The Meaning of Nehemiah 1:7 Explained

Nehemiah 1:7

KJV: We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

YLT: we have acted very corruptly against Thee, and have not kept the commands, and the statutes, and the judgments, that Thou didst command Moses Thy servant.

Darby: We have acted very perversely against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances that thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

ASV: we have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

We have dealt very  corruptly  against thee, and have not kept  the commandments,  nor the statutes,  nor the judgments,  which thou commandedst  thy servant  Moses. 

What does Nehemiah 1:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 1:1-11 - A Patriot's Prayer
Though living in luxury, in the winter palace of the Persian kings, Nehemiah's heart was keenly sensitive to all that affected his people. But he turned from tears to prayer, from man to God. Oh, that we could cry and sigh for the rents and breaches in the Church of God. We should deal much more successfully with men, if, like Nehemiah, we dealt more largely with God. Gordon used to say that he had met and conquered his enemies before he saw them. This prayer of Nehemiah's is very beautiful, saturated as it is with quotations from Scripture, and so effective with God, because based on His own Word. It was steeped in tears of contrition for sin, and offered without ceasing day and night. Nor was it solitary, for there seems to have been a little band of others united with him, Nehemiah 1:11. Lord, teach us to pray thus, till others are found kneeling with us. Here is a good petition for us as we go forth to our daily calling, in which so much depends on the attitude of our fellow-men. Prosper thy servant this day and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. [source]

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 1

1  Nehemiah, understanding by Hanani the misery of Jerusalem, mourns, fasts, and prays
5  His prayer

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 1:7 mean?

We have dealt very we have acted very corruptly against You and not have kept - the commandments and the statutes nor the ordinances which You commanded Moses Your servant
חֲבֹ֖ל חָבַ֣לְנוּ לָ֑ךְ וְלֹא־ שָׁמַ֣רְנוּ אֶת־ הַמִּצְוֺ֗ת וְאֶת־ הַֽחֻקִּים֙ וְאֶת־ הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּ֖יתָ מֹשֶׁ֥ה עַבְדֶּֽךָ

חֲבֹ֖ל  We  have  dealt  very 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: חָבַל 
Sense: to bind.
חָבַ֣לְנוּ  we  have  acted  very  corruptly 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: חָבַל 
Sense: to bind.
לָ֑ךְ  against  You 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
וְלֹא־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
שָׁמַ֣רְנוּ  have  kept 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַמִּצְוֺ֗ת  the  commandments 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: מִצְוָה  
Sense: commandment.
הַֽחֻקִּים֙  the  statutes 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: חֹק  
Sense: statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due.
וְאֶת־  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים  the  ordinances 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
צִוִּ֖יתָ  You  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
מֹשֶׁ֥ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
עַבְדֶּֽךָ  Your  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.