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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Nehemiah 9:18 Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, 'This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,' and when they committed terrible blasphemies,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/nehemiah/9-18.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/16_Neh_09_18.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Nehemiah 9:18 - The People Confess Their Sins" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, 'This is your God who brought you up out 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frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad18.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/nehemiah/9-17.htm" title="Nehemiah 9:17">◄</a> Nehemiah 9:18 <a href="/nehemiah/9-19.htm" title="Nehemiah 9:19">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/9.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/nehemiah/9.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, &#8216This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,&#8217 or when they committed awful blasphemies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/9.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and said, ‘This is your god who brought you out of Egypt!’ They committed terrible blasphemies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/nehemiah/9.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/9.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and when they committed terrible blasphemies,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/9.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This <i>is</i> thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/nehemiah/9.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Even when they made a molded calf for themselves, And said, ‘This <i>is</i> your god That brought you up out of Egypt,’ And worked great provocations,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/nehemiah/9.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Even when they made for themselves A calf of cast metal And said, ‘This is your god Who brought you up from Egypt,’ And committed great blasphemies,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/9.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Even when they made for themselves A calf of molten metal And said, &#8216This is your God Who brought you up from Egypt,&#8217 And committed great blasphemies,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/nehemiah/9.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Even when they made for themselves A calf of molten metal And said, ‘This is your God Who brought you up from Egypt,’ And committed great blasphemies,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/nehemiah/9.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Even when they made for themselves A molten calf And said, ‘This is your God Who brought you up from Egypt,’ And committed great blasphemies,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/nehemiah/9.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Even when they had made for themselves A calf of cast metal And said, ‘This is your god Who brought you up from Egypt,’ And committed great [and contemptible] blasphemies,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/nehemiah/9.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Even after they had cast an image of a calf for themselves and said, “This is your god who brought you out of Egypt,” and they had committed terrible blasphemies,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/nehemiah/9.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Even after they had cast an image of a calf for themselves and said,&#8221 This is your God who brought you out of Egypt,&#8221 and they had committed terrible blasphemies, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/nehemiah/9.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/nehemiah/9.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />not even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and insulted you by claiming, "This is the god who rescued us from Egypt." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/nehemiah/9.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/nehemiah/9.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />even when they made a metal statue of a calf for themselves and said, 'This is your god who took you out of Egypt.' They committed outrageous sins.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/nehemiah/9.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />They made an idol in the shape of a bull-calf and said it was the god who led them from Egypt! How much they insulted you, LORD! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/nehemiah/9.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Moreover, after they had cast a golden calf for themselves, they said, "This is your god who brought you out of Egypt!" and committed terrible blasphemies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/nehemiah/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ?This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,? and when they committed terrible blasphemies,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/nehemiah/9.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />even when they made a cast image of a calf for themselves and said, 'This is your God who brought you up from Egypt,' or when they committed atrocious blasphemies. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/nehemiah/9.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Yes, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, 'This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,' and had committed awful blasphemies;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/nehemiah/9.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/nehemiah/9.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Yes, when they had made themselves a molded calf, and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed awful blasphemies, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/nehemiah/9.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Also, when they have made to themselves a molten calf, "" And say, This [is] your god "" That brought you up out of Egypt, "" And do great despisings,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/nehemiah/9.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Also, when they have made to themselves a molten calf, and say, this is thy god that brought thee up out of Egypt, and do great despisings,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/nehemiah/9.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Also when they made to them a molten calf, and they will say, This thy God which brought thee up from Egypt; and they will make great reproaches;<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/nehemiah/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Yea when they had made also to themselves a molten calf, and had said: This is thy God, that brought thee out of Egypt: and hail committed great blasphemies : <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/nehemiah/9.