And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give [it, I say], to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou [art] righteous:
And foundest {H4672} his heart {H3824} faithful {H539} before {H6440} thee, and madest {H3772} a covenant {H1285} with him to give {H5414} the land {H776} of the Canaanites {H3669}, the Hittites {H2850}, the Amorites {H567}, and the Perizzites {H6522}, and the Jebusites {H2983}, and the Girgashites {H1622}, to give {H5414} it, I say, to his seed {H2233}, and hast performed {H6965} thy words {H1697}; for thou art righteous {H6662}:
Finding that he was faithful to you, you made a covenant with him to give the land of the Kena'ani, the Hitti, Emori and P'rizi, the Y'vusi and the Girgashi, to give it to his descendants; and you have done what you promised, because you are just.
You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites and Hittites, of the Amorites and Perizzites, of the Jebusites and Girgashites— to give it to his descendants. You have kept Your promise, because You are righteous.
and foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give it unto his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous.
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Genesis 15:18
In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: -
Genesis 15:21
And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. -
Hebrews 6:18
That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: -
Genesis 15:6
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. -
Joshua 23:14
And, behold, this day I [am] going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, [and] not one thing hath failed thereof. -
Joshua 21:43
¶ And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. -
Joshua 21:45
There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
Nehemiah 9:8 is part of a lengthy prayer of confession and worship offered by the Levites during a great assembly after the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. This particular verse reflects on God's foundational faithfulness to Abraham, recounting the initiation and fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.
Context
Chapter 9 of Nehemiah records a powerful prayer of national repentance and remembrance. Following the reading of the Law (Nehemiah 8), the people of Israel recognized their historical disobedience and God's consistent faithfulness. This prayer, led by the Levites, traces God's redemptive history with Israel, from creation through the exodus, wilderness wandering, conquest, and subsequent periods of apostasy and restoration. Nehemiah 9:8 specifically harks back to the very beginning of God's special relationship with Abraham, highlighting God's choice and the promise of the land.
Key Themes
God's Unwavering Faithfulness
The verse begins by stating that God "foundest his heart faithful before thee." This refers to Abraham's profound belief and obedience. While Abraham was not perfect, his willingness to follow God's call and trust His promises marked him as a man of faith. God, in turn, responded to this faithfulness by initiating an unbreakable covenant. The subsequent declaration, "and hast performed thy words," underscores God's absolute reliability. Despite centuries of challenges and Israel's own failures, God remained true to His promises, proving His character as a covenant-keeping God.
The Abrahamic Covenant
Central to this verse is the mention of the covenant God made with Abraham. This was a unilateral promise from God to give Abraham's descendants a specific land—the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. These nations were the dominant inhabitants of the region at the time. The covenant, detailed in books like Genesis, promised not only land but also a numerous seed and a blessing to all nations through Abraham. Nehemiah 9:8 emphasizes the land aspect of this covenant, highlighting God's commitment to His people's inheritance. For more on this foundational promise, see Genesis 15:18.
God's Righteousness
The verse concludes with the powerful affirmation, "for thou art righteous." This statement provides the ultimate reason for God's performance of His words. God's righteousness (Hebrew: tsaddiq) means He is inherently just, holy, and faithful to His own character and promises. It is not merely that God does right, but that He is right. His actions are always consistent with His perfect nature. Therefore, His commitment to Abraham and the subsequent fulfillment of the land promise are rooted in His unchanging righteousness.
Linguistic Insights
Practical Application
Nehemiah 9:8 offers profound encouragement for believers today. Just as God was faithful to Abraham and his descendants, He remains faithful to His promises to us. This verse reminds us that God's character is unchanging; He is righteous and will always perform His word. When we face uncertainties, we can look back at God's historical faithfulness as a foundation for our present trust. It encourages us to cultivate a heart of faith like Abraham's, knowing that our trust in God will be met with His unwavering truthfulness and commitment. God's performance of His ancient promises, even against overwhelming odds, assures us that He is true to every word He has spoken.