Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.

NEHEMIAH 9:31KJV
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Nehemiah 9:31 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 9:31 mean?

Nehemiah 9:31 says that even though the people had done wrong, God did not completely destroy or abandon them because of His great mercy and kindness. The verse emphasizes that God is gracious and compassionate, choosing to spare and stay with His people despite their failures.

In this verse, the Levites are praying to God on behalf of the people of Israel, recalling their history of disobedience and God’s repeated forgiveness. The setting is a public confession after the people have returned from exile, and the verse highlights God’s character as merciful and unwilling to give up on His people, even when they deserved judgment.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 9:31

  • "great" (רַב, rav, H7227): This word means "many" or "abundant." Here, it stresses the overwhelming amount of mercy God has shown, not just a little but a vast, ongoing kindness.
  • "mercies'" (רַחֲמִים, rachamim, H7356): This word is often used for deep compassion or tender love, almost like the feeling a parent has for a child. It highlights the emotional depth of God’s care for His people.
  • "consume" (כָּלָה, kalah, H3617): This word means "to bring to an end" or "to destroy completely." The verse points out that God did not wipe out the people, showing restraint and patience.
  • "forsake" (עָזַב, azav, H5800): This word means "to leave" or "to abandon." The verse reassures that God did not walk away from His people, even when they failed Him.
  • "gracious" (חַנּוּן, channun, H2587) and "merciful" (רַחוּם, rachum, H7349): Both words describe God’s generous, forgiving nature. "Channun" focuses on showing favor, while "rachum" emphasizes deep compassion.

Why Nehemiah 9:31 matters

  • Nehemiah 9:31 clears up the idea that God’s patience has limits; the verse shows that His mercy is far-reaching, even after repeated failures.
  • The verse connects to the larger prayer in Nehemiah 9, where Israel’s leaders recount a long history of sin and forgiveness, highlighting God’s consistent character.
  • This verse helps readers see that God’s mercy is not just a one-time act but a repeated, ongoing choice to forgive and stay faithful to His people.

Where else these words appear

“gracious” Hebrew H2587 · used in 13 verses

  • Exodus 22:27 For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
  • Psalms 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
  • Psalms 116:5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

“merciful” Hebrew H7349 · used in 13 verses

  • Exodus 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
  • Psalms 78:38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
  • Psalms 112:4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

“consume” Hebrew H3617 · used in 20 verses

  • Genesis 18:21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
  • Jeremiah 4:27 For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
  • Ezekiel 13:13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.

“mercies'” Hebrew H7356 · used in 44 verses

  • Genesis 43:14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
  • Psalms 25:6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
  • Isaiah 47:6 I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.