“But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "acted presumptuously" isn't just about making a mistake; it points to a deliberate defiance and a proud disregard for God's authority. This wasn't a slip-up, but a conscious decision to stiffen their necks and refuse to listen.
“But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This confession, spoken by the Levites before the returned exiles, comes after a powerful recap of God's faithfulness throughout Israel's history. The people have just heard how God rescued them, sustained them, and repeatedly delivered them, yet this verse pivots to acknowledge their ancestors' stubborn rebellion and refusal to obey God's commands, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of their persistent unfaithfulness.
Nehemiah's prayer hits hard, confessing their fathers' actions. What does it truly mean to act 'presumptuously' against God?
The word translated 'presumptuously' here doesn't just mean making a mistake. It describes a deliberate choice to act with insolence and contempt towards God. It's a proud rebellion, a refusal to submit one's will to God's commands, even after experiencing His incredible kindness and power.
Think of it as spitting in the face of someone who has just saved your life. This was the attitude of Israel: they knew God, they saw His mighty acts, and yet they chose to defy Him. It's an active, willful sin born out of arrogance, a feeling of self-importance that looks down on God's authority.
Israel's 'stiff neck' is a powerful image. What does this physical posture reveal about their spiritual condition?
The imagery of a 'stiffened neck' is incredibly vivid. Imagine an ox refusing to yield to the yoke, resisting any attempt to guide it. This was Israel's posture towards God.
It signifies stubbornness, a refusal to bend or submit. They wouldn't listen, wouldn't turn, wouldn't obey. Their necks were literally unyielding to God's will, just as they were unyielding to the commands He gave. This isn't a minor slip; it's a hardened heart that actively resists God's direction and authority.
Understand the original words
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ziyd · Hebrew Verb
To act with arrogance, pride, or insolence toward God’s authority, often implying a deliberate rejection of His word.
qashah oref · Hebrew Noun phrase
A metaphorical expression for stubbornness or rebellion against God’s authority, comparing the person to an animal that refuses to submit to the yoke.
mitsvah · Hebrew Noun
The divine laws, statutes, and requirements given by God to His people, serving as the standard for obedience and relationship with Him.
This confession occurs during the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, a time when the people are reflecting on their history. The verse highlights a recurring theme: the Israelites' persistent rebellion, even after experiencing God's incredible faithfulness and provision throughout their past.
c. 1446-1406 BC— this verse
Exodus and Wilderness Wanderings
The Israelites were liberated from slavery in Egypt and spent 40 years wandering in the desert. Despite God's powerful interventions, they repeatedly rebelled and refused to obey His commands.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites began conquering the Promised Land, a process marked by obedience and, at times, disobedience to God's instructions.
c. 1010-970 BC
Reign of King David
David's reign is often seen as a golden age, yet it was also marked by significant moral failures and periods of rebellion against God's law.
c. 970-931 BC
Kingdom Divides
Following Solomon's reign, the unified kingdom split into Israel (North) and Judah (South), a division often fueled by disobedience and idolatry.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, exiling its people for persistent disobedience and apostasy.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Southern Kingdom
The Babylonian Empire destroyed Jerusalem and the southern kingdom of Judah, exiling many into Babylon due to their continued unfaithfulness.
445 BC
Rebuilding of Jerusalem Walls
Nehemiah led the returned exiles in rebuilding Jerusalem's walls, a period of intense opposition and a time for public confession of past sins.
This passage describes the Israelites as a 'stiff-necked people,' a phrase directly echoed in Nehemiah's confession and highlighting their repeated stubbornness against God's commands.
Deuteronomy 1:43Here, Moses recounts a similar instance where the people acted 'presumptuously' and refused to listen, showing that this pattern of pride and disobedience was present from the early days of their wilderness journey.
Jeremiah 7:23-26The prophet Jeremiah confronts Israel with their failure to obey God's voice, emphasizing their stubbornness and refusal to listen, much like the confession in Nehemiah.
Romans 2:5Paul speaks of a 'hard and impenitent heart' that treasures up wrath, a concept that resonates with the proud and unrepentant attitude confessed by the Israelites in Nehemiah.
pulpitNehemiah 9:16: "But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,"
Verse 16. - They and our fathers. Rather, "they, our fathers." The vau is used exegetically. Dealt proudly. i.e. "acted insolently." Compare Deuteronomy 1:43, where the same verb is translated "were presumptuous" (marg.). Hardened their necks. So in 2 Kings 17:14.
pooleNehemiah 9:16: "But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,"
Notwithstanding all these singular and wonderful mercies; which he hitherto recounted to aggravate their sins, which he now comes to confess, and to lead them to a sincere and ingenuous grief and repentance for their sins, not only for the mischief which they brought upon themselves, but for the injury and indignity which they offered to God. Dealt proudly, i.e. sinned presu…
The phrase "acted presumptuously" isn't just about making a mistake; it points to a deliberate defiance and a proud disregard for God's authority. This wasn't a slip-up, but a conscious decision to stiffen their necks and refuse to listen.
This confession, spoken by the Levites before the returned exiles, comes after a powerful recap of God's faithfulness throughout Israel's history. The people have just heard how God rescued them, sustained them, and repeatedly delivered them, yet this verse pivots to acknowledge their ancestors' stubborn rebellion and refusal to obey God's commands, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of their persistent unfaithfulness.
This confession, spoken by the Levites before the returned exiles, comes after a powerful recap of God's faithfulness throughout Israel's history. The people have just heard how God rescued them, sustained them, and repeatedly delivered them, yet this verse pivots to acknowledge their ancestors' stubborn rebellion and refusal to obey God's commands, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of their persistent unfaithfulness.
"“But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments." — The phrase "acted presumptuously" isn't just about making a mistake; it points to a deliberate defiance and a proud disregard for God's authority. This wasn't a slip-up, but a conscious decision to s…
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Last reviewed October 2026