The Meaning of Nehemiah 9:33 Explained

Nehemiah 9:33

KJV: Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:

YLT: and Thou art righteous concerning all that hath come upon us, for truth Thou hast done, and we have done wickedly;

Darby: But thou art just in all that is come upon us; for thou hast acted according to truth, and we have done wickedly.

ASV: Howbeit thou art just in all that is come upon us; for thou hast dealt truly, but we have done wickedly;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Howbeit thou [art] just  in all that is brought  upon us; for thou hast done  right,  but we have done wickedly: 

What does Nehemiah 9:33 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 9:22-38 - The Penalty Of Ingratitude And Disobedience
The theme of this prayer is the covenant mercy of God. However great the provocation of the Chosen People, He never swerved from His ancient promise to their fathers. He testified against them by His Spirit and chastened them for their sins. He allowed them to be oppressed by their enemies and carried into captivity. But when they returned and cried for His help they found His manifold mercies waiting to welcome, forgive, and restore them. They were conscious that there was nothing in themselves or even in their fathers to explain these wonderful dealings, and the secret had ever to be found in His great mercies. In this hour of distress, they turned back to Him and bound themselves by a faithful covenant. But, alas, even written promises will not hold the wayward heart of man. What a picture this is of our own lives, and how often have all these experiences been repeated in us! Fortunately for us we are represented now, not by our promises and prayers, but by Jesus Christ, in whom we stand and are accepted and kept. [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 9:33 mean?

And However You [are] just in all that has befallen us for faithfully You have dealt but we have done wickedly
וְאַתָּ֣ה צַדִּ֔יק עַ֖ל כָּל־ הַבָּ֣א עָלֵ֑ינוּ כִּֽי־ אֱמֶ֥ת עָשִׂ֖יתָ וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ הִרְשָֽׁעְנוּ

וְאַתָּ֣ה  And  However  You  [are] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
צַדִּ֔יק  just 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
הַבָּ֣א  that  has  befallen 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
עָלֵ֑ינוּ  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
אֱמֶ֥ת  faithfully 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֱמֶת  
Sense: firmness, faithfulness, truth.
עָשִׂ֖יתָ  You  have  dealt 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ  but  we 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common plural
Root: אֲנַחְנוּ  
Sense: we (first pers.
הִרְשָֽׁעְנוּ  have  done  wickedly 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: רָשַׁע  
Sense: to be wicked, act wickedly.