Nehemiah 9:27

Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest [them] from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.

Therefore thou deliveredst {H5414} them into the hand {H3027} of their enemies {H6862}, who vexed {H6887} them: and in the time {H6256} of their trouble {H6869}, when they cried {H6817} unto thee, thou heardest {H8085} them from heaven {H8064}; and according to thy manifold {H7227} mercies {H7356} thou gavest {H5414} them saviours {H3467}, who saved {H3467} them out of the hand {H3027} of their enemies {H6862}.

So you handed them over to the power of their adversaries, who oppressed them. Yet in the time of their trouble, when they cried out to you, you heard from heaven, and in keeping with your great compassion, you gave them saviors to save them from the power of their adversaries.

So You delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time of distress they cried out to You. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies.

Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours who saved them out of the hand of their adversaries.

Commentary

Nehemiah 9:27 is part of a profound prayer of confession and historical review offered by the Levites during the post-exilic period, following the reading of the Law (Nehemiah 9:3). This verse highlights a recurring pattern in Israel's history: their rebellion, God's consequent discipline, their cry for help, and God's merciful deliverance.

Context

The entire ninth chapter of Nehemiah is a magnificent prayer recounting God's faithfulness to Israel from the time of Abraham through the wilderness, the conquest of Canaan, the period of the Judges, and their eventual exile and return. It serves as a national confession of sin, acknowledging Israel's consistent disobedience while simultaneously magnifying God's unwavering character. Verse 27 specifically looks back at the era described in the book of Judges, where the people repeatedly fell into idolatry and oppression, only to be rescued by God's intervention.

Key Themes

  • Divine Discipline and Justice: The phrase "Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them" underscores God's justice. When Israel turned away from Him, He allowed them to experience the painful consequences of their actions, often through foreign oppressors. This was not arbitrary punishment but a disciplinary measure designed to bring them back to repentance.
  • God's Unfailing Mercy: Despite Israel's repeated backsliding, God's character is consistently portrayed as merciful. "According to thy manifold mercies" emphasizes the abundance and diversity of His compassion. Even in their deepest trouble, when they cried out, God heard them from heaven. This reflects God's covenant faithfulness, even when His people were unfaithful (Lamentations 3:22-23).
  • God as Deliverer and Savior: The verse states, "thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies." These "saviours" refer to the Judges whom God raised up throughout Israel's history (e.g., Gideon, Samson, Deborah) to deliver His people from oppression. This demonstrates God's active involvement in the lives of His people and His willingness to provide rescue when they turned to Him (Judges 2:16).
  • The Cycle of Sin and Repentance: Nehemiah 9:27 perfectly encapsulates the cyclical nature of Israel's history documented in the Old Testament: sin leads to suffering, suffering leads to crying out to God, and God's mercy leads to deliverance, which then often leads back to sin.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "manifold mercies" translates the Hebrew word rabbot (ืจึทื‘ึผื•ึนืช), meaning "great" or "numerous," combined with rachamim (ืจึทื—ึฒืžึดื™ื), which signifies deep compassion or mercy, often associated with a mother's womb. This combination powerfully conveys the immeasurable and abundant nature of God's tender compassion, which is not easily exhausted by human sin.
  • The term "saviours" (ืžื•ึนืฉืึดื™ืขึดื™ื - *moshi'im*) literally means "deliverers" or "rescuers," specifically referring to the leaders God appointed during the period of the Judges. It highlights that salvation, even in a physical sense, ultimately comes from God.

Practical Application

Nehemiah 9:27 offers timeless truths for believers today:

  • God's Character is Consistent: He is both just and merciful. While He allows us to face consequences for our choices, His ultimate desire is for us to turn back to Him, and He is always ready to forgive and restore.
  • The Power of Repentance: When we acknowledge our sins and cry out to God in humility, He hears us. This verse reassures us that God is attentive to the prayers of His people, especially in times of distress (Psalm 106:44-45).
  • Hope in Deliverance: No matter how dire our circumstances, or how much we feel "delivered into the hand of enemies" (whether external pressures or internal struggles), God can and will provide "saviours" โ€“ whether through direct intervention, wise counsel, or renewed strength โ€“ to bring us out of trouble.

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of God's enduring faithfulness, His readiness to respond to a repentant heart, and His abundant mercy that triumphs over judgment.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 106:41

    And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.

  • Psalms 106:45

    And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.

  • Daniel 9:10

    Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

  • Daniel 9:14

    Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God [is] righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.

  • 2 Kings 14:27

    And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

  • 2 Kings 13:5

    (And the LORD gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime.

  • Judges 2:18

    And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.