Nehemiah 9:34
New International Version
Our kings, our leaders, our priests and our ancestors did not follow your law; they did not pay attention to your commands or the statutes you warned them to keep.

New Living Translation
Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your Law or listen to the warnings in your commands and laws.

English Standard Version
Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them.

Berean Standard Bible
Our kings and leaders and priests and fathers did not obey Your law or listen to Your commandments and warnings that You gave them.

King James Bible
Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them.

New King James Version
Neither our kings nor our princes, Our priests nor our fathers, Have kept Your law, Nor heeded Your commandments and Your testimonies, With which You testified against them.

New American Standard Bible
“For our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our fathers have not kept Your Law Or paid attention to Your commandments and Your admonitions with which You have admonished them.

NASB 1995
“For our kings, our leaders, our priests and our fathers have not kept Your law Or paid attention to Your commandments and Your admonitions with which You have admonished them.

NASB 1977
“For our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our fathers have not kept Thy law Or paid attention to Thy commandments and Thine admonitions with which Thou hast admonished them.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers did not do Your law Or pay attention to Your commandments and Your testimonies with which You testified against them.

Amplified Bible
“Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept Your law Or paid attention to Your commandments and Your warnings which You have given them.

Christian Standard Bible
Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your law or listen to your commands and warnings you gave them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey Your law or listen to Your commands and warnings You gave them.

American Standard Version
neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies wherewith thou didst testify against them.

Contemporary English Version
Our kings and leaders, our priests and ancestors have never obeyed your commands or heeded your warnings.

English Revised Version
neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors didn't obey your teachings. They didn't pay attention to your commandments or the warnings that you gave them.

Good News Translation
Our ancestors, our kings, leaders, and priests have not kept your Law. They did not listen to your commands and warnings.

International Standard Version
Furthermore, neither our kings, nor our leaders, nor our priests nor our ancestors have practiced your Law or paid attention to your commands and warnings by which you admonished them.

Majority Standard Bible
Our kings and leaders and priests and fathers did not obey Your law or listen to Your commandments and warnings that You gave them.

NET Bible
Our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our ancestors have not kept your law. They have not paid attention to your commandments or your testimonies by which you have solemnly admonished them.

New Heart English Bible
neither have our kings, our leaders, our priests, nor our fathers, kept your law, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies with which you testified against them.

Webster's Bible Translation
Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened to thy commandments and thy testimonies, with which thou didst testify against them.

World English Bible
Also our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies with which you testified against them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And our kings, our heads, "" Our priests, and our fathers, "" Have not done Your law, "" Nor attended to Your commands, "" And to Your testimonies, "" That You have testified against them;

Young's Literal Translation
and our kings, our heads, our priests, and our fathers, have not done Thy law, nor attended unto Thy commands, and to Thy testimonies, that Thou hast testified against them;

Smith's Literal Translation
And our kings, our chiefs, our priests and our fathers, they did not thy law, and they attended not to thy commands and thy testimonies which thou didst testify against them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept thy law, and have not minded thy commandments, and thy testimonies which thou hast testified among them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our fathers have not done your law, and they have not been attentive to your commandments and your testimonies, to which you have testified among them.

New American Bible
Yes, our kings, our princes, our priests, and our ancestors have not kept your law; They paid no attention to your commandments and the warnings which you gave them.

New Revised Standard Version
our kings, our officials, our priests, and our ancestors have not kept your law or heeded the commandments and the warnings that you gave them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor given ear to thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Neither have our Kings and our Princes and our Priests and their fathers performed your Law, neither have they paid attention to your commandments or to your testimonies which you testified before them.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept Thy law, nor hearkened unto Thy commandments and Thy testimonies, wherewith Thou didst testify against them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And our kings, and our princes, and our priests, and our fathers, have not performed thy law, and have not given heed to thy commandments, and have not kept thy testimonies which thou didst testify to them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The People Confess Their Sins
33You are just in all that has befallen us, because You have acted faithfully, while we have acted wickedly. 34 Our kings and leaders and priests and fathers did not obey Your law or listen to Your commandments and warnings that You gave them. 35For even while they were in their kingdom, with the abundant goodness that You had given them, and in the spacious and fertile land that You had set before them, they would not serve You or turn from their wicked ways.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 22:21
I warned you when you were secure. You said, ‘I will not listen.’ This has been your way from youth, that you have not obeyed My voice.

2 Kings 17:13-14
Yet through all His prophets and seers, the LORD warned Israel and Judah, saying, “Turn from your wicked ways and keep My commandments and statutes, according to the entire Law that I commanded your fathers and delivered to you through My servants the prophets.” / But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God.

2 Chronicles 36:15-16
Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. / But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.

Jeremiah 7:25-26
From the day your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets again and again. / Yet they would not listen to Me or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and did more evil than their fathers.

Ezekiel 20:21
But the children rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes or carefully observe My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the wilderness.

Daniel 9:6
We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, fathers, and all the people of the land.

Isaiah 30:9
These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction.

Jeremiah 25:4
And the LORD has sent all His servants the prophets to you again and again, but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear.

Zechariah 7:11-12
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. / They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts.

2 Chronicles 24:19
Nevertheless, the LORD sent prophets to bring the people back to Him and to testify against them, but they would not listen.

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Acts 7:51-52
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. / Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—

Romans 10:21
But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

Hebrews 3:7-10
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, / do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works. ...

Luke 13:34
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!


Treasury of Scripture

Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept your law, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies, with which you did testify against them.

nor hearkened.

Jeremiah 29:19
Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD.

thy testimonies.

Nehemiah 9:30
Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.

2 Kings 17:15
And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.

thou didst.

