Nehemiah 9:23
New International Version
You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land that you told their parents to enter and possess.

New Living Translation
You made their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and brought them into the land you had promised to their ancestors.

English Standard Version
You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you had told their fathers to enter and possess.

Berean Standard Bible
You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven and brought them to the land You had told their fathers to enter and possess.

King James Bible
Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

New King James Version
You also multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, And brought them into the land Which You had told their fathers To go in and possess.

New American Standard Bible
“You made their sons as numerous as the stars of heaven, And You brought them into the land Which You had told their fathers to enter and possess.

NASB 1995
“You made their sons numerous as the stars of heaven, And You brought them into the land Which You had told their fathers to enter and possess.

NASB 1977
“And Thou didst make their sons numerous as the stars of heaven, And Thou didst bring them into the land Which Thou hadst told their fathers to enter and possess.

Legacy Standard Bible
You made their sons numerous as the stars of heaven, And You brought them into the land Which You had said for their fathers to enter and possess.

Amplified Bible
“You made their children as numerous as the stars of heaven, And You brought them into the land Which You told their fathers to enter and possess.

Christian Standard Bible
You multiplied their descendants like the stars of the sky and brought them to the land you told their ancestors to go in and possess.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven and brought them to the land You told their ancestors to go in and take possession of it.

American Standard Version
Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land concerning which thou didst say to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

Contemporary English Version
You brought them into the land that you had promised their ancestors, and you blessed their nation with people that outnumbered the stars in the sky.

English Revised Version
Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou didst say to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky. You brought them into the land you told their parents to enter and possess.

Good News Translation
You gave them as many children as there are stars in the sky, and let them conquer and live in the land that you had promised their ancestors to give them.

International Standard Version
"You multiplied their descendants like the stars in heaven and brought them to the land about which you told their ancestors to enter and possess.

Majority Standard Bible
You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven and brought them to the land You had told their fathers to enter and possess.

NET Bible
You multiplied their descendants like the stars of the sky. You brought them to the land you had told their ancestors to enter in order to possess.

New Heart English Bible
You also multiplied their children as the stars of the sky, and brought them into the land concerning which you said to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

Webster's Bible Translation
Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

World English Bible
You also multiplied their children as the stars of the sky, and brought them into the land concerning which you said to their fathers that they should go in to possess it.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And You have multiplied their sons as the stars of the heavens, "" And bring them into the land "" That You have said to their fathers to go in to possess.

Young's Literal Translation
And their sons Thou hast multiplied as the stars of the heavens, and bringest them in unto the land that Thou hast said to their fathers to go in to possess.

Smith's Literal Translation
And their sons thou didst multiply as the stars of the heavens, and thou wilt bring them to the land which thou saidst to their fathers to come in to possess.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And thou didst multiply their children as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them to the land concerning which thou hadst said to their fathers, that they should go in and possess it.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you multiplied their sons like the stars of heaven. And you led them into the land, about which you had said to their fathers that they would enter and possess it.

New American Bible
You made their children as numerous as the stars of the heavens, and you brought them into the land which you had commanded their ancestors to enter and possess.

New Revised Standard Version
You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land that you had told their ancestors to enter and possess.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Their children also thou didst multiply as the stars of heaven, and thou didst bring them into the land concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers that they should go in to possess it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And their children you multiplied as the stars which are in Heaven, and you brought them to the land, and you told their fathers to enter it and inherit it.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Their children also didst Thou multiply as the stars of heaven, and didst bring them into the land, concerning which Thou didst say to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou didst multiply their children as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land of which thou spokest to their fathers;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The People Confess Their Sins
22You gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner of the land. So they took the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and of Og king of Bashan. 23You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven and brought them to the land You had told their fathers to enter and possess. 24So their descendants went in and possessed the land; You subdued before them the Canaanites dwelling in the land. You delivered into their hands the kings and peoples of the land, to do with them as they wished.…

Cross References
Genesis 15:5
And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”

Genesis 22:17
I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.

Exodus 32:13
Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’”

Deuteronomy 1:10
The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Deuteronomy 7:13
He will love you and bless you and multiply you. He will bless the fruit of your womb and the produce of your land—your grain, new wine, and oil, the young of your herds and the lambs of your flocks—in the land that He swore to your fathers to give you.

Deuteronomy 10:22
Your fathers went down to Egypt, seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Deuteronomy 28:62
You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left few in number, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God.