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Indeed, even when they had made for themselves a molten calf, and they had said, ‘This is your God, who led you away from Egypt!’ and had committed great blasphemies,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/nehemiah/9.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Though they made for themselves a molten calf, and proclaimed, ‘Here is your God who brought you up from Egypt,’ and were guilty of great insults, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/nehemiah/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Even when they had cast an image of a calf for themselves and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/nehemiah/9.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Yea, when they had made for themselves a molten calf, and said, This is your God, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and they wrought great wickedness;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/nehemiah/9.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />For they made a calf by smelting, and they said: ‘This is your God, Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt!’ And they did great evils.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/nehemiah/9.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said: 'This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/nehemiah/9.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And still farther they even made to themselves a molten calf, and said, These <i>are</i> the gods that brought us up out of Egypt: and they wrought great provocations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/nehemiah/9-18.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZsQrw7rBvgc?start=2490" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/9.htm">The People Confess Their Sins</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">17</span>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. <span class="reftext">18</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/637.htm" title="637: ’ap̄ (Conj) -- Also, yea. A primitive particle; meaning accession; also or yea; adversatively though.">Even</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">when</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ‘ā·śū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">they cast</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- ">for themselves</a> <a href="/hebrew/4541.htm" title="4541: mas·sê·ḵāh (N-fs) -- From nacak; properly, a pouring over, i.e. Fusion of metal; by implication, a libation, i.e. League; concretely a coverlet.">an image</a> <a href="/hebrew/5695.htm" title="5695: ‘ê·ḡel (N-msc) -- A calf. From the same as agol; a calf, especially one nearly grown.">of a calf</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mə·rū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">and said,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: zeh (Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">‘This</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā (N-mpc:: 2ms) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">is your God</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">who</a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: he·‘el·ḵā (V-Hifil-Perf-3ms:: 2ms) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">brought you up</a> <a href="/hebrew/4714.htm" title="4714: mim·miṣ·rā·yim (Prep-m:: N-proper-fs) -- A son of Ham, also his desc. and their country in N.W. Africa. Dual of matsowr; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt.">out of Egypt,’</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: way·ya·‘ă·śū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">and when they committed</a> <a href="/hebrew/1419.htm" title="1419: gə·ḏō·lō·wṯ (Adj-fp) -- Great. Or gadol; from gadal; great; hence, older; also insolent.">terrible</a> <a href="/hebrew/5007.htm" title="5007: ne·’ā·ṣō·wṯ (N-fp) -- Contempt. Or nematsah; from na'ats; scorn.">blasphemies,</a> </span><span class="reftext">19</span>You in Your great compassion did not forsake them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud never turned away from guiding them on their path; and by the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-4.htm">Exodus 32:4-8</a></span><br />He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” / When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the calf and proclaimed: “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.” / So the next day they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/9-16.htm">Deuteronomy 9:16-21</a></span><br />And I saw how you had sinned against the LORD your God; you had made for yourselves a molten calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the LORD had commanded you. / So I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands, shattering them before your eyes. / Then I fell down before the LORD for forty days and forty nights, as I had done the first time. I did not eat bread or drink water because of all the sin you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD and provoking Him to anger. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/106-19.htm">Psalm 106:19-23</a></span><br />At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped a molten image. / They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox. / They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-39.htm">Acts 7:39-41</a></span><br />But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. / They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’ / At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-7.htm">1 Corinthians 10:7</a></span><br />Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-31.htm">Exodus 32:31-35</a></span><br />So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made gods of gold for themselves. / Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.” / The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My book. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/9-12.htm">Deuteronomy 9:12</a></span><br />And the LORD said to me, “Get up and go down from here at once, for your people, whom you brought out of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. How quickly they have turned aside from the way that I commanded them! They have made for themselves a molten image.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-1.htm">Exodus 32:1-3</a></span><br />Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!” / So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” / Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-9.htm">Exodus 32:9-10</a></span><br />The LORD also said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people. / Now leave Me alone, so that My anger may burn against them and consume them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-19.htm">Exodus 32:19-20</a></span><br />As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he burned with anger and threw the tablets out of his hands, shattering them at the base of the mountain. / Then he took the calf they had made, burned it in the fire, ground it to powder, and scattered the powder over the face of the water. Then he forced the Israelites to drink it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-21.htm">Exodus 32:21-24</a></span><br />“What did this people do to you,” Moses asked Aaron, “that you have led them into so great a sin?” / “Do not be enraged, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know that the people are intent on evil. / They told me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!’ ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-25.htm">Exodus 32:25-29</a></span><br />Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them run wild and become a laughingstock to their enemies. / So Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him. / He told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each of you men is to fasten his sword to his side, go back and forth through the camp from gate to gate, and slay his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-30.htm">Exodus 32:30</a></span><br />The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. Now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-11.htm">Exodus 32:11-14</a></span><br />But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God, saying, “O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? / Why should the Egyptians declare, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people. / Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-15.htm">Exodus 32:15-18</a></span><br />Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. / The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. / When Joshua heard the sound of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “The sound of war is in the camp.” ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Yes, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is your God that brought you up out of Egypt, and had worked great provocations;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/32-4.htm">Exodus 32:4-8,31,32</a></b></br> And he received <i>them</i> at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These <i>be</i> thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/9-12.htm">Deuteronomy 9:12-16</a></b></br> And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted <i>themselves</i>; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/106-19.htm">Psalm 106:19-23</a></b></br> They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image… </p><p class="hdg">etc.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/nehemiah/4-14.htm">Awful</a> <a href="/revelation/13-6.htm">Blasphemies</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/11-15.htm">Calf</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-11.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/34-16.htm">Committed</a> <a href="/ezekiel/35-12.htm">Despisings</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-9.htm">Egypt</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-17.htm">Great</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/33-15.htm">Image</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/28-2.htm">Metal</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/34-4.htm">Molten</a> <a href="/nehemiah/5-18.htm">Ox</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-26.htm">Provocation</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-26.htm">Provocations</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-3.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/nehemiah/6-16.htm">Wrought</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/nehemiah/9-26.htm">Awful</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-26.htm">Blasphemies</a> <a href="/job/21-10.htm">Calf</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-26.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-26.htm">Committed</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-26.htm">Despisings</a> <a href="/psalms/68-31.htm">Egypt</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-19.htm">Great</a> <a href="/job/4-16.htm">Image</a> <a href="/job/37-18.htm">Metal</a> <a href="/job/28-2.htm">Molten</a> <a href="/job/6-5.htm">Ox</a> <a href="/job/5-2.htm">Provocation</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-26.htm">Provocations</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-23.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-26.htm">Wrought</a><div class="vheading2">Nehemiah 9</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/9-1.htm">A solemn fast, and repentance of the people</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/9-4.htm">The Levites make a confession of God's goodness, and their wickedness</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/nehemiah/9.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/nehemiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/nehemiah/9.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf</b><br>This phrase refers to the incident in <a href="/exodus/32.htm">Exodus 32</a>, where the Israelites, under Aaron's leadership, created a golden calf while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Law. This act of idolatry was a direct violation of the first two commandments (<a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3-4</a>). The casting of the calf symbolizes a return to Egyptian religious practices, as the bull was a common symbol of strength and fertility in Egyptian culture. This event highlights the Israelites' struggle with faithfulness and their tendency to revert to familiar pagan practices when faced with uncertainty.<p><b>and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’</b><br>This declaration is a profound distortion of truth, attributing the miraculous deliverance from Egypt to a man-made idol. It reflects a deep misunderstanding of God's nature and a failure to recognize His unique role as the true deliverer. This statement is a form of syncretism, blending the worship of Yahweh with pagan elements, which was a recurring issue for Israel. Theologically, this act represents a rejection of God's sovereignty and a breach of the covenant relationship established at Sinai.<p><b>and when they committed terrible blasphemies,</b><br>The term "blasphemies" here indicates acts of profound disrespect and irreverence towards God. In the biblical context, blasphemy involves not only verbal insults but also actions that defame God's character and authority. The creation and worship of the golden calf were blasphemous because they misrepresented God and violated His commandments. This incident serves as a warning against idolatry and the dangers of turning away from God's revealed truth. It underscores the need for repentance and the seriousness of maintaining fidelity to God’s covenant.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God who were delivered from slavery in Egypt but fell into idolatry.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The leader chosen by God to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, who was on Mount Sinai receiving the Law when the idolatry occurred.