Nehemiah 9:25
New International Version
They captured fortified cities and fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with all kinds of good things, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. They ate to the full and were well-nourished; they reveled in your great goodness.

New Living Translation
Our ancestors captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of good things, with cisterns already dug and vineyards and olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate until they were full and grew fat and enjoyed themselves in all your blessings.

English Standard Version
And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.

Berean Standard Bible
They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took houses full of all goods, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled; they grew fat and delighted in Your great goodness.

King James Bible
And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

New King James Version
And they took strong cities and a rich land, And possessed houses full of all goods, Cisterns already dug, vineyards, olive groves, And fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and grew fat, And delighted themselves in Your great goodness.

New American Standard Bible
“They captured fortified cities and a fertile land. They took possession of houses full of every good thing, Carved out cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, Fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled and put on fat, And lived luxuriously in Your great goodness.

NASB 1995
“They captured fortified cities and a fertile land. They took possession of houses full of every good thing, Hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, Fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled and grew fat, And reveled in Your great goodness.

NASB 1977
“And they captured fortified cities and a fertile land. They took possession of houses full of every good thing, Hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, Fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled, and grew fat, And reveled in Thy great goodness.

Legacy Standard Bible
They captured fortified cities and a rich land. They took possession of houses full of every good thing, Hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, Trees for food in abundance. So they ate, were filled, and grew fat, And reveled in Your great goodness.

Amplified Bible
“They captured fortified cities and a fertile land. They took possession of houses full of all good things, Hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, And fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat, And they reveled and were delighted in Your great goodness.

Christian Standard Bible
They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took possession of well-supplied houses, cisterns cut out of rock, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. They ate, were filled, became prosperous, and delighted in your great goodness.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took possession of well-supplied houses, cisterns cut out of rock, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. They ate, were filled, became prosperous, and delighted in Your great goodness.

American Standard Version
And they took fortified cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit-trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

Contemporary English Version
They captured strong cities and rich farmland; they took furnished houses, as well as cisterns, vineyards, olive orchards, and numerous fruit trees. They ate till they were satisfied, and they celebrated your abundant blessings.

English Revised Version
And they took fenced cities, and a fat land and possessed houses full of good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Israelites captured fortified cities and a rich land. They took possession of houses filled with all sorts of good things, cisterns, vineyards, olive trees, and plenty of fruit trees. So they ate and were satisfied and grew fat. They enjoyed the vast supply of good things you gave them.

Good News Translation
Your people captured fortified cities, fertile land, houses full of wealth, cisterns already dug, olive trees, fruit trees, and vineyards. They ate all they wanted and grew fat; they enjoyed all the good things you gave them.

International Standard Version
They conquered fortified cities and fertile ground, possessing houses filled with all kinds of good things, wells already dug, with vineyards, olive orchards, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were satiated, and were well nourished, delighting themselves in your great goodness.

Majority Standard Bible
They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took houses full of all goods, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled; they grew fat and delighted in Your great goodness.

NET Bible
They captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took possession of houses full of all sorts of good things--wells previously dug, vineyards, olive trees, and fruit trees in abundance. They ate until they were full and grew fat. They enjoyed to the full your great goodness.

New Heart English Bible
They took fortified cities, and a rich land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns dug out, vineyards, and olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards and olive-yards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they ate and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

World English Bible
They took fortified cities and a rich land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns dug out, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled, became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they capture fortified cities, and fat ground, "" And possess houses full of all good, "" Dug-wells, vineyards, and olive-yards, "" And fruit-trees in abundance, "" And they eat, and are satisfied, "" And become fat, "" And delight themselves in Your great goodness.

Young's Literal Translation
And they capture fenced cities, and fat ground, and possess houses full of all good, digged-wells, vineyards, and olive-yards, and fruit-trees in abundance, and they eat, and are satisfied, and become fat, and delight themselves in Thy great goodness.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will take inaccessible cities, and a fat land, and they will inherit houses full of all good, and wells hewed out, vineyards and olive trees, and the tree of food for abundance: and they will eat and be filled, and be fat, and will live delicately in thy great goodness.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they took strong cities and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods: cisterns made by others, vine- yards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: and they ate, and were filled, and became fat, and abounded with de- light in thy great goodness.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so they seized fortified cities and fat soil. And they possessed houses filled with all kinds of goods, cisterns made by others, vineyards, and olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. And they ate and were satisfied. And they were fattened, and they abounded with delights from your great goodness.

New American Bible
They captured fortified cities and fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with all good things, Cisterns already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. They ate and had their fill, fattened and feasted on your great goodness.

