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.