Nehemiah 9:9
Nehemiah 9:9 in Multiple Translations
You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt; You heard their cry at the Red Sea.
And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea;
And thou sawest the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red Sea,
And you saw the trouble of our fathers in Egypt, and their cry came to your ears by the Red Sea;
You saw how much our forefathers were suffering in Egypt. You heard their cries for help at the Red Sea.
Thou hast also considered the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the red Sea,
and dost see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and their cry hast heard by the sea of Suph,
“You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red Sea,
And thou sawest the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea;
And thou sawest the affliction of our fathers in Egypt: and thou didst hear their cry by the Red Sea.
“You saw what our ancestors were suffering in Egypt. You heard them cry to you for help when they were at the Red Sea.
Berean Amplified Bible — Nehemiah 9:9
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Nehemiah 9:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/תֵּ֛רֶא
אֶת
עֳנִ֥י
אֲבֹתֵ֖י/נוּ
בְּ/מִצְרָ֑יִם
וְ/אֶת
זַעֲקָתָ֥/ם
שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ
עַל
יַם
סֽוּף
וַ/תֵּ֛רֶא
râʼâh
H7200
Provider
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-2ms
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
עֳנִ֥י
ʻŏnîy
H6040
affliction
N-ms
אֲבֹתֵ֖י/נוּ
ʼâb
H1
father
N-mp | Suff
בְּ/מִצְרָ֑יִם
Mitsrayim
H4714
Egypt
Prep | N-proper
וְ/אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
Conj | DirObjM
זַעֲקָתָ֥/ם
zaʻaq
H2201
outcry
N-fs | Suff
שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ
shâmaʻ
H8085
to hear
V-Qal-Perf-2ms
עַל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
יַם
yâm
H3220
West
N-ms
סֽוּף
çûwph
H5488
reed
N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Nehemiah 9:9
וַ/תֵּ֛רֶא
râʼâh
H7200
"Provider"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-2ms
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Definition: (Lord will) Provide, cause to be seen. This name means to see, look at, inspect, look after
Usage: Occurs in 1206 OT verses. KJV: advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 41:41; Exodus 33:13.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
עֳנִ֥י
ʻŏnîy
H6040
"affliction"
N-ms
This Hebrew word means affliction or misery, describing a state of trouble or hardship, as seen in the experiences of the Israelites in the Old Testament.
Definition: 1) affliction, poverty, misery 1a) affliction 1b) poverty
Usage: Occurs in 36 OT verses. KJV: afflicted(-ion), trouble. See also: Genesis 16:11; Job 36:21; Psalms 9:14.
אֲבֹתֵ֖י/נוּ
ʼâb
H1
"father"
N-mp | Suff
In Hebrew, this word means father, whether literal or figurative. It is used to describe God as the father of his people, as well as human fathers like Abraham. The word is about a paternal relationship or authority.
Definition: 1) father of an individual 2) of God as father of his people 3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan 4) ancestor 4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person 4b) of people 5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art 6) of producer, generator (fig.) 7) of benevolence and protection (fig.) 8) term of respect and honour 9) ruler or chief (spec.) Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)
Usage: Occurs in 1060 OT verses. KJV: chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. See also: Genesis 2:24; Genesis 42:37; Leviticus 19:3.
בְּ/מִצְרָ֑יִם
Mitsrayim
H4714
"Egypt"
Prep | N-proper
This word means Egypt, a country in northeastern Africa, and is used in the Bible to describe the land and its people. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah, often referring to the Nile River and the Egyptians. Egypt is an important setting for many biblical events.
Definition: § Egypt = "land of the Copts" a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows Egyptians = "double straits" adj 2) the inhabitants or natives of Egypt
Usage: Occurs in 569 OT verses. KJV: Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim. See also: Genesis 10:6; Exodus 6:13; Exodus 34:18.
וְ/אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
Conj | DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
זַעֲקָתָ֥/ם
zaʻaq
H2201
"outcry"
N-fs | Suff
This Hebrew word means a loud cry or shriek, often expressing distress, like the outcry in Exodus 2:23. It can also describe a clamor or cry for help. In the Bible, it appears in various forms, such as crying out to God.
Definition: 1) cry, outcry 1a) outcry 1b) cry of distress 1c) outcry, clamour
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: cry(-ing). See also: Genesis 18:20; Isaiah 15:8; Proverbs 21:13.
שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ
shâmaʻ
H8085
"to hear"
V-Qal-Perf-2ms
To hear and listen is what this Hebrew word means, often implying attention and obedience. In Exodus and Deuteronomy, it is used when God speaks to the people, and they must listen and obey.
Definition: : hear v 1) to hear, listen to, obey 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hear (perceive by ear) 1a2) to hear of or concerning 1a3) to hear (have power to hear) 1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to 1a5) to understand (language) 1a6) to hear (of judicial cases) 1a7) to listen, give heed 1a7a) to consent, agree 1a7b) to grant request 1a8) to listen to, yield to 1a9) to obey, be obedient 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound) 1b2) to be heard of 1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed 1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound 1d2) to sound aloud (musical term) 1d3) to make proclamation, summon 1d4) to cause to be heard n m 2) sound
Usage: Occurs in 1072 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness. See also: Genesis 3:8; Exodus 32:18; Deuteronomy 27:9.
עַל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
יַם
yâm
H3220
"West"
N-ms
Refers to a large body of water like the Mediterranean Sea or a sea in general, sometimes specifically the west or seaward direction.
Definition: This name means sea, seaward, westward Another name of eph.ron (עֶפְרוֹן "(Mount )Ephron" H6085H)
Usage: Occurs in 339 OT verses. KJV: sea ([idiom] -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern, side, -ward). See also: Genesis 1:10; Joshua 17:10; Psalms 8:9.