New Revised Standard Version
And they captured fortress cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses filled with all sorts of goods, hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive orchards, and fruit trees in abundance; so they ate, and were filled and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they captured fortified cities and a fertile land, and possessed houses full of all good things, wells digged, vineyards and olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance; so they did eat and were filled and became rich and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they seized mighty cities and heavenly land, and they possessed households that were full of all goods, and dug wells and vineyards and olive trees and trees of many foods, and they ate and were satisfied, and they became fat, and they enjoyed themselves in your great goodness.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they took fortified cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit-trees in abundance; so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and luxuriated in Thy great goodness.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they took lofty cities, and inherited houses full of all good things, wells dug, vineyards, and oliveyards, and every fruit tree in abundance: so they ate, and were filled, and grew fat, and rioted in thy great goodness.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The People Confess Their Sins
24So their descendants went in and possessed the land; You subdued before them the Canaanites dwelling in the land. You delivered into their hands the kings and peoples of the land, to do with them as they wished. 25They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took houses full of all goods, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled; they grew fat and delighted in Your great goodness. 26But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 6:10-11
And when the LORD your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that He would give you—a land with great and splendid cities that you did not build, / with houses full of every good thing with which you did not fill them, with wells that you did not dig, and with vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant—and when you eat and are satisfied,

Joshua 24:13
So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities that you did not build, and now you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’

Psalm 105:44-45
He gave them the lands of the nations, that they might inherit the fruit of others’ labor, / that they might keep His statutes and obey His laws. Hallelujah!

Deuteronomy 8:7-10
For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks and fountains and springs that flow through the valleys and hills; / a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey; / a land where you will eat food without scarcity, where you will lack nothing; a land whose rocks are iron and whose hills are ready to be mined for copper. ...

Judges 2:14-15
Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of those who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. / Wherever Israel marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them to bring calamity, just as He had sworn to them. So they were greatly distressed.

Ezekiel 20:6
On that day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands.

Deuteronomy 32:15
But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation.

Isaiah 63:7
I will make known the LORD’s loving devotion and His praiseworthy acts, because of all that the LORD has done for us—the many good things for the house of Israel according to His great compassion and loving devotion.

Psalm 78:55-58
He drove out nations before them and apportioned their inheritance; He settled the tribes of Israel in their tents. / But they tested and disobeyed God Most High, for they did not keep His decrees. / They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow. ...

Jeremiah 2:7
I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but you came and defiled My land and made My inheritance detestable.

Deuteronomy 31:20
When I have brought them into the land that I swore to give their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey, they will eat their fill and prosper. Then they will turn to other gods and worship them, and they will reject Me and break My covenant.

Hosea 13:6
When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.

1 Kings 4:20
The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.

2 Kings 17:15
They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.

Psalm 106:24-25
They despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise. / They grumbled in their tents and did not listen to the voice of the LORD.


Treasury of Scripture

And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells dig, vineyards, and olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.

strong

Numbers 13:27,28
And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it…

Deuteronomy 3:5
All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many.

Deuteronomy 6:10-12
And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, …

a fat land

Nehemiah 9:35
For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

Deuteronomy 8:7-10
For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; …

Deuteronomy 32:13
He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;

wells.

Deuteronomy 32:15
But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

Psalm 65:11
Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.

Isaiah 6:10
Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

delighted

1 Kings 8:66
On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.

Jeremiah 31:14
And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.

Hosea 3:5
Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

Jump to Previous
Abundance Ate Cisterns Cities Delighted Digged Dug Eat Fat Filled Fortified Fruit Full Good Goodness Goods Great Groves Hewn Houses Olive Oliveyards Olive-Yards Possessed Strong Themselves Trees Vineyards Wells
Jump to Next
Abundance Ate Cisterns Cities Delighted Digged Dug Eat Fat Filled Fortified Fruit Full Good Goodness Goods Great Groves Hewn Houses Olive Oliveyards Olive-Yards Possessed Strong Themselves Trees Vineyards Wells
Nehemiah 9
1. A solemn fast, and repentance of the people
4. The Levites make a confession of God's goodness, and their wickedness














They captured fortified cities
The phrase "fortified cities" refers to the strongholds that the Israelites conquered in the Promised Land. The Hebrew word for "fortified" is "בְּצֻרוֹת" (batsurot), which implies cities that were well-defended and strategically important. Historically, these cities were often surrounded by thick walls and were considered impenetrable. The capture of such cities signifies God's power and faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Israel, as these victories were not achieved by human might alone but through divine intervention.

and a fertile land
The "fertile land" is a reference to the land of Canaan, often described as "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8). The Hebrew word "שְׁמֵנָה" (shemenah) indicates richness and abundance. This land was a gift from God, a place where the Israelites could thrive and prosper. It symbolizes God's provision and the fulfillment of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

they took houses full of every good thing
The phrase "houses full of every good thing" highlights the abundance and blessings that the Israelites received. The Hebrew word "טוֹב" (tov) means good, pleasant, or agreeable. This abundance was not earned by the Israelites but was a gift from God, emphasizing His grace and generosity. It serves as a reminder of the spiritual blessings that believers receive through faith in Christ.

with wells already dug
"Wells already dug" signifies the provision of essential resources without the labor of the Israelites. In ancient times, wells were crucial for survival, especially in arid regions. The fact that these wells were already dug underscores God's providence and the ease with which the Israelites could settle into the land. It is a metaphor for the spiritual sustenance that God provides to His people.

vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance
This phrase paints a picture of agricultural prosperity. Vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees were vital for sustenance and economic stability in ancient Israel. The abundance of these resources signifies God's blessing and the fulfillment of His promise to provide for His people. Spiritually, it represents the fruitfulness that comes from living in obedience to God.

