The Meaning of Nehemiah 9:23 Explained

Nehemiah 9:23

KJV: Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

YLT: And their sons Thou hast multiplied as the stars of the heavens, and bringest them in unto the land that Thou hast said to their fathers to go in to possess.

Darby: And their children thou didst multiply as the stars of heaven, and thou broughtest them into the land concerning which thou didst say to their fathers that they should go in to possess it.

ASV: Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land concerning which thou didst say to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Their children  also multipliedst  thou as the stars  of heaven,  and broughtest  them into the land,  concerning which thou hadst promised  to their fathers,  that they should go in  to possess  [it]. 

What does Nehemiah 9:23 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 9:23 mean?

And their children You multiplied as stars of the heaven and brought them into the land which You had told their fathers to go in and possess
וּבְנֵיהֶ֣ם הִרְבִּ֔יתָ כְּכֹכְבֵ֖י הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַתְּבִיאֵם֙ אֶל־ הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־ אָמַ֥רְתָּ לַאֲבֹתֵיהֶ֖ם לָב֥וֹא לָרָֽשֶׁת

וּבְנֵיהֶ֣ם  And  their  children 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
הִרְבִּ֔יתָ  You  multiplied 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
כְּכֹכְבֵ֖י  as  stars 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: כֹּוכָב  
Sense: star.
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם  of  the  heaven 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
וַתְּבִיאֵם֙  and  brought  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֶל־  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הָאָ֔רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
אָמַ֥רְתָּ  You  had  told 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לַאֲבֹתֵיהֶ֖ם  their  fathers 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
לָב֥וֹא  to  go  in 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
לָרָֽשֶׁת  and  possess 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָרַשׁ  
Sense: to seize, dispossess, take possession off, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir.