King James Version
Nehemiah 9:20 in the King James Version says “Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water...” — study this verse from Nehemiah chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.”
Nehemiah 9:20 · KJV
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;
Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.
Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.
Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.
KJV Study — Public Domain
“spirit”
H7307wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
“also thy good”
H2896good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
“Thou gavest”
H5414to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
“to instruct”
H7919to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent
“not thy manna”
H4478literally a whatness (so to speak), i.e., manna (so called from the question about it)
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
“them and withheldest”
H4513to debar (negatively or positively) from benefit or injury
“from their mouth”
H6310the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
“Thou gavest”
H5414to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
This verse is found in the book of Nehemiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Nehemiah 9:20 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Verses related to Nehemiah 9:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge