Definition: And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Nehemiah 9:29. It’s a really important passage about forgiveness and holding people accountable. Here's an explanation in simpler terms: The Basic Story: Nehemiah is writing after he’s been dealing with a group of people who were refusing to follow the laws and rules set by God. They were acting like they didn’t care about what was right, and they even tried to trick him into letting them continue their bad behavior. What Happened Next: Nehemiah Called Them Out: He directly confronted these people, saying, "I have testified against you." This means he’s officially declared that they are breaking God's laws. He Asked Them to Return to the Law: Nehemiah asked them, “Can you bring yourselves back to your law?” This is a crucial question – it’s like asking someone to go back to the original path they were on. They Refused: They stubbornly refused to listen to him and return to God's rules. They acted proud and didn’t want to be held accountable. They Tried to Hide Their Sin: They tried to hide their wrongdoings, making it harder for Nehemiah to see what was happening. They basically tried to avoid being caught. They Made It Harder for Him: They made the situation even worse by deliberately trying to hinder him – they’d act like they didn’t care about his judgments. This is a really strong statement of defiance. They Weakened Their Neck: This is a disturbing part. They hardened their necks, which means they became stiff and unyielding, and they refused to listen to any further guidance. They Didn't Hear: Finally, they didn’t even want to hear what Nehemiah was saying or the consequences of their actions. What Does It Mean? This verse is a warning about the dangers of resisting God's laws and the importance of following them. It’s saying that if you don’t respect God’s rules, you risk being punished – in this case, by suffering the consequences of your own actions. The Bigger Picture: Nehemiah is essentially saying, "I have spoken to you, and you haven't listened! You have chosen to ignore my judgments, and now you are facing serious consequences." It’s a message about accountability and the importance of obeying God’s commandments. In short, this verse is about holding people accountable for their actions and showing them that they need to change. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part in more detail? Connect this verse to a specific biblical story or theme?