The Meaning of Nehemiah 9:20 Explained

Nehemiah 9:20

KJV: Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.

YLT: 'And Thy good Spirit Thou hast given, to cause them to act wisely; and Thy manna Thou hast not withheld from their mouth, and water Thou hast given to them for their thirst,

Darby: Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.

ASV: Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou gavest  also thy good  spirit  to instruct  them, and withheldest  not thy manna  from their mouth,  and gavest  them water  for their thirst. 

What does Nehemiah 9:20 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 9:20 mean?

And Your Spirit good You gave to instruct them and Your manna not did withhold from their mouth and water gave them for their thirst
וְרוּחֲךָ֨ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה נָתַ֖תָּ לְהַשְׂכִּילָ֑ם וּמַנְךָ֙ לֹא־ מָנַ֣עְתָּ מִפִּיהֶ֔ם וּמַ֛יִם נָתַ֥תָּה לָהֶ֖ם לִצְמָאָֽם

וְרוּחֲךָ֨  And  Your  Spirit 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
הַטּוֹבָ֔ה  good 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
נָתַ֖תָּ  You  gave 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לְהַשְׂכִּילָ֑ם  to  instruct  them 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׂכַל 
Sense: to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper.
וּמַנְךָ֙  and  Your  manna 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מָן 
Sense: manna.
מָנַ֣עְתָּ  did  withhold 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָנַע  
Sense: to withhold, hold back, keep back, refrain, deny, keep restrain, hinder.
מִפִּיהֶ֔ם  from  their  mouth 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
וּמַ֛יִם  and  water 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
נָתַ֥תָּה  gave 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לִצְמָאָֽם  for  their  thirst 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: צָמָא  
Sense: thirst.