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/aaron.htm">Aaron</a></b><br>Moses' brother, who was left in charge and facilitated the creation of the golden calf.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/mount_sinai.htm">Mount Sinai</a></b><br>The place where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_golden_calf.htm">The Golden Calf</a></b><br>An idol made by the Israelites, representing a significant act of rebellion against God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_impatience.htm">The Danger of Impatience</a></b><br>The Israelites' impatience led them to idolatry. We must learn to wait on God's timing and trust His plans.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_accountability.htm">Leadership Accountability</a></b><br>Aaron's failure to stand firm highlights the importance of godly leadership and accountability.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_idolatry.htm">The Consequences of Idolatry</a></b><br>Idolatry leads to spiritual and communal decay. We must guard our hearts against modern forms of idolatry.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_mercy_and_forgiveness.htm">God's Mercy and Forgiveness</a></b><br>Despite their rebellion, God showed mercy. We should be grateful for God's forgiveness and strive to live righteously.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_remembrance.htm">The Importance of Remembrance</a></b><br>Remembering past failures helps us avoid repeating them. Reflect on personal and communal history to grow in faith.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_nehemiah_9.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Nehemiah 9</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_reveal_himself_in_the_bible.htm">If faith is required for salvation, why does the Bible contain so many stories where God reveals Himself directly?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_foods_are_mentioned_in_the_bible.htm">What foods are mentioned in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_rescue_rebellious_people.htm">In Nehemiah 9:29-31, why does God repeatedly rescue a people who continually rebel, and how does this align with other biblical texts suggesting divine judgment upon persistent disobedience?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_nehemiah_9_6_align_with_science.htm">In Nehemiah 9:6, how can the claim that God made and preserves all creation be reconciled with scientific evidence of cosmic evolution and species extinctions?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/nehemiah/9.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 18.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Great provocations</span>. Or "great blasphemies," as the same word is rendered in <a href="/ezekiel/35-12.htm">Ezekiel 35:12</a>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/nehemiah/9-18.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Even</span><br /><span class="heb">אַ֗ף</span> <span class="translit">(’ap̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_637.htm">Strong's 637: </a> </span><span class="str2">Meaning accession, yea, adversatively though</span><br /><br /><span class="word">after</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they had cast</span><br /><span class="heb">עָשׂ֤וּ</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·śū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for themselves</span><br /><span class="heb">לָהֶם֙</span> <span class="translit">(lā·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">an image</span><br /><span class="heb">מַסֵּכָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(mas·sê·ḵāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4541.htm">Strong's 4541: </a> </span><span class="str2">A pouring over, fusion of metal, a libation, league, a coverlet</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of a calf</span><br /><span class="heb">עֵ֣גֶל</span> <span class="translit">(‘ê·ḡel)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5695.htm">Strong's 5695: </a> </span><span class="str2">A, calf, one nearly grown</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and said,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mə·rū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“This</span><br /><span class="heb">זֶ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is your God</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">brought you up</span><br /><span class="heb">הֶעֶלְךָ֖</span> <span class="translit">(he·‘el·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> </span><span class="str2">To ascend, in, actively</span><br /><br /><span class="word">out of Egypt,”</span><br /><span class="heb">מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם</span> <span class="translit">(mim·miṣ·rā·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4714.htm">Strong's 4714: </a> </span><span class="str2">Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and they had committed</span><br /><span class="heb">וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֔וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·ya·‘ă·śū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">terrible</span><br /><span class="heb">גְּדֹלֽוֹת׃</span> <span class="translit">(gə·ḏō·lō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1419.htm">Strong's 1419: </a> </span><span class="str2">Great, older, insolent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">blasphemies,</span><br /><span class="heb">נֶאָצ֖וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(ne·’ā·ṣō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5007.htm">Strong's 5007: </a> </span><span class="str2">Contempt</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/nehemiah/9-18.htm">Nehemiah 9:18 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/9-18.htm">Nehemiah 9:18 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/nehemiah/9-18.htm">Nehemiah 9:18 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/9-18.htm">Nehemiah 9:18 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/9-18.htm">Nehemiah 9:18 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/nehemiah/9-18.htm">Nehemiah 9:18 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/nehemiah/9-18.htm">Nehemiah 9:18 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/nehemiah/9-18.htm">Nehemiah 9:18 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/nehemiah/9-18.htm">Nehemiah 9:18 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/nehemiah/9-18.htm">Nehemiah 9:18 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/nehemiah/9-18.htm">OT History: Nehemiah 9:18 Yes when they had made them (Neh Ne) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/nehemiah/9-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Nehemiah 9:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 9:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/nehemiah/9-19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Nehemiah 9:19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 9:19" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>