Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ or when they committed awful blasphemies. New Living Translation even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and said, ‘This is your god who brought you out of Egypt!’ They committed terrible blasphemies. English Standard Version Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies, Berean Standard Bible Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and when they committed terrible blasphemies, Berean Literal Bible For they also made for themselves a calf molten and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up from Egypt,’ and they did great blasphemies, King James Bible Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations; New King James Version “Even when they made a molded calf for themselves, And said, ‘This is your god That brought you up out of Egypt,’ And worked great provocations, New American Standard Bible “Even when they made for themselves A calf of cast metal And said, ‘This is your god Who brought you up from Egypt,’ And committed great blasphemies, NASB 1995 “Even when they made for themselves A calf of molten metal And said, ‘This is your God Who brought you up from Egypt,’ And committed great blasphemies, NASB 1977 “Even when they made for themselves A calf of molten metal And said, ‘This is your God Who brought you up from Egypt,’ And committed great blasphemies, Legacy Standard Bible Even when they made for themselves A molten calf And said, ‘This is your God Who brought you up from Egypt,’ And committed great blasphemies, Amplified Bible “Even when they had made for themselves A calf of cast metal And said, ‘This is your god Who brought you up from Egypt,’ And committed great [and contemptible] blasphemies, Berean Annotated Bible Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your God {Eloheka} who brought you up out of Egypt (land of bondage), and when they committed terrible blasphemies, Christian Standard Bible Even after they had cast an image of a calf for themselves and said, “This is your god who brought you out of Egypt,” and they had committed terrible blasphemies, Holman Christian Standard Bible Even after they had cast an image of a calf for themselves and said,” This is your God who brought you out of Egypt,” and they had committed terrible blasphemies, American Standard Version Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations; Contemporary English Version not even when they made an idol shaped like a calf and insulted you by claiming, "This is the god who rescued us from Egypt." English Revised Version Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations; GOD'S WORD® Translation even when they made a metal statue of a calf for themselves and said, 'This is your god who took you out of Egypt.' They committed outrageous sins. Good News Translation They made an idol in the shape of a bull-calf and said it was the god who led them from Egypt! How much they insulted you, LORD! International Standard Version Moreover, after they had cast a golden calf for themselves, they said, "This is your god who brought you out of Egypt!" and committed terrible blasphemies. NET Bible even when they made a cast image of a calf for themselves and said, 'This is your God who brought you up from Egypt,' or when they committed atrocious blasphemies. New Heart English Bible Yes, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, 'This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,' and had committed awful blasphemies; Webster's Bible Translation Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleEven when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and when they committed terrible blasphemies, World English Bible Yes, when they had made themselves a molded calf, and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed awful blasphemies, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAlso, when they have made to themselves a molten calf, "" And say, This [is] your god "" That brought you up out of Egypt, "" And do great despisings, Berean Literal Bible For they also made for themselves a calf molten and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up from Egypt,’ and they did great blasphemies, Young's Literal Translation Also, when they have made to themselves a molten calf, and say, this is thy god that brought thee up out of Egypt, and do great despisings, Smith's Literal Translation Also when they made to them a molten calf, and they will say, This thy God which brought thee up from Egypt; and they will make great reproaches; Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleYea when they had made also to themselves a molten calf, and had said: This is thy God, that brought thee out of Egypt: and hail committed great blasphemies : Catholic Public Domain Version Indeed, even when they had made for themselves a molten calf, and they had said, ‘This is your God, who led you away from Egypt!’ and had committed great blasphemies, New American Bible Though they made for themselves a molten calf, and proclaimed, ‘Here is your God who brought you up from Egypt,’ and were guilty of great insults, New Revised Standard Version Even when they had cast an image of a calf for themselves and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleYea, when they had made for themselves a molten calf, and said, This is your God, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and they wrought great wickedness; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated For they made a calf by smelting, and they said: ‘This is your God, Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt!’ And they did great evils. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said: 'This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations; Brenton Septuagint Translation And still farther they even made to themselves a molten calf, and said, These are the gods that brought us up out of Egypt: and they wrought great provocations. