The Meaning of Nehemiah 9:37 Explained

Nehemiah 9:37

KJV: And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

YLT: and its increase it is multiplying to the kings whom Thou hast set over us in our sins; and over our bodies they are ruling, and over our cattle, according to their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

Darby: And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: and they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure; and we are in great distress.

ASV: And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have power over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it yieldeth much  increase  unto the kings  whom thou hast set  over us because of our sins:  also they have dominion  over our bodies,  and over our cattle,  at their pleasure,  and we [are] in great  distress. 

What does Nehemiah 9:37 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 9:37 mean?

And [yields] increase much to the kings Whom You have set over us because of our sins and over our bodies they have dominion and our cattle at their pleasure and in distress Great we [are] -
וּתְבוּאָתָ֣הּ מַרְבָּ֗ה לַמְּלָכִ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־ נָתַ֥תָּה עָלֵ֖ינוּ בְּחַטֹּאותֵ֑ינוּ וְעַ֣ל גְּ֠וִיֹּתֵינוּ מֹשְׁלִ֤ים וּבִבְהֶמְתֵּ֙נוּ֙ כִּרְצוֹנָ֔ם וּבְצָרָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה אֲנָֽחְנוּ פ

וּתְבוּאָתָ֣הּ  And  [yields]  increase 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: תְּבוּאָה  
Sense: produce, product, revenue.
מַרְבָּ֗ה  much 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, feminine singular
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
לַמְּלָכִ֛ים  to  the  kings 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אֲשֶׁר־  Whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
נָתַ֥תָּה  You  have  set 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
עָלֵ֖ינוּ  over  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.
בְּחַטֹּאותֵ֑ינוּ  because  of  our  sins 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: חַטָּאָה 
Sense: sin, sinful.
וְעַ֣ל  and  over 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
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.
גְּ֠וִיֹּתֵינוּ  our  bodies 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: גְּוִיָּה  
Sense: a body (of living creatures).
מֹשְׁלִ֤ים  they  have  dominion 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: מָשַׁל  
Sense: to rule, have dominion, reign.
וּבִבְהֶמְתֵּ֙נוּ֙  and  our  cattle 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: בְּהֵמָה  
Sense: beast, cattle, animal.
כִּרְצוֹנָ֔ם  at  their  pleasure 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: רָצֹון  
Sense: pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill, acceptance, will.
וּבְצָרָ֥ה  and  in  distress 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: צָרָה 
Sense: straits, distress, trouble.
גְדוֹלָ֖ה  Great 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
אֲנָֽחְנוּ  we  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common plural
Root: אֲנַחְנוּ  
Sense: we (first pers.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation