Nehemiah 9:35 For 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.

◄ Nehemiah 9:35 ►

New International Version
Even while they were in their kingdom, enjoying your great goodness to them in the spacious and fertile land you gave them, they did not serve you or turn from their evil ways.

New Living Translation
Even while they had their own kingdom, they did not serve you, though you showered your goodness on them. You gave them a large, fertile land, but they refused to turn from their wickedness.

English Standard Version
Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works.

Berean Standard Bible
For 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.

King James Bible
For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

New King James Version
For they have not served You in their kingdom, Or in the many good things that You gave them, Or in the large and rich land which You set before them; Nor did they turn from their wicked works.

New American Standard Bible
“But they, in their own kingdom, With Your great goodness which You gave them, With the broad and rich land which You placed before them, Did not serve You or turn from their evil deeds.

NASB 1995
“But they, in their own kingdom, With Your great goodness which You gave them, With the broad and rich land which You set before them, Did not serve You or turn from their evil deeds.

NASB 1977
“But they, in their own kingdom, With Thy great goodness which Thou didst give them, With the broad and rich land which Thou didst set before them, Did not serve Thee or turn from their evil deeds.

Legacy Standard Bible
But they, in their own kingdom, With Your abundant goodness which You gave them, With the broad and rich land which You set before them, Did not serve You or turn from their evil deeds.

Amplified Bible
“But they, in their kingdom, With Your great goodness which You gave them, With the broad and rich land which You set before them, Did not serve You or turn from their wicked deeds.

Christian Standard Bible
When they were in their kingdom, with your abundant goodness that you gave them, and in the spacious and fertile land you set before them, they would not serve you or turn from their wicked ways.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When they were in their kingdom, with Your abundant goodness that You gave them, and in the spacious and fertile land You set before them, they would not serve You or turn from their wicked ways.

American Standard Version
For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

Contemporary English Version
You blessed them with a kingdom and with an abundance of rich, fertile land, but they refused to worship you or turn from their evil.

English Revised Version
For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When they lived in their own kingdom and enjoyed the many good things that you gave them in a vast, fertile land which was set in front of them, they didn't serve you or turn away from their wicked lives.

Good News Translation
With your blessing, kings ruled your people when they lived in the broad, fertile land you gave them; but they failed to turn from sin and serve you.

International Standard Version
But they in their kingdom— in the midst of your great goodness that you gave them and in the large and fertile land that you provided them— did not serve you or turn away from their evil deeds.

Majority Standard Bible
For 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.

NET Bible
Even when they were in their kingdom and benefiting from your incredible goodness that you had lavished on them in the spacious and fertile land you had set before them, they did not serve you, nor did they turn from their evil practices.

New Heart English Bible
For they have not served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land which you gave before them, neither did they turn from their wicked works.

Webster's Bible Translation
For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

World English Bible
For they have not served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land which you gave before them. They didn’t turn from their wicked works.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And they, in their kingdom, "" And in Your abundant goodness, "" That You have given to them, "" And in the land, the large and the fat, "" That You have set before them, "" Have not served You, "" Nor turned back from their evil doings.

Young's Literal Translation
and they, in their kingdom, and in Thine abundant goodness, that Thou hast given to them, and in the land, the large and the fat, that Thou hast set before them, have not served Thee, nor turned back from their evil doings.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness which thou gavest to them, and in the broad and fat land which thou gavest before them, served not thee, and turned not back from their evil works.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And they have not served thee in their kingdoms, and in thy manifold goodness, which thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land, which thou deliveredst before them, nor did they return from their most wicked devices.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they have not served you, in their kingdoms and with your many good things, which you gave to them, and in the very wide and fat land, which you delivered into their sight, nor did they return from their most wicked pursuits.

New American Bible
While they were still in their kingdom, in the midst of the many good things that you had given them And in the wide, fertile land that you had spread out before them, They did not serve you nor turn away from their evil deeds.

New Revised Standard Version
Even in their own kingdom, and in the great goodness you bestowed on them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you and did not turn from their wicked works.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And they renounced thy kingdom and thy great blessing that thou gavest them and the good and fertile land that thou gavest them; neither did they serve thee nor did they turn away from their wicked works;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they renounced your kingdom and your great goodness that you have given to them in the good and heavenly land that you have given them, and they have not served you, neither did they turn from their evil works.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
For they have not served Thee in their kingdom, and in Thy great goodness that Thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which Thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they did not serve thee in thy kingdom, and in thy great goodness which thou gavest to them, and in the large and fat land which thou didst furnish before them, and they turned not from their evil devices.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The People Confess Their Sins
…34Our 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. 36So here we are today as slaves in the land You gave our fathers to enjoy its fruit and goodness—here we are as slaves!…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Deuteronomy 28:47-48
Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart in all your abundance, / you will serve your enemies the LORD will send against you in famine, thirst, nakedness, and destitution. He will place an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.

Jeremiah 5:24-25
They have not said in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rains, both autumn and spring, in season, who keeps for us the appointed weeks of harvest.’ / Your iniquities have diverted these from you; your sins have deprived you of My bounty.

Isaiah 1:2-3
Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me. / The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”

Ezekiel 16:15-19
But because of your fame, you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot. You lavished your favors on everyone who passed by, and your beauty was theirs for the asking. / You took some of your garments and made colorful high places for yourself, and on them you prostituted yourself. Such things should not have happened; never should they have occurred! / You also took the fine jewelry of gold and silver I had given you, and you made male idols with which to prostitute yourself. ...