סֽוּף
çûwph
H5488
"reed"
N-ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to a type of reed or water plant, often used to describe the Red Sea. It appears in Exodus as the body of water the Israelites crossed. The word is also translated as flag or weed in some versions.
Definition: 1) reed, rush, water plant 1a) rushes 1b) sea of rushes - used of Red Sea
Usage: Occurs in 28 OT verses. KJV: flag, Red (sea), weed. Compare H5489 (סוּף). See also: Exodus 2:3; Joshua 2:10; Psalms 106:7.
Study Notes — Nehemiah 9:9
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — The People Confess Their Sins
7You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram, who brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham.
8You 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.
9You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt; You heard their cry at the Red Sea.
10You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew they had acted with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day. 11You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into raging waters.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 3:7–9 | The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings. I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them. |
| 2 | Acts 7:34 | I have indeed seen the oppression of My people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’ |
| 3 | Exodus 3:16 | Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—has appeared to me and said: I have surely attended to you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. |
| 4 | Exodus 2:25 | God saw the Israelites and took notice. |
| 5 | Exodus 14:10–14 | As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified and cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” |
Nehemiah 9:9 Summary
This verse tells us that God saw the hardships the Israelites faced in Egypt and heard their cries for help at the Red Sea. It shows that God is a caring and powerful God who responds to the needs of His people, just as He did for the Israelites. We can trust that God sees and cares about our struggles too, and that He is able to rescue us, just as He did for the Israelites, as seen in Exodus 14:13-31 and Psalm 34:17. By remembering God's faithfulness in the past, we can have confidence in His love and care for us today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that God saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt?
This refers to the hardships and suffering the Israelites endured as slaves in Egypt, which God was aware of and cared about, as seen in Exodus 3:7-10 where God hears their cry and decides to act on their behalf.
Why is the Red Sea mentioned specifically in this verse?
The Red Sea is mentioned because it was a significant location where God miraculously intervened on behalf of the Israelites, parting the sea to allow them to escape from Pharaoh's army, as described in Exodus 14:13-31.
How does this verse relate to the overall story of the Bible?
This verse is part of a larger narrative of God's relationship with His people, highlighting His faithfulness, love, and power, which is a theme that continues throughout the Bible, including in the New Testament where Jesus Christ demonstrates God's love and rescue plan for humanity, as seen in John 3:16.
What can we learn from God's response to the Israelites' cry at the Red Sea?
We can learn that God is a compassionate and responsive God who hears the cries of His people and acts on their behalf, which is a principle that applies to believers today, as promised in Psalm 34:17 and Hebrews 4:16.
Reflection Questions
- How have I experienced God's presence and deliverance in my own life, and how can I trust Him more fully in times of difficulty?
- What are some ways I can cry out to God in prayer, just as the Israelites did at the Red Sea, and expect Him to respond?
- In what ways can I apply the principle of God's faithfulness to His people throughout history to my own life and circumstances?
- How can I share the story of God's deliverance at the Red Sea with others, and what impact can it have on their understanding of God's character?
Gill's Exposition on Nehemiah 9:9
And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt,.... The hard bondage in which their lives were made bitter; and was not a mere spectator of it, but looked upon them in it with pity and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Nehemiah 9:9
Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham; No JFB commentary on these verses.
Trapp's Commentary on Nehemiah 9:9
Nehemiah 9:9 And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea;Ver. 9. And didst see the affliction] The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, as well as his ears open to their prayers; he knoweth their soul in adversity, et de remedio prospicit, he is solicitous of their safety. And heardest their cry by the Red Sea] Though mixed with much murmuring, Exodus 14:10. So he heard that pitiful poor prayer of David, Psalms 31:22, "I said in mine haste, I am cut off from thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications, when I cried unto thee." God heareth the young ravens, Psalms 147:9, though they have but a hoarse and harsh note, make no melody to move pity, and cry but by implication only, and not directly unto him.
Cambridge Bible on Nehemiah 9:9
9–11. The Deliverance from Egypt9. didst see] R.V. thou sawest. The words are probably based on Exodus 3:7, ‘And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people.’ heardest their cry by the Red sea] Cf. Exodus 14:10, ‘And, behold, the Egyptians marched after them … and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.’ 15, ‘And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me.’ In both cases the verb ‘cry’ is the same root as the substantive here used.
Sermons on Nehemiah 9:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Nehemiah 9 by Robert F. Adcock | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the importance of preparing one's heart to receive God's word. The speaker emphasizes the need for gratitude and acknowledges the ingratitud |
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Apostolic Commission by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not panicking or feeling overwhelmed when trying to understand the message of God. He encourages the audience to take what |
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(Exodus) Exodus 3:3-8 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the encounter between Moses and God at the burning bush. He highlights the significance of Moses being instructed to take off his shoes as a |
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Nothingness - the Place of Humility by K.P. Yohannan | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the story of Moses and his call to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. The speaker emphasizes how Moses initially felt inadequate and unworthy f |
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The Exodus - From Egypt to Canaan - Sermon 1 of 5 by Roy Hession | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that all of humanity is under the domination of Satan due to sin. The power of Satan lies in sin, which gives him the ability to act as a ja |
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(1 Samuel) a Prophet Speaks to the Nation by David Guzik | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of looking at the big picture of our walk with God. He uses the example of Samuel addressing the people of Israel and reminding |
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Spiritual Awakening by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the power of God's spirit over human strength. He uses examples from the Bible, such as David facing Goliath and Moses confronting Pharaoh, t |