Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Despite having their own kingdom, God's abundant blessings, and a rich land spread out before them, Israel still refused to serve God or abandon their wicked ways, particularly idolatry. This highlights a profound human tendency to take blessings for granted and become complacent, mistaking ease for devotion.
Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a lengthy prayer of confession offered by the Levites on behalf of the people of Israel. Following their return from exile, they are recounting God's faithfulness and their own persistent sinfulness throughout their history. The prayer highlights how, even when ruling their own land and enjoying God's abundant blessings, the people continued to engage in wicked practices, particularly idolatry, failing to serve and obey God.
The people had their own kingdom, but the text hints that this kingdom wasn't truly theirs to begin with. How does that change how we see our own 'kingdoms'?
The confession in Nehemiah 9 highlights a deep irony. Israel had a kingdom – a period of self-rule and national sovereignty. Yet, the text carefully frames this as being 'in their kingdom,' with scholarly notes suggesting it might even be better read as 'in Your kingdom.'
A Borrowed Throne
This distinction is crucial. Whether it's 'their' kingdom or 'Your' kingdom, the overarching reality presented here is that Israel's dominion, its power, and its land were all gifts from God. They didn't earn it; it was bestowed upon them.
The Trap of Possession
When we forget the Giver, we begin to see the gifts as solely our own. This is where entitlement creeps in. We can start to feel like we deserve our blessings, our comforts, our 'kingdoms,' and the gratitude we owe to God fades. This verse calls us to remember that our status, our possessions, and even our freedoms are often held by the grace of God.
The verse speaks of 'wicked works.' What does this phrase really encompass, and why is it so critical in understanding Israel's rebellion?
The confession in Nehemiah 9 doesn't just say the people sinned; it points to their 'wicked works.' Commentators note that this phrase often carries a specific weight, particularly referring to idolatry and practices that directly opposed God's covenant.
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Rejecting the Source of Goodness
This wasn't simply a matter of minor missteps. Their 'wicked works' represented a fundamental rejection of God, the source of all the 'great goodness' and the 'rich land' they enjoyed. They turned from God and to other things – other gods, other ways of living that didn't honor Him.
The Active Turn Away
The wording implies an active turning. It wasn't just a passive failure to serve; it was a deliberate redirection of their hearts and lives away from God's path. This highlights that sin isn't just about doing wrong things, but about turning away from the One who is Goodness itself.
Understand the original words
abad · Hebrew Verb
To minister to God through obedience, worship, and service. It denotes total allegiance and submission to the will and authority of the Creator.
This verse, spoken during the rebuilding of Jerusalem after exile, reflects on Israel's entire history of kingdom living. It highlights a consistent pattern of enjoying God's rich blessings in the promised land, only to squander them through wicked, idolatrous works, demonstrating a deep-seated spiritual unfaithfulness that led to their downfall.
c. 1000 BC
United Monarchy Reigns
Saul, David, and Solomon rule over a unified Israel, a period of relative peace and prosperity where God's goodness was evident.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom splits into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This marks the beginning of a long period of spiritual decline for both.
722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers and exiles the Northern Kingdom of Israel, serving as a stark warning to Judah.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the people of Judah. This is the devastating consequence of generations of turning away from God.
539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, initiating the Persian Empire and allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands.
445 BC— this verse
Nehemiah's Commission to Rebuild Jerusalem
King Artaxerxes I commissions Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls. This marks the immediate historical setting for the prayer in Nehemiah 9.
This passage highlights God's commands for obedience over mere sacrifices, a theme echoed in Nehemiah's lament that despite God's gifts, the people continued in their disobedience and 'wicked works.'
Deuteronomy 8:11-14This passage warns the Israelites against forgetting God and becoming prideful when they prosper in the good land He gives them, directly reflecting the people's failure in Nehemiah 9:35 to serve God amidst His abundant goodness.
Psalm 78:56-58This psalm details Israel's repeated unfaithfulness and provocation of God, even after experiencing His blessings and entering the promised land, illustrating the pattern of behavior described in Nehemiah 9:35.
Ezekiel 16:49-50This prophetic judgment on Jerusalem points out its arrogance, over-satisfaction, and failure to help the poor, connecting to the idea that prosperity and blessing can breed a disregard for God and justice, as seen in Nehemiah's indictment.
clarkeNehemiah 9:35: "For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works."
For they have not served thee in their kingdom - Instead of במלכותם bemalcutham, "in Their kingdom," במלכותך bemalcuthecha, in Thy kingdom," is the reading of two of Kennicott's MSS.; as also of the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic. This is most likely to be the true reading.
cambridgeNehemiah 9:35: "For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works."
35 . they ] emphatic, i.e. the kings and princes; as distinguished from ‘thou’ and ‘we,’ used emphatically in Nehemiah 9:33 . in their kingdom ] Perhaps with a slight touch of irony, since ‘their kingdom’ was itself God’s gift to Israel. The use of the word shows that the ‘kings…
Despite having their own kingdom, God's abundant blessings, and a rich land spread out before them, Israel still refused to serve God or abandon their wicked ways, particularly idolatry. This highlights a profound human tendency to take blessings for granted and become complacent, mistaking ease for devotion.
This verse is part of a lengthy prayer of confession offered by the Levites on behalf of the people of Israel. Following their return from exile, they are recounting God's faithfulness and their own persistent sinfulness throughout their history. The prayer highlights how, even when ruling their own land and enjoying God's abundant blessings, the people continued to engage in wicked practices, particularly idolatry, failing to serve and obey God.
This verse is part of a lengthy prayer of confession offered by the Levites on behalf of the people of Israel. Following their return from exile, they are recounting God's faithfulness and their own persistent sinfulness throughout their history. The prayer highlights how, even when ruling their own land and enjoying God's abundant blessings, the people continued to engage in wicked practices, particularly idolatry, failing to serve and obey God.
"Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works." — Despite having their own kingdom, God's abundant blessings, and a rich land spread out before them, Israel still refused to serve God or abandon their wicked ways, particularly idolatry. This highlig…
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Last reviewed October 2026