Nehemiah 9:32

Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.

Now therefore, our God {H430}, the great {H1419}, the mighty {H1368}, and the terrible {H3372} God {H410}, who keepest {H8104} covenant {H1285} and mercy {H2617}, let not all the trouble {H8513} seem little {H4591} before {H6440} thee, that hath come {H4672} upon us, on our kings {H4428}, on our princes {H8269}, and on our priests {H3548}, and on our prophets {H5030}, and on our fathers {H1}, and on all thy people {H5971}, since the time {H3117} of the kings {H4428} of Assyria {H804} unto this day {H3117}.

"'Now therefore, our God, great, mighty, fearsome God, who keeps both covenant and grace: let not all this suffering seem little to you that has come on us, our kings, our leaders, our cohanim, our prophets, our ancestors, and on all your people, from the times of the kings of Ashur until this very day.

So now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God who keeps His gracious covenant, do not view lightly all the hardship that has come upon us, and upon our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors and all Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today.

Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and lovingkindness, let not all the travail seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.

Nehemiah 9:32 is part of a profound prayer of confession and remembrance delivered by the Levites during a solemn assembly in post-exilic Jerusalem. This verse marks a crucial transition in the prayer, moving from a historical recount of God's faithfulness and Israel's rebellion to a direct, heartfelt plea for divine intervention regarding their prolonged suffering.

Context

Following the rededication of the wall and a period of spiritual revival, the people of Israel gathered for a day of fasting, confession, and worship. The Levites led them in a sweeping review of their history, from creation to the exodus, the wilderness wanderings, the conquest of Canaan, the period of the judges, the monarchy, and finally, the exile and their return. This lengthy prayer (Nehemiah 9:5-31) systematically acknowledged God's unwavering goodness and Israel's consistent disobedience. Verse 32 then pivots to a direct appeal to God, asking Him to consider the immense and enduring trouble that has afflicted them and their ancestors for centuries, specifically "since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day."

Key Themes

  • God's Majestic Character: The prayer begins by reverently addressing God as "the great, the mighty, and the terrible God." This emphasizes His supreme power, awe-inspiring majesty, and unwavering faithfulness.
  • God's Covenant Faithfulness: The phrase "who keepest covenant and mercy" highlights God's unchanging commitment to His promises and His compassionate nature, despite Israel's repeated failures. This echoes God's self-revelation to Moses in Exodus 34:6, emphasizing His compassionate and faithful nature.
  • A Plea for Divine Recognition: The core of the verse is the desperate cry, "let not all the trouble seem little before thee." It's a plea for God to fully acknowledge the depth, severity, and long duration of their collective suffering.
  • Widespread and Enduring Suffering: The comprehensive list of those affected ("kings, princes, priests, prophets, fathers, and all thy people") underscores that the affliction touched every segment of Israelite society. The specified timeline, "since the time of the kings of Assyria," points to centuries of hardship, beginning with the Assyrian invasions and exiles (see 2 Kings 17:6 for the fall of Samaria) and continuing through the Babylonian captivity and their current state under Persian rule.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV word "terrible" in "the terrible God" translates the Hebrew word yare' (יָרֵא). In this context, "terrible" does not mean "bad" or "evil," but rather "awesome," "awe-inspiring," "fear-inspiring," or "dread-inspiring." It conveys a sense of profound reverence, majestic power, and holiness that rightly evokes humble submission and deep respect. This attribute speaks to God's transcendence and His absolute authority.

Practical Application

Nehemiah 9:32 offers several enduring lessons for believers today:

  • Honest Prayer: We are encouraged to bring our full burdens and long-standing struggles before God, not minimizing our pain but trusting in His understanding and compassion.
  • Anchoring in God's Character: Even when facing immense hardship, our prayers should be grounded in who God is – great, mighty, covenant-keeping, and merciful. This affirmation of His unchanging nature strengthens our faith.
  • Perspective on Suffering: Recognizing the historical and generational struggles of God's people can help us understand that suffering is often part of the human experience and God's larger plan, without diminishing our present pain. This prayer is a powerful example of corporate confession and remembrance, much like Daniel 9:4-19.
  • Persistence in Petition: The prayer's duration and depth illustrate the importance of persistent and earnest petition before God, believing that He hears and will act in His perfect timing.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Deuteronomy 7:9

    Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he [is] God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

  • Nehemiah 1:5

    ¶ And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

  • Daniel 9:4

    ¶ And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

  • 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 7:20

    Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, [and] the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

  • Daniel 9:8

    O Lord, to us [belongeth] confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.

  • Daniel 9:6

    Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

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