and the pillar of cloud did not pass away from them by day, to lead them in the way, and the pillar of fire in the night to illuminate for them the way in which to go.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
yet Thou in Thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness; the pillar of cloud departed not from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Yet thou in thy great compassions didst not forsake them in the wilderness: thou didst not turn away from them the pillar of the cloud by day, to guide them in the way, nor the pillar of fire by night, to enlighten for them the way wherein they should walk.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The People Confess Their Sins
18Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and when they committed terrible blasphemies, 19You in Your great compassion did not forsake them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud never turned away from guiding them on their path; and by the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go. 20You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold Your manna from their mouths, and You gave them water for their thirst.…

Cross References
Exodus 13:21-22
And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night. / Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place before the people.

Numbers 14:14
And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have already heard that You, O LORD, are in the midst of this people, that You, O LORD, have been seen face to face, that Your cloud stands over them, and that You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Psalm 78:14
He led them with a cloud by day and with a light of fire all night.

Psalm 105:39
He spread a cloud as a covering and a fire to light up the night.

Isaiah 63:9
In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Exodus 40:36-38
Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out through all the stages of their journey. / If the cloud was not lifted, they would not set out until the day it was taken up. / For the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel through all their journeys.

Deuteronomy 1:33
who went before you on the journey, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day, to seek out a place for you to camp and to show you the road to travel.

Deuteronomy 8:2-4
Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments. / He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. / Your clothing did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.

Psalm 136:16
He led His people through the wilderness. His loving devotion endures forever.

Isaiah 4:5
Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and a glowing flame of fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a canopy,

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

1 Corinthians 10:1-2
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

Revelation 7:15-17
For this reason, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. / ‘Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst; nor will the sun beat down upon them, nor any scorching heat.’ / For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

Exodus 15:13
With loving devotion You will lead the people You have redeemed; with Your strength You will guide them to Your holy dwelling.


Treasury of Scripture

Yet you in your manifold mercies forsook them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go.

in thy

Nehemiah 9:27
Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.

1 Samuel 12:22
For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

Psalm 106:7,8,45
Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea…

the pillar.

Nehemiah 9:12
Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.

Exodus 13:21,22
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: …

Exodus 40:38
For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

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Cloud Compassion Depart Departed Fire Forsake Great Guide Lead Manifold Mercies Night Pillar Shew Show Way Wherein Wilderness
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Cloud Compassion Depart Departed Fire Forsake Great Guide Lead Manifold Mercies Night Pillar Shew Show Way Wherein Wilderness
Nehemiah 9
1. A solemn fast, and repentance of the people
4. The Levites make a confession of God's goodness, and their wickedness














You in Your great compassion did not forsake them in the wilderness.
This phrase highlights God's enduring mercy and faithfulness to the Israelites during their 40-year journey in the wilderness. Despite their repeated disobedience and rebellion, God did not abandon them. This reflects the covenantal relationship God had with Israel, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:9, where God is described as faithful, keeping His covenant of love. The wilderness journey is a period of testing and reliance on God, as seen in Exodus 16 and Numbers 14, where God provides manna and quail, and water from the rock. This compassion is a type of Christ's compassion, as seen in Matthew 9:36, where Jesus is moved with compassion for the crowds.

By day the pillar of cloud never turned away from guiding them on their path;
The pillar of cloud by day was a visible manifestation of God's presence and guidance, first appearing in Exodus 13:21-22. It provided shade and direction, symbolizing God's protection and leadership. The cloud is also a symbol of God's glory, as seen in Exodus 40:34-38, when the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. This guidance is a precursor to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus in John 16:13, who leads believers into all truth.

and by the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go.
The pillar of fire by night provided light and warmth, ensuring the Israelites could travel safely. This miraculous provision is a testament to God's care and sovereignty. The fire is a symbol of God's holiness and presence, as seen in Exodus 3:2, where God appears to Moses in a burning bush. This illumination is a type of Christ, who declares Himself the Light of the World in John 8:12, guiding believers out of darkness into the light of life. The dual presence of cloud and fire signifies God's constant vigilance and unchanging nature, as affirmed in Hebrews 13:8.

Persons / Places / Events
1. God's Compassion
The verse highlights God's enduring compassion and faithfulness to the Israelites during their wilderness journey.

2. The Israelites
The people of Israel, who were led by God through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt.

3. The Wilderness
The desert area where the Israelites wandered for 40 years due to their disobedience and lack of faith.

4. Pillar of Cloud and Fire
Divine manifestations that guided the Israelites; the cloud by day and fire by night symbolized God's presence and guidance.

5. Nehemiah's Prayer
This verse is part of a larger prayer of confession and worship led by Nehemiah, acknowledging God's faithfulness despite Israel's repeated failures.
Teaching Points
God's Unfailing Guidance
Just as God provided guidance to the Israelites, He offers us direction through His Word and the Holy Spirit today.

The Importance of Remembering God's Faithfulness
Reflecting on past experiences of God's faithfulness can strengthen our trust in Him during current challenges.

God's Presence in Our Wilderness
In times of uncertainty or difficulty, we can be assured of God's presence and guidance, just as the Israelites experienced in the wilderness.

Responding to God's Compassion
Our response to God's compassion should be one of gratitude, obedience, and a desire to follow His leading in our lives.

The Role of Confession and Worship
Nehemiah's prayer demonstrates the importance of confession and worship in acknowledging God's faithfulness and our dependence on Him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You,
וְאַתָּה֙ (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

because of Your great
הָֽרַבִּ֔ים (hā·rab·bîm)
Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

compassion,
בְּרַחֲמֶ֣יךָ (bə·ra·ḥă·me·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7356: Compassion, the womb, a maiden

did not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

forsake them
עֲזַבְתָּ֖ם (‘ă·zaḇ·tām)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit

in the wilderness.
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר (bam·miḏ·bār)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

By day
בְּיוֹמָם֙ (bə·yō·w·mām)
Preposition-b | Adverb
Strong's 3119: Daytime, by day

the pillar
עַמּ֣וּד (‘am·mūḏ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5982: A column, a stand, platform

of cloud
הֶ֠עָנָן (he·‘ā·nān)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6051: A cloud, the nimbus, thunder-cloud

never
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

turned away
סָ֨ר (sār)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

from guiding them
לְהַנְחֹתָ֣ם (lə·han·ḥō·ṯām)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5148: To guide, to transport

on their path;
בְּהַדֶּ֔רֶךְ (bə·had·de·reḵ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

and by the night
בְּלַ֙יְלָה֙ (bə·lay·lāh)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity

the pillar
עַמּ֨וּד (‘am·mūḏ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5982: A column, a stand, platform

of fire
הָאֵ֤שׁ (hā·’êš)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

illuminated
לְהָאִ֣יר (lə·hā·’îr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 215: To be or become light

the way
הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ (had·de·reḵ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

they should go.
יֵֽלְכוּ־ (yê·lə·ḵū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk


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OT History: Nehemiah 9:19 Yet you in your manifold mercies didn't (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 9:18
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