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The People Confess Their Sins…17They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them. 18Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and when they committed terrible blasphemies, 19You in Your great compassion did not forsake them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud never turned away from guiding them on their path; and by the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go.… Cross References Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf Exodus 32:4 He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” Deuteronomy 9:16 And I saw how you had sinned against the LORD your God; you had made for yourselves a molten calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the LORD had commanded you. Psalm 106:19 At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped a molten image. and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ Exodus 32:8 How quickly they have turned aside from the way that I commanded them! They have made for themselves a molten calf and have bowed down to it. They have sacrificed to it and said, ‘These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’” 1 Kings 12:28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” Acts 7:40-41 They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’ / At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands. and when they committed terrible blasphemies, Exodus 32:21 “What did this people do to you,” Moses asked Aaron, “that you have led them into so great a sin?” Deuteronomy 9:18 Then I fell down before the LORD for forty days and forty nights, as I had done the first time. I did not eat bread or drink water because of all the sin you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD and provoking Him to anger. Psalm 106:29 So they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them. Acts 7:39-41 But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. / They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’ / At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands. 1 Corinthians 10:7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” Exodus 32:31-35 So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made gods of gold for themselves. / Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.” / The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My book. … Deuteronomy 9:12 And the LORD said to me, “Get up and go down from here at once, for your people, whom you brought out of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. How quickly they have turned aside from the way that I commanded them! They have made for themselves a molten image.” Exodus 32:1-3 Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!” / So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” / Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. Exodus 32:9-10 The LORD also said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people. / Now leave Me alone, so that My anger may burn against them and consume them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” Exodus 32:19-20 As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he burned with anger and threw the tablets out of his hands, shattering them at the base of the mountain. / Then he took the calf they had made, burned it in the fire, ground it to powder, and scattered the powder over the face of the water. Then he forced the Israelites to drink it. Treasury of Scripture Yes, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is your God that brought you up out of Egypt, and had worked great provocations; Exodus 32:4-8,31,32 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt… Deuteronomy 9:12-16 And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image… Psalm 106:19-23 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image… etc. Jump to Previous Awful Blasphemies Calf Cast Committed Despisings Egypt Great Image Metal Molten Ox Provocation Provocations Themselves WroughtJump to Next Awful Blasphemies Calf Cast Committed Despisings Egypt Great Image Metal Molten Ox Provocation Provocations Themselves WroughtNehemiah 9 1. A solemn fast, and repentance of the people4. The Levites make a confession of God's goodness, and their wickedness Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf This phrase refers to the incident in Exodus 32, where the Israelites, under Aaron's leadership, created a golden calf while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Law. This act of idolatry was a direct violation of the first two commandments (Exodus 20:3-4). The casting of the calf symbolizes a return to Egyptian religious practices, as the bull was a common symbol of strength and fertility in Egyptian culture. This event highlights the Israelites' struggle with faithfulness and their tendency to revert to familiar pagan practices when faced with uncertainty. and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and when they committed terrible blasphemies, Persons / Places / Events 1. The IsraelitesThe people of God who were delivered from slavery in Egypt but fell into idolatry. 2. Moses The leader chosen by God to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, who was on Mount Sinai receiving the Law when the idolatry occurred. 3. Aaron Moses' brother, who was left in charge and facilitated the creation of the golden calf. 4. Mount Sinai The place where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. 5. The Golden Calf An idol made by the Israelites, representing a significant act of rebellion against God. Teaching Points The Danger of ImpatienceThe Israelites' impatience led them to idolatry. We must learn to wait on God's timing and trust His plans. Leadership Accountability Aaron's failure to stand firm highlights the importance of godly leadership and accountability. The Consequences of Idolatry Idolatry leads to spiritual and communal decay. We must guard our hearts against modern forms of idolatry. God's Mercy and Forgiveness Despite their rebellion, God showed mercy. We should be grateful for God's forgiveness and strive to live righteously. The Importance of Remembrance Remembering past failures helps us avoid repeating them. Reflect on personal and communal history to grow in faith. