Nehemiah 9:13

Translations

Modern

You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them just ordinances, true laws, and good statutes and commandments.

Traditional

Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:

Literal

And upon Mount Sinai You came down and spoke with them from the heavens, and You gave to them straight ordinances and true instructions, good statutes and commandments.

Latin

Ad montem quoque Sinai descendisti, et locutus es cum eis de cælo, et dedisti eis judicia recta, et legem veritatis, cæremonias, et præcepta bona:

Original

Hebrew

English

You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them just ordinances, true laws, and good statutes and commandments.

Notes

Nehemiah 9:12–21

This prayer reminded the people of God's miraculous guidance of Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 13:21–22), his personal appearance at Mount Sinai to reveal his covenant laws through Moses (see Exodus 19–20), and his faithfulness in providing bread and water (see Exodus 16:4; 17:1–6). Despite all of that, Israel's ancestors were proud and stubborn and refused to obey (see Exodus 32; Numbers 14:4). Yet in his grace, God remained faithful and compassionate (see Exodus 34:6) and provided his spirit to guide and teach them (compare Exodus 33:2; Numbers 11:17).

Nehemiah 9:5–37

This lengthy prayer admits the nation's sins and praises God for his compassion throughout history (compare Psalms 105–106; 135–136). It encouraged listeners to admit their own unfaithfulness and ask God for compassion and forgiveness.

Nehemiah 7:73–10:39

This section, possibly from Ezra’s personal memoirs, explains how Ezra’s teaching of God’s law renewed the people's commitment to serve God and follow his instructions. Spiritual revival occurred alongside the civic work of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Theme notes and profiles

God's Word at the Center Nehemiah’s Confidence in God

Related verses

Exodus 20:1
And God spoke all these words:
Psalm 119:160
The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever.
Exodus 19:11
…and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
Psalm 119:127–128
Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even the purest gold.
Romans 7:12–14
So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
Ezekiel 20:11–13
And I gave them My statutes and made known to them My ordinances—for the man who does these things will live by them.
Deuteronomy 5:22–26
The LORD spoke these commandments in a loud voice to your whole assembly out of the fire, the cloud, and the deep darkness on the mountain; He added nothing more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.
Psalm 19:7–11
The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
Deuteronomy 5:4
The LORD spoke with you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.
Deuteronomy 4:8
And what nation is great enough to have righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today?
Deuteronomy 4:33
Has a people ever heard the voice of God speaking out of the fire, as you have, and lived?
Psalm 119:137
Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments.

Places

Sinai: Mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments

Glossary

Book of Nehemiah Glory Mount Sinai Pillar of Fire and Cloud

Topics

God: Supplying Water at Meribah Privileges of Saints: Having God for Their: Law-Giver Public Prayer: Jeshua Sabbath: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Sin: Confession of Sinai: A Mountain in the Peninsula East of the Red Sea: The Law Delivered to Moses Upon Thankfulness: To God of the Levites

Nehemiah 9:13

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