Nehemiah 9:15

Translations

Modern

In their hunger You gave them bread from heaven; in their thirst You brought them water from the rock. You told them to go in and possess the land that You had sworn to give them.

Traditional

And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.

Literal

And bread from the heavens You gave to them for their hunger, and water from the rock you brought forth to them for their thirst, and You said to them to go in to possess the land that You lifted Your hand to give to them.

Latin

Panem quoque de cælo dedisti eis in fame eorum, et aquam de petra eduxisti eis sitientibus, et dixisti eis ut ingrederentur et possiderent terram, super quam levasti manum tuam ut traderes eis.

Original

Hebrew

English

In their hunger You gave them bread from heaven; in their thirst You brought them water from the rock. You told them to go in and possess the land that You had sworn to give them.

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

1 Corinthians 10:3–4
They all ate the same spiritual food
Exodus 17:6
Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Deuteronomy 1:8
See, I have placed the land before you. Enter and possess the land that the LORD swore He would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their descendants after them.”
Exodus 16:14–15
When the layer of dew had evaporated, there were thin flakes on the desert floor, as fine as frost on the ground.
Exodus 16:4
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions.
John 6:31–35
Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Psalm 105:40–41
They asked, and He brought quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
Ezekiel 20:15
Moreover, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands—
Psalm 78:24–25
He rained down manna for them to eat; He gave them grain from heaven.
Deuteronomy 8:3
He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Psalm 114:8
…who turned the rock into a pool, the flint into a fountain of water!
Psalm 77:15–20
With power You redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

Glossary

Book of Nehemiah Glory Pillar of Fire and Cloud

Topics

Blessing: Temporal, from God in Egypt: Manna God: Supplying Water at Meribah Manna: Miraculously Given to Israel for Food in the Wilderness Public Prayer: Jeshua Sin: Confession of Thankfulness: To God of the Levites

Nehemiah 9:15

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