We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

NEHEMIAH 1:7KJV
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Nehemiah 1:7 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 1:7 mean?

Nehemiah 1:7 is a confession of wrongdoing, where the speaker admits that the people have acted very corruptly against God by failing to keep His commandments, statutes, and judgments given through Moses. The verse is a clear acknowledgment of collective disobedience and moral failure before God.

In this verse, Nehemiah is praying to God, openly admitting the sins of the Israelites, including himself and his family. Nehemiah is not making excuses; he is recognizing that the people have broken God’s laws in multiple ways, using strong language to emphasize the seriousness of their actions. This honest confession sets the stage for Nehemiah’s later requests for God’s mercy and help.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 1:7

  • "Very corruptly" uses the Hebrew word חָבַל (chaval), which means to act destructively or ruinously. The repetition here ("dealt very corruptly") stresses just how serious and damaging their actions have been.
  • "Commandments" (מִצְוָה, mitzvah), "statutes" (חֹק, choq), and "judgments" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat) each refer to different parts of God’s law: mitzvah are general commands, choq are set ordinances or decrees, and mishpat are legal decisions or rules for justice. Listing all three shows that the people have failed in every area of God’s instruction.
  • "Kept" (שָׁמַר, shamar) means to guard or observe carefully. The verse points out that the people have not just forgotten, but have actively failed to guard and obey God’s law.

Why Nehemiah 1:7 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Nehemiah sees the nation’s troubles as a direct result of their own actions, not just bad luck or outside enemies. This honest self-assessment is rare and important in the biblical story.
  • By naming commandments, statutes, and judgments, Nehemiah shows that the people’s failure is total, not partial. It is not just one area of life or law that has been neglected.
  • This confession prepares the way for the rest of Nehemiah’s prayer, where he appeals to God’s mercy and faithfulness, making the later request for help more meaningful and grounded in humility.