Nehemiah 9:13

Verse

You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them just ordinances, true laws, and good statutes and commandments.

American Standard Version (1901)

Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,

Bible in Basic English

And you came down on Mount Sinai, and your voice came to them from heaven, giving them right decisions and true laws, good rules and orders:

Douay-Rheims 1899

Thou camest down also to mount Sinai, and didst speak with them from heaven, and thou gavest them right judgments, and the law of truth, ceremonies, and good precepts.

Free Bible Version

You descended on Mount Sinai. You spoke to them from heaven. You gave them right ways to live, true laws, and good regulations and commandments.

Geneva Bible 1599

Thou camest downe also vpon mount Sinai, and spakest vnto them from heauen, and gauest them right iudgements, and true lawes, ordinances and good commandements,

King James (Authorized) Version

Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:

Translation for Translators

“When our ancestors were at Sinai Mountain, you came down from heaven and spoke to them. You gave them many regulations and instructions that are just and reliable, and you gave them commands and laws that are good.

Unlocked Literal Bible

On Mount Sinai you came down and you spoke with them from heaven and gave to them righteous decrees and true laws, good statutes and commandments.

Noah Webster Bible

Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spokest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:

World English Bible

“You also came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,

Young's Literal Translation

'And on mount Sinai Thou hast come down, even to speak with them from the heavens, and Thou dost give to them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commands.

Context

The People Confess Their Sins

¹²You led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they should travel. ¹³You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them just ordinances, true laws, and good statutes and commandments. ¹⁴You revealed to them Your holy Sabbath and gave them commandments and statutes and laws through Your servant Moses.

Summary

Nehemiah 9:13 recounts how God came down on Mount Sinai to give His people commandments, laws, and teachings for them to follow. This verse highlights God's faithfulness in revealing His will to His chosen people, showing His desire for them to walk in obedience and righteousness. The giving of the Law at Sinai was a pivotal moment in Israel's history, demonstrating God's holiness and the importance of living according to His precepts. It serves as a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people, emphasizing the need for reverence and adherence to His divine instructions.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Thou camest down also upon Mount Sinai,.... By some visible tokens of his presence, as a cloud, fire, smoke, &c. which must be understood consistent with his omniscience, see Exo 19:18, and spakest with them from heaven; the decalogue or ten commandments, Exo 20:1, and gavest them right judgments and true laws, good statutes and commandments; both judicial and ceremonial, which were of excellent use to them in their civil and ecclesiastical polity; these were not spoken to Israel, but given to Moses on the mount, to be delivered to them.