The Meaning of Nehemiah 9:35 Explained

Nehemiah 9:35

KJV: For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

YLT: and they, in their kingdom, and in Thine abundant goodness, that Thou hast given to them, and in the land, the large and the fat, that Thou hast set before them, have not served Thee, nor turned back from their evil doings.

Darby: And they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land that thou didst set before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

ASV: For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For they have not served  thee in their kingdom,  and in thy great  goodness  that thou gavest  them, and in the large  and fat  land  which thou gavest  before  them, neither turned  they from their wicked  works. 

What does Nehemiah 9:35 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 9:35 mean?

For they in their kingdom Or in good [things] the many that You gave them Or in land the large and rich which You set before them not have served You nor did they turn from their works wicked
וְהֵ֣ם בְּמַלְכוּתָם֩ וּבְטוּבְךָ֨ הָרָ֜ב אֲשֶׁר־ נָתַ֣תָּ לָהֶ֗ם וּבְאֶ֨רֶץ הָרְחָבָ֧ה וְהַשְּׁמֵנָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־ נָתַ֥תָּ לִפְנֵיהֶ֖ם לֹ֣א עֲבָד֑וּךָ וְֽלֹא־ שָׁ֔בוּ מִמַּֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֖ם הָרָעִֽים

וְהֵ֣ם  For  they 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
בְּמַלְכוּתָם֩  in  their  kingdom 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מַלְכוּת  
Sense: royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom, sovereign power.
וּבְטוּבְךָ֨  Or  in  good  [things] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: טוּב  
Sense: goods, good things, goodness.
הָרָ֜ב  the  many 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
נָתַ֣תָּ  You  gave 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
וּבְאֶ֨רֶץ  Or  in  land 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
הָרְחָבָ֧ה  the  large 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רָחָב  
Sense: broad, wide.
וְהַשְּׁמֵנָ֛ה  and  rich 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: שָׁמֵן  
Sense: fat, rich, robust.
נָתַ֥תָּ  You  set 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לִפְנֵיהֶ֖ם  before  them 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
עֲבָד֑וּךָ  have  served  You 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural, second person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
וְֽלֹא־  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
שָׁ֔בוּ  did  they  turn 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
מִמַּֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֖ם  from  their  works 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מַעֲלִיל 
Sense: deed, practice.
הָרָעִֽים  wicked 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.