The Meaning of Nehemiah 9:16 Explained

Nehemiah 9:16

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

YLT: 'And they and our fathers have acted proudly, and harden their neck, and have not hearkened unto Thy commands,

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

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Nehemiah 9:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 9:1-21 - God's Hand In History
What a blessed result of the Bible-study of the previous chapter. It led to confession, separation from evil association and worship. It is good to review the dealings of God with us and with our people in bygone days. There are hilltops in our experience where the air is clear, and we can see the way by which we have been led. At such times we look beyond second causes to the great Orderer of our lives, and our history is one perpetual assertion of THOU. The history of God's dealings with Israel is an epitome of His dealings with ourselves. The choice in Ur, the redemption from Egypt, the wilderness wanderings, the land of rest-all these have their counterparts in our life-story. Side by side with the story of God's care runs the story of transgression, Nehemiah 9:16-18. The gold and black strands are closely interwoven. In the midst of God's best gifts, we break out into sin; yet He still gives us His good spirit, and withholds not the manna which He promised, Nehemiah 9:20. [source]

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 9

1  A solemn fast, and repentance of the people
4  The Levites make a confession of God's goodness, and their wickedness

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 9:16 mean?

But they and our fathers acted proudly and Hardened - their necks and not did listen unto Your commandments
וְהֵ֥ם וַאֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ הֵזִ֑ידוּ וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙ אֶת־ עָרְפָּ֔ם וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ אֶל־ מִצְוֺתֶֽיךָ

וְהֵ֥ם  But  they 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
וַאֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ  and  our  fathers 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
הֵזִ֑ידוּ  acted  proudly 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: זִיד  
Sense: to boil, boil up, seethe, act proudly, act presumptuously, act rebelliously, be presumptuous, be arrogant, be rebelliously proud.
וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙  and  Hardened 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קָשָׁה  
Sense: to be hard, be severe, be fierce, be harsh.
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.
עָרְפָּ֔ם  their  necks 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: עֹרֶף  
Sense: neck, back of the neck, back.
וְלֹ֥א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
שָׁמְע֖וּ  did  listen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אֶל־  unto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
מִצְוֺתֶֽיךָ  Your  commandments 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מִצְוָה  
Sense: commandment.