Deuteronomy 31:21
And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

2 Kings 17:13
Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.

Jump to Previous
Admonished Attended Attention Commandments Fathers Follow Heads Hearkened Heeded Kept Kings Law Orders Paid Performed Priests Princes Testified Testify Testimonies Warnings Wherewith Witness
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Admonished Attended Attention Commandments Fathers Follow Heads Hearkened Heeded Kept Kings Law Orders Paid Performed Priests Princes Testified Testify Testimonies Warnings Wherewith Witness
Nehemiah 9
1. A solemn fast, and repentance of the people
4. The Levites make a confession of God's goodness, and their wickedness














Our kings, leaders, priests, and fathers
This phrase highlights the collective responsibility of Israel's leadership across different societal roles. The Hebrew words for "kings" (מַלְכֵּ֣ינוּ, malkeinu), "leaders" (שָׂרֵ֔ינוּ, sareinu), "priests" (כֹּהֲנֵ֖ינוּ, kohaneinu), and "fathers" (אֲבֹתֵֽינוּ, avoteinu) emphasize the hierarchical structure of ancient Israelite society. Each group had distinct roles: kings were to govern according to God's law, leaders were to guide the people, priests were to mediate between God and man, and fathers were to instruct their families in righteousness. Historically, this reflects the period of the monarchy and the priesthood's central role in spiritual life. The failure of these groups to adhere to God's law led to national consequences, underscoring the importance of godly leadership.

did not follow Your Law
The phrase "did not follow" (לֹ֣א עָשׂ֔וּ, lo asu) indicates a deliberate choice to ignore or disobey. "Your Law" (תּוֹרָתֶ֑ךָ, toratecha) refers to the Torah, the divine instructions given to Israel. The Torah was not merely a set of rules but a covenantal guide for living in relationship with God. The leaders' failure to follow the Law signifies a breach of this covenant, which had both spiritual and societal ramifications. This disobedience is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, often leading to periods of judgment and exile.

or pay attention to Your commandments
The phrase "pay attention" (הִקְשִׁ֖יבוּ, hikshivu) suggests an active listening and obedience. "Your commandments" (מִצְוֺתֶ֥יךָ, mitzvotecha) are specific directives from God, meant to guide the moral and ethical conduct of His people. The Hebrew root of "commandments" (צוה, tzavah) implies a sense of duty and obligation. The leaders' neglect to heed these commandments reflects a spiritual apathy and a turning away from God's voice, which is a central concern in the prophetic literature.

and warnings You gave them
The "warnings" (וְעֵדֹתֶ֖יךָ, ve'edotecha) refer to the testimonies or admonitions provided by God through the prophets and the Law. The Hebrew root (עֵדוּת, edut) conveys the idea of a witness or testimony, often serving as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience. These warnings were meant to steer the people back to faithfulness and prevent the calamities that would follow rebellion. Historically, the failure to heed these warnings led to the Babylonian exile, a pivotal event in Israel's history that underscored the seriousness of covenantal unfaithfulness.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Nehemiah
A Jewish leader who played a crucial role in rebuilding Jerusalem's walls and leading spiritual renewal among the Israelites after the Babylonian exile.

2. Kings
Refers to the monarchs of Israel and Judah who often led the people away from God's commandments, contributing to the nation's downfall.

3. Leaders
Includes the political and military leaders who were responsible for guiding the people but often failed to uphold God's laws.

4. Priests
The religious leaders who were supposed to teach and uphold the law but frequently neglected their duties, leading to spiritual decay.

5. Fathers
Represents the ancestors of the Israelites who had a history of disobedience and rebellion against God's commands.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Leadership Accountability
Leaders are held to a high standard and have a significant impact on the spiritual direction of their people. It is crucial for leaders to adhere to God's commandments and lead by example.

The Consequences of Disobedience
Ignoring God's laws and warnings leads to spiritual and often physical consequences. The history of Israel serves as a cautionary tale for individuals and nations alike.

The Role of Repentance and Renewal
Despite past failures, there is always an opportunity for repentance and renewal. Nehemiah's leadership in calling the people back to God's law demonstrates the power of turning back to God.

The Generational Impact of Sin
The disobedience of one generation can affect subsequent generations. It is vital to break cycles of sin through repentance and commitment to God's ways.

Listening to God's Warnings
God provides warnings through His Word and His prophets. It is essential to heed these warnings to avoid the pitfalls of disobedience.(34) Our kings.--Note that the prophets are omitted in this enumeration.

Verse 34. - Thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them. i.e. the testimony borne by the prophets (see ver. 30).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Our kings
מְלָכֵ֤ינוּ (mə·lā·ḵê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 4428: A king

and leaders
שָׂרֵ֙ינוּ֙ (śā·rê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

and priests
כֹּהֲנֵ֣ינוּ (kō·hă·nê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

and fathers
וַאֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ (wa·’ă·ḇō·ṯê·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 1: Father

did not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

obey
עָשׂ֖וּ (‘ā·śū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

Your law
תּוֹרָתֶ֑ךָ (tō·w·rā·ṯe·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

or listen
הִקְשִׁ֙יבוּ֙ (hiq·šî·ḇū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7181: To prick up the ears, hearken

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

Your commandments
מִצְוֺתֶ֔יךָ (miṣ·wō·ṯe·ḵā)
Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4687: Commandment

and warnings
וּלְעֵ֣דְוֺתֶ֔יךָ (ū·lə·‘ê·ḏə·wō·ṯe·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5715: Testimony

that
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

You gave
הַעִידֹ֖תָ (ha·‘î·ḏō·ṯā)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5749: To duplicate, repeat, to protest, testify, to encompass, restore

them.
בָּהֶֽם׃ (bā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew


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OT History: Nehemiah 9:34 Neither have our kings our princes our (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 9:33
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