Hosea 13:6
When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.

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.

Psalm 106:21-22
They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt, / wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.

Jeremiah 2:7
I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but you came and defiled My land and made My inheritance detestable.

Isaiah 5:12
At their feasts are the lyre and harp, tambourines and flutes and wine. They disregard the actions of the LORD and fail to see the work of His hands.

Ezekiel 20:8
But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.

Romans 1:21
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.

Luke 12:47-48
That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. / But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.

Matthew 11:20-24
Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. / “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. / But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ...

Romans 2:4-5
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? / But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Hebrews 3:7-11
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. ...

Treasury of Scripture

For they have not served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and fat land which you gave before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

For they.

Deuteronomy 28:47
Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;

Jeremiah 5:19
And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

Romans 3:4,5
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged…

in their kingdom.

thy great.

Nehemiah 9:25
And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

fat land.

Deuteronomy 8:7-10
For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; …

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.

Deuteronomy 32:12-15
So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him…

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Abundant Broad Deeds Enjoying Evil Evil-Doing Fat Gavest Good Goodness Great Kingdom Large Rich Servants Serve Served Spacious Turn Turned Wicked Works

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Nehemiah 9

1. A solemn fast, and repentance of the people
4. The Levites make a confession of God's goodness, and their wickedness

Berean Study Bible

Even while they were in their kingdom
This phrase highlights the period when the Israelites were established in their own land, a time of political autonomy and national identity. The Hebrew word for "kingdom" (מַלְכוּת, malkut) signifies not just a political entity but also a divine mandate. Historically, this refers to the era of the united monarchy under Saul, David, and Solomon, and later the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Despite having their own kingdom, the Israelites often failed to recognize God's sovereignty over their earthly rule.

with the abundant goodness that You gave them
The "abundant goodness" (טוּב, tuv) refers to the manifold blessings God bestowed upon Israel, including prosperity, peace, and divine favor. This phrase underscores God's generosity and faithfulness, even when His people were unfaithful. Theologically, it reflects the covenant relationship where God remains steadfast in His promises, providing for His people despite their shortcomings.

and in the spacious and fertile land
The "spacious and fertile land" (אֶרֶץ רַחֲבָה וּשְׁמֵנָה, eretz rachavah u'shemenah) is a direct reference to the Promised Land, a central theme in the Hebrew Bible. This land, described as "flowing with milk and honey," symbolizes God's provision and the fulfillment of His promises to the patriarchs. Archaeologically, the fertility of the land is evidenced by its historical agricultural productivity, supporting the biblical narrative of a land capable of sustaining a large population.

that You set before them
This phrase emphasizes God's active role in placing the Israelites in the Promised Land. The Hebrew verb (נָתַן, natan) implies a deliberate act of giving, highlighting God's sovereignty and grace. Scripturally, this act of setting the land before them is a fulfillment of the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, demonstrating God's faithfulness across generations.

they did not serve You
The failure to "serve" (עָבַד, avad) God is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, where service implies worship, obedience, and loyalty. Despite God's blessings, the Israelites often turned to idolatry and neglected their covenantal duties. This phrase serves as a sobering reminder of the human tendency to stray from divine commandments, even amidst divine favor.

or turn from their evil ways
The call to "turn" (שׁוּב, shuv) from "evil ways" (דֶּרֶךְ רָעָה, derekh ra'ah) is a central message of the prophets, urging repentance and a return to God. The Hebrew concept of repentance involves a complete transformation of heart and behavior. Historically, the Israelites' failure to repent led to consequences such as exile and suffering, yet God's call to repentance always carried the promise of restoration and forgiveness.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 35. - They have not served thee in their kingdom. There is no need of altering the reading here. "In their kingdom" means, "while they had a kingdom of their own, and were not subjects, as now, to a foreign power." Thy great goodness. See above, ver. 25. The large and fat land. Compare Exodus 3:8. Although the limits of Palestine are narrow, yet the land which God flare to his people, extending as it did from the Euphrates to the river of Egypt (Genesis 15:18), might well he termed a "large" or "broad" land.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

For even while
וְהֵ֣ם (wə·hêm)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

they were in their kingdom,
בְּמַלְכוּתָם֩ (bə·mal·ḵū·ṯām)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4438: Royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom

with the abundant
הָרָ֜ב (hā·rāḇ)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

goodness
וּבְטוּבְךָ֨ (ū·ḇə·ṭū·ḇə·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 2898: Good, goodness, beauty, gladness, welfare

You had given
נָתַ֣תָּ (nā·ṯa·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

them,
לָהֶ֗ם (lā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

and in the spacious
הָרְחָבָ֧ה (hā·rə·ḥā·ḇāh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7342: Wide, broad

and fertile
וְהַשְּׁמֵנָ֛ה (wə·haš·šə·mê·nāh)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 8082: Greasy, gross, rich

land
וּבְאֶ֨רֶץ (ū·ḇə·’e·reṣ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

You set
נָתַ֥תָּ (nā·ṯa·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

before them,
לִפְנֵיהֶ֖ם (lip̄·nê·hem)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face

they would not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

serve You
עֲבָד֑וּךָ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏū·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

or turn
שָׁ֔בוּ (šā·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

from their wicked
הָרָעִֽים׃ (hā·rā·‘îm)
Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

ways.
מִמַּֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֖ם (mim·ma·‘al·lê·hem)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4611: A deed, practice

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OT History: Nehemiah 9:35 For they have not served you (Neh Ne)