And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou [art] a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.
And refused {H3985} to obey {H8085}, neither were mindful {H2142} of thy wonders {H6381} that thou didst {H6213} among them; but hardened {H7185} their necks {H6203}, and in their rebellion {H4805} appointed {H5414} a captain {H7218} to return {H7725} to their bondage {H5659}: but thou art a God {H433} ready to pardon {H5547}, gracious {H2587} and merciful {H7349}, slow {H750} to anger {H639}, and of great {H7227} kindness {H2617}, and forsookest {H5800} them not.
they refused to listen and paid no attention to the wonders you had done among them. No, they stiffened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a leader to return them to their slavery. But because you are a God of forgiveness, merciful, full of compassion, slow to grow angry and full of grace, you did not abandon them.
They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them.
and refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and forsookest them not.
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Psalms 86:5
For thou, Lord, [art] good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. -
Joel 2:13
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he [is] gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. -
Psalms 86:15
But thou, O Lord, [art] a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. -
Psalms 145:8
The LORD [is] gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. -
Psalms 145:9
The LORD [is] good to all: and his tender mercies [are] over all his works. -
Micah 7:18
Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth [in] mercy. -
Micah 7:19
He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Nehemiah 9:17 (KJV)
"And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou [art] a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not."
Commentary
This verse is part of a long, historical prayer offered by the Levites during a national assembly in Jerusalem after the walls were rebuilt. The prayer recounts the history of Israel's relationship with God, focusing on their repeated failures and God's consistent faithfulness.
The first part of the verse describes the stubborn rebellion of the Israelites during their wilderness journey after being freed from Egypt. Despite witnessing God's miraculous "wonders" (like the parting of the Red Sea and provision of manna), they "refused to obey" and "hardened their necks," a metaphor for being stiff-necked or stubborn. Their rebellion was so severe that they even contemplated appointing a leader to take them back to slavery in Egypt ("appointed a captain to return to their bondage"), rejecting the freedom God had given them.
The latter part of the verse presents a stark contrast to human sinfulness. It describes the unchanging character of God: "but thou [art] a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not." This is a powerful declaration of God's enduring grace and patience in the face of human sin. His readiness to pardon (the Hebrew word implies lifting or bearing away sin), His graciousness (unmerited favor), His mercy (compassion), His slowness to anger (patience), and His great kindness are highlighted as the reasons why He did not abandon His rebellious people.
This description of God's character echoes earlier revelations, particularly the description given to Moses in Exodus 34:6-7. It serves as a foundation for hope, demonstrating that God's faithfulness and forgiving nature are greater than human sin and rebellion. Even when His people turned away, He remained true to His character and did not utterly forsake them.
The practical message is profound: God's character of grace and mercy is constant. Our failures do not exhaust His patience or kindness. This truth provides hope for repentance and restoration for all who turn to Him.