Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

NEHEMIAH 13:2KJV
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Nehemiah 13:2 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 13:2 mean?

Nehemiah 13:2 explains that certain people were excluded because, instead of welcoming the Israelites with food and water, they tried to harm them by hiring Balaam to curse them, but God turned that intended curse into a blessing. The verse highlights both the wrongdoing against Israel and God’s protective intervention.

Nehemiah is speaking about the Ammonites and Moabites, recalling how they treated Israel during the journey from Egypt. Rather than showing hospitality, they acted with hostility by hiring Balaam, a prophet, to curse Israel. Despite this, God reversed the curse, showing His care for Israel even when others meant them harm.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 13:2

  • "Curse" (קָלַל, qālal): This word means to make light of or to treat with contempt, not just to speak a magical curse. The verse uses this word to show the seriousness of what Balaam was hired to do.
  • "Blessing" (בְּרָכָה, berakhah): This word means a gift or favor from God. The contrast between curse and blessing is central, showing how God’s action completely changed the outcome.
  • "Turned" (הָפַךְ, hāphakh): This word means to turn or change something into its opposite. The verse emphasizes that God actively changed the curse into a blessing, not just prevented harm but brought good from it.

Why Nehemiah 13:2 matters

  • Nehemiah 13:2 clarifies why the Ammonites and Moabites were excluded from the assembly, grounding the decision in specific historical actions rather than ethnic prejudice.
  • The verse highlights God’s sovereignty, showing that even when others intend harm, God can transform it into good for His people.
  • This reference connects the community’s present decisions to their shared history, reminding them of both past threats and God’s faithfulness.

Where else these words appear

“hired” Hebrew H7936 · used in 18 verses

  • Genesis 30:16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.
  • 2 Samuel 10:6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
  • Ezra 4:5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

“met” Hebrew H6923 · used in 25 verses

  • Deuteronomy 23:4 Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
  • Psalms 18:5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
  • Psalms 95:2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

“curse” Hebrew H7045 · used in 33 verses

  • Genesis 27:12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.
  • Deuteronomy 29:27 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book:
  • Proverbs 27:14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

“Balaam” Hebrew H1109 · used in 57 verses

  • Numbers 22:5 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
  • Numbers 22:31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
  • Numbers 23:28 And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.