1 Chronicles 27:23
David did not count the men aged twenty or under, because the LORD had said that He would make Israel as numerous as the stars of the sky.

Psalm 105:24
And the LORD made His people very fruitful, more numerous than their foes,

Isaiah 51:2
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.

Jeremiah 33:22
As the hosts of heaven cannot be counted and as the sand on the seashore cannot be measured, so too will I multiply the descendants of My servant David and the Levites who minister before Me.”

Acts 7:17
As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.

Romans 4:18
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”

Romans 9:27
Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved.

Galatians 3:16
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.


Treasury of Scripture

Their children also multiplied you as the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land, concerning which you had promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

multipliedst

Genesis 15:5
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Genesis 22:17
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

1 Chronicles 27:23
But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.

broughtest

Joshua 1:1-3:17
Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, …

which thou

Genesis 12:7
And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

Genesis 13:15-17
For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever…

Genesis 15:18
In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

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Broughtest Children Descendants Enter Fathers Great Hadst Heaven Heavens Multiplied Multiply Numerous Possess Promised Sky Stars Themselves
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Broughtest Children Descendants Enter Fathers Great Hadst Heaven Heavens Multiplied Multiply Numerous Possess Promised Sky Stars Themselves
Nehemiah 9
1. A solemn fast, and repentance of the people
4. The Levites make a confession of God's goodness, and their wickedness














You multiplied their descendants
This phrase reflects God's faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham, where He promised to make his descendants as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5). The Hebrew root for "multiplied" is "רָבָה" (ravah), which conveys the idea of increase and abundance. This multiplication is not just in numbers but in the fulfillment of God's promises, showcasing His sovereignty and providence. Historically, this multiplication is evident in the growth of the Israelite nation from a small family to a vast multitude, emphasizing God's hand in their development.

like the stars of heaven
The imagery of stars is significant in the Hebrew Bible, symbolizing not only vastness and innumerability but also divine promise and blessing. The stars are a constant reminder of God's eternal covenant with Abraham. In the ancient Near Eastern context, stars were often associated with divine beings or heavenly hosts, underscoring the divine nature of this promise. This phrase reassures the Israelites of their unique place in God's plan, as numerous and enduring as the celestial bodies.

and brought them to the land
The act of bringing the Israelites to the land signifies God's active role in fulfilling His promises. The Hebrew verb "בּוֹא" (bo) means to come or bring, indicating God's direct intervention in history. This movement from Egypt to Canaan is a central narrative in the Old Testament, symbolizing liberation, divine guidance, and the realization of God's promises. Archaeologically, the conquest and settlement of Canaan are pivotal events that shaped the identity and faith of the Israelite people.

You had told their fathers
This phrase highlights the continuity of God's promises across generations. The "fathers" refer to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—who received God's promises firsthand. The Hebrew word "אָבוֹת" (avot) emphasizes the ancestral lineage and the faithfulness of God to His word. This continuity is a testament to God's unchanging nature and His commitment to His covenant, providing a foundation of trust and hope for future generations.

to enter and possess
The Hebrew words "לָבוֹא" (lavo) for "enter" and "יָרַשׁ" (yarash) for "possess" convey a sense of active participation in God's promises. Entering the land is not merely a physical act but a spiritual journey of faith and obedience. Possession implies not just occupation but stewardship and responsibility under God's covenant. Historically, this involved the Israelites' conquest and settlement of Canaan, a process that required reliance on God's guidance and strength.

Verse 23. - As the stars of heaven. There is a reference here to the promise made to Abraham (Genesis 15:5; Genesis 22:17). On the great multiplication which took place in Egypt see Exodus 1:7, 12.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You multiplied
הִרְבִּ֔יתָ (hir·bî·ṯā)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

their descendants
וּבְנֵיהֶ֣ם (ū·ḇə·nê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

like the stars
כְּכֹכְבֵ֖י (kə·ḵō·ḵə·ḇê)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3556: A star, a prince

of heaven
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם (haš·šā·mā·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

and brought
וַתְּבִיאֵם֙ (wat·tə·ḇî·’êm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

them to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the land
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

You had told
אָמַ֥רְתָּ (’ā·mar·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

their fathers
לַאֲבֹתֵיהֶ֖ם (la·’ă·ḇō·ṯê·hem)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

to enter
לָב֥וֹא (lā·ḇō·w)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

and possess.
לָרָֽשֶׁת׃ (lā·rā·šeṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin


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OT History: Nehemiah 9:23 Their children also multiplied you as (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 9:22
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