Nehemiah 9:29 Meaning and Explanation
“And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →God warned them to return to His law, which gives life, but proudly they refused and would not listen.
What Does Nehemiah 9:29 Mean?
God testified against the people to bring them back to His law, the very law of which it is said, 'if a man do, he shall live in them.' Yet they acted proudly, withdrew the shoulder like an ox shrugging off the yoke, hardened their necks, and would not hear.
God's commands are the path of life, not a cage but a way to flourish. To turn from them is to turn from life itself. The tragedy is willful: a stubborn refusal to listen even to warnings given in love. The phrase 'live in them' echoes through Scripture as a reminder that God's instruction is given for our good, that we might truly live.
Nehemiah 9:29 in the Original Language
chayah (חָיָה), 'live' -- to live, flourish, or be revived; fullness of life, not mere survival.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nehemiah 9:29
What does Nehemiah 9:29 mean?
God warned them to return to His law, which gives life, but proudly they refused and would not listen.