Bible Strands
Nehemiah 9:33
You are just in all that has befallen us, because You have acted faithfully, while we have acted wickedly.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Levites deliver this statement as part of a national prayer in Nehemiah 9, addressing God directly after reviewing Israel’s history from the Assyrian period to their return. The speaker acknowledges the collective hardship that has fallen on the people, their leaders, and their ancestors.
The words — The text states God is צַדִּיק (tza.Dik, righteous) over every thing which has come upon the people, grounding this judgment in His אֱמֶת ('e.Met, faithfulness) contrasted with human wickedness.
The thread — This pairing of divine justice and human sin runs through Psalms 106:6, Daniel 9:5, and Genesis 18:25, where God’s covenant faithfulness is repeatedly set against Israel’s repeated disobedience.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to acknowledge that suffering results from human rebellion rather than divine failure, and to measure personal conduct against God’s established faithfulness instead of seeking excuses.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:
Cross-references
- Genesis 18:25 Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
- Psalms 106:6 We have sinned like our fathers; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
- Daniel 9:5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances.
- Job 34:23 For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.
- Leviticus 26:40 But if they will confess their iniquity and that of their fathers in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me, by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me—
- Job 33:27 Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.
- Psalms 119:137 Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments.
- Psalms 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.
- Jeremiah 12:1 Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?
- Lamentations 1:18 The LORD is righteous, yet I rebelled against His command. Listen, all you people; look upon my suffering. My young men and maidens have gone into captivity.