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Nehemiah 9:18?2. How does Nehemiah 9:18 highlight God's mercy despite Israel's idolatry? 3. What lessons on repentance can we learn from Nehemiah 9:18? 4. How does Nehemiah 9:18 connect with Exodus 32:4 about the golden calf? 5. How can we avoid modern-day idolatry as seen in Nehemiah 9:18? 6. What does Nehemiah 9:18 teach about God's faithfulness to His covenant? 7. Why did the Israelites create a golden calf despite witnessing God's miracles in Nehemiah 9:18? 8. How does Nehemiah 9:18 reflect human tendency towards idolatry? 9. What does Nehemiah 9:18 reveal about the Israelites' understanding of God? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Nehemiah 9? 11. If faith is required for salvation, why does the Bible contain so many stories where God reveals Himself directly? 12. What foods are mentioned in the Bible? 13. In Nehemiah 9:29-31, why does God repeatedly rescue a people who continually rebel, and how does this align with other biblical texts suggesting divine judgment upon persistent disobedience? 14. In Nehemiah 9:6, how can the claim that God made and preserves all creation be reconciled with scientific evidence of cosmic evolution and species extinctions? What Does Nehemiah 9:18 Mean Even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf- This line recalls Exodus 32:1–6, where Israel, impatient at Moses’ delay on Sinai, urges Aaron to fashion a golden calf. The act is literal idolatry—an outright rejection of the second commandment (Exodus 20:4-5). - In Nehemiah 9 the returned exiles openly confess this historic sin, acknowledging that creating a tangible idol was not a minor misstep but a direct violation of God’s revealed law. - Notice the grace implied: “Even when” signals that God’s mercy persisted despite this flagrant rebellion. Cross-reference Psalm 106:19-23, where the same event is recounted to highlight both sin and divine forbearance. and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ - The people gave credit for the Exodus to a man-made object. That is a complete inversion of truth (Exodus 13:3, 14). By claiming the calf accomplished redemption, they denied the Lord’s mighty acts displayed through the plagues, the Passover, and the Red Sea crossing (Exodus 14:21-31). - This statement illustrates how swiftly hearts can rewrite history when faith wavers. Stephen later cites it in Acts 7:39-41 to show that unbelief has always resisted God’s saving work. - The confession in Nehemiah underscores that attributing God’s deeds to anything else—whether idols, self-effort, or human leaders—is a grievous offense. and when they committed terrible blasphemies - “Terrible blasphemies” sums up the full scope of Israel’s rebellion: idolatry, ingratitude, and a slanderous misrepresentation of God’s nature. Leviticus 24:15-16 warns that blasphemy invites judgment; yet the historical record (Exodus 34:6-7) shows the Lord revealing Himself as “compassionate and gracious” immediately after the golden calf. - Nehemiah 9:19 continues, “You in Your great compassion did not forsake them in the wilderness.” The emphasis is on God’s unwavering covenant loyalty (Deuteronomy 7:9). - For believers today, Romans 2:4 reminds us that God’s kindness is meant to lead to repentance, not complacency; the pattern revealed here is grace followed by a call to renewed obedience. summary Nehemiah 9:18 highlights one of Israel’s darkest moments—the fabrication of the golden calf, the false attribution of deliverance, and the resulting blasphemy. Yet the verse is framed by God’s enduring mercy: even then, He did not abandon His people. The passage calls us to remember history truthfully, reject every form of idolatry, and marvel at the Lord’s steadfast love that persists even when His children fail. Verse 18. - Great provocations. Or "great blasphemies," as the same word is rendered in Ezekiel 35:12.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Evenאַ֗ף (’ap̄) Conjunction Strong's 637: Meaning accession, yea, adversatively though after כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction they had cast עָשׂ֤וּ (‘ā·śū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 6213: To do, make for themselves לָהֶם֙ (lā·hem) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew an image מַסֵּכָ֔ה (mas·sê·ḵāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4541: A pouring over, fusion of metal, a libation, league, a coverlet of a calf עֵ֣גֶל (‘ê·ḡel) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 5695: A, calf, one nearly grown and said, וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say “This זֶ֣ה (zeh) Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that is your God אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative who אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that brought you up הֶעֶלְךָ֖ (he·‘el·ḵā) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively out of Egypt,” מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם (mim·miṣ·rā·yim) Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa and they had committed וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֔וּ (way·ya·‘ă·śū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 6213: To do, make terrible גְּדֹלֽוֹת׃ (gə·ḏō·lō·wṯ) Adjective - feminine plural Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent blasphemies, נֶאָצ֖וֹת (ne·’ā·ṣō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 5007: Contempt Links Nehemiah 9:18 NIVNehemiah 9:18 NLT Nehemiah 9:18 ESV Nehemiah 9:18 NASB Nehemiah 9:18 KJV Nehemiah 9:18 BibleApps.com Nehemiah 9:18 Biblia Paralela Nehemiah 9:18 Chinese Bible Nehemiah 9:18 French Bible Nehemiah 9:18 Catholic Bible OT History: Nehemiah 9:18 Yes when they had made them (Neh Ne) |
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