So they ate and were filled and grew fat
The sequence "ate and were filled and grew fat" describes the physical satisfaction and prosperity experienced by the Israelites. The Hebrew word "שָׂבֵעַ" (sabea) means to be satisfied or full. This physical abundance is a reflection of God's provision. However, it also serves as a cautionary tale, as physical prosperity can lead to spiritual complacency if not accompanied by gratitude and obedience.

delighting in Your great goodness
The phrase "delighting in Your great goodness" emphasizes the joy and contentment found in God's blessings. The Hebrew word "טוּב" (tov) for goodness reflects God's character and His benevolent actions towards His people. This delight is not merely in material wealth but in the recognition of God's grace and mercy. It calls believers to find their ultimate joy in the Lord, acknowledging His goodness in all circumstances.

Verse 25. - They took strong cities. As Jericho, Ai, Libnah, Lachish, Hazer, Hebron, etc. A fat land. Compare Numbers 14:7, 8; Deuteronomy 8:7-9; 2 Kings 18:32. Houses full of all goods. See Deuteronomy 6:11. Fruit trees in abundance. The fruit trees of Palestine are, besides the vine and the olive, the fig tree, the carob or locust tree (ceratonia siliqua), the quince, the apple, the almond, the walnut, the peach, the apricot, the mulberry, the sycamore fig, the prickly pear, the pomegranate, and the orange. Date-palms also were anciently abundant in the valley of the Jordan. They... became fat, Compare Deuteronomy 32:15 and Jeremiah 5:28, the only other places where the expression here used occurs. The comparison will show that dispraise is intended - "they grew wanton and self-indulgent." Delighted themselves. Rather, "luxuriated" (ἐτρύφησαν, LXX.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They captured
וַֽיִּלְכְּד֞וּ (way·yil·kə·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3920: To catch, to capture, occupy, to choose, to cohere

fortified cities
עָרִ֣ים (‘ā·rîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5892: Excitement

and fertile
שְׁמֵנָה֒ (šə·mê·nāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 8082: Greasy, gross, rich

land
וַאֲדָמָ֣ה (wa·’ă·ḏā·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land

and took
וַיִּֽירְשׁ֡וּ (way·yî·rə·šū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin

houses
בָּתִּ֣ים (bāt·tîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1004: A house

full
מְלֵֽאִים־ (mə·lê·’îm-)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 4392: Full, filling, fulness, fully

of all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

goods,
ט֠וּב (ṭūḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2898: Good, goodness, beauty, gladness, welfare

wells
בֹּר֨וֹת (bō·rō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 953: A pit, cistern, well

[already] dug,
חֲצוּבִ֜ים (ḥă·ṣū·ḇîm)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural
Strong's 2672: To cut, carve, to hew, split, square, quarry, engrave

vineyards,
כְּרָמִ֧ים (kə·rā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3754: A garden, vineyard

olive groves,
וְזֵיתִ֛ים (wə·zê·ṯîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2132: An olive, the tree, the branch, the berry

and fruit
מַאֲכָ֖ל (ma·’ă·ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3978: An eatable

trees
וְעֵ֥ץ (wə·‘êṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

in abundance.
לָרֹ֑ב (lā·rōḇ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness

So they ate
וַיֹּאכְל֤וּ (way·yō·ḵə·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 398: To eat

and were filled;
וַֽיִּשְׂבְּעוּ֙ (way·yiś·bə·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7646: To be sated, satisfied or surfeited

they grew fat
וַיַּשְׁמִ֔ינוּ (way·yaš·mî·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8080: To shine, be, oily, gross

and delighted
וַיִּֽתְעַדְּנ֖וּ (way·yiṯ·‘ad·də·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5727: To be soft, pleasant, to live voluptuously

in Your great
הַגָּדֽוֹל׃ (hag·gā·ḏō·wl)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

goodness.
בְּטוּבְךָ֥ (bə·ṭū·ḇə·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 2898: Good, goodness, beauty, gladness, welfare


Links
Nehemiah 9:25 NIV
Nehemiah 9:25 NLT
Nehemiah 9:25 ESV
Nehemiah 9:25 NASB
Nehemiah 9:25 KJV

Nehemiah 9:25 BibleApps.com
Nehemiah 9:25 Biblia Paralela
Nehemiah 9:25 Chinese Bible
Nehemiah 9:25 French Bible
Nehemiah 9:25 Catholic Bible

OT History: Nehemiah 9:25 They took fortified cities and a fat (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 9:24
Top of Page
Top of Page