Nehemiah 9:16 Meaning and Explanation
“But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Despite such kindness, Israel acted proudly, stiffened their necks, and refused to obey God's commands.
What Does Nehemiah 9:16 Mean?
The prayer turns from God's goodness to the people's response. They 'dealt proudly' and 'hardened their necks,' an image of a stubborn ox refusing the yoke, and would not heed God's commandments.
Set against so much grace, the rebellion is startling. Pride is the root: an unwillingness to bend the neck and submit to the One who had saved them. The honest confession of the assembly is that this stubbornness ran through their fathers and through themselves. Recognizing the hardness in our own hearts is the beginning of its softening.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nehemiah 9:16
What does Nehemiah 9:16 mean?
Despite such kindness, Israel acted proudly, stiffened their necks, and refused to obey God's commands.