King James Version

Nehemiah 9:17

And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

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Hebrew

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וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּvaymaanvand refuseמָאֵןconjunction, verb, piel, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “and refuse”, the next action in the storyH3985to refuserefuse, [idiom] utterly.לִשְׁמֹ֗עַlishmoato hearשָׁמַעpreposition, verb, qal, infinitive construct — “to hear”, the to-form of the verbH8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)[idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) n…וְלֹאveloand no , -r,לֹאconjunction, particle, negative — “and no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…זָכְר֤וּzakhervbe maleזָכַרverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “be male”, a completed actionH2142properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male[idiom] burn (incense), [idiom] earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount, record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call, come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, [idiom] still, think on, [idiom] well.נִפְלְאֹתֶ֨יךָ֙nifleoteykhaseparateפָּלָאverb, niphal, participle, construct, suffix, pronominal, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “separate”, a verb used as a describing wordH6381properly, perhaps to separate, i.e. distinguish (literally or figuratively); by implication, to be (causatively, make) great, difficult, wonderfulaccomplish, (arise...too, be too) hard, hidden, things too high, (be, do, do a, shew) marvelous(-ly, -els, things, work), miracles, perform, separate, make singular, (be, great, make) wonderful(-ers, -ly, things, works), wondrous (things,…אֲשֶׁ֣רasherbecauseאֲשֶׁרparticle, relative — “because”H834who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.[idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever,…עָשִׂ֣יתָasitadoעָשָׂהverb, qal, perfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “do”, a completed actionH6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationaccomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, f…עִמָּהֶ֔םimahemwithעִםpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “with”H5973adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English)accompanying, against, and, as ([idiom] long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from (among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-) to, with(-al).וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙vayaqshvand be cruelקָשָׁהconjunction, verb, hiphil, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “and be cruel”, the next action in the storyH7185properly, to be dense, i.e. tough or severe (in various applications)be cruel, be fiercer, make grievous, be ((ask a), be in, have, seem, would) hard(-en, (labour), -ly, thing), be sore, (be, make) stiff(-en, (-necked)).אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).עָרְפָּ֔םarepamback neckעֹרֶףnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “back neck”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6203the nape or back of the neck (as declining); hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative)back ((stiff-) neck((-ed).וַיִּתְּנוּvayitnvand giveנָתַןconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “and give”, the next action in the storyH5414to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] wi…רֹ֛אשׁroshheadרֹאשׁnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “head”, the ordinary formH7218the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top.לָשׁ֥וּבlashuvto againשׁוּבpreposition, verb, qal, infinitive construct — “to again”, the to-form of the verbH7725to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again,…לְעַבְדֻתָ֖םleavdutamto bondageעַבְדוּתpreposition, noun, common, feminine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “to bondage”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH5659servitudebondage.בְּמִרְיָ֑םbemiryamin bitterמְרִיpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “in bitter”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4805bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) rebellion; concretely, bitter, or rebelliousbitter, (most) rebel(-lion, -lious).וְאַתָּה֩veatahand theeאַתָּהconjunction, pronoun, personal, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “and thee”H859thou and thee, or (plural) ye and youthee, thou, ye, you.אֱל֨וֹהַּelohaGodאֱלוֹהַּnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “God”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH433a deity or the DeityGod, god. See H430 (אֱלֹהִים).סְלִיח֜וֹתselichotpardonסְלִיחָהnoun, common, feminine, plural, absolute — “pardon”, the ordinary formH5547pardonforgiveness, pardon.חַנּ֧וּןchanungraciousחַנּוּןadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “gracious”, the ordinary formH2587graciousgracious.וְרַח֛וּםverachumand full of compassionרַחוּםconjunction, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “and full of compassion”, the ordinary formH7349compassionatefull of compassion, merciful.אֶֽרֶךְerekhlongאָרֵךְadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, construct — “long”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH750longlong(-suffering, -winged), patient, slow (to anger).אַפַּ֥יִםapayimfaceאַףnoun, common, masculine, dual, absolute — “face”, the ordinary formH639properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ireanger(-gry), [phrase] before, countenance, face, [phrase] forebearing, forehead, [phrase] (long-) suffering, nose, nostril, snout, [idiom] worthy, wrath.וְרַבveravand aboundרַבconjunction, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, construct — “and abound”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7227abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude),…וחסדvchsdand kindnessחֵסֵדconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “and kindness”, the ordinary formH2617kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beautyfavour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.חֶ֖סֶדchesedkindnessחֵסֵדnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “kindness”, the ordinary formH2617kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beautyfavour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.וְלֹ֥אveloand no , -r,לֹאconjunction, particle, negative — “and no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…עֲזַבְתָּֽםazavtamcommit selfעָזַבverb, qal, perfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “commit self”, a completed actionH5800to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc.commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse, [idiom] surely.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

and refused to hearken, neither were mindful of Thy wonders that Thou didst among them; but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage; but Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy, and forsookest them not.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

and refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and forsookest them not.

Young’s Literal Translation

yea, they refuse to hearken, and have not remembered Thy wonders that Thou hast done with them, and harden their neck and appoint a head, to turn back to their service, in their rebellion; and Thou [art] a God of pardons, gracious, and merciful, long-suffering, and abundant in kindness, and hast not forsaken them.

World English Bible

and refused to obey. They weren’t mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and didn’t forsake them.

Darby Translation

and refused to obey, neither were they mindful of thy wonders which thou hadst done among them; but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion made a captain to return to their bondage. But thou art a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great loving-kindness, and thou forsookest them not.

Douay-Rheims

And they would not hear, and they remembered not thy wonders which thou hadst done for them. And they hardened their necks, and gave the head to return to their bondage, as it were by contention. But thou, a forgiving God, gracious, and merciful, longsuffering, and full of compassion, didst not forsake them.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

and refused to listen, and remembered not thy wonders which thou wroughtest with them; and they hardened their neck, and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt: but thou, O God, art merciful and compassionate, long-suffering, and abundant in mercy, and thou didst not forsake them.