Nehemiah 9:16

9:16 “But they – our ancestors ¹  – behaved presumptuously; they rebelled ²  and did not obey your commandments.

Nehemiah 9:32

9:32 “So now, our God – the great, powerful, and awesome God, who keeps covenant fidelity ³  – do not regard as inconsequential ⁴  all the hardship that has befallen us – our kings, our leaders, our priests, our prophets, our ancestors, and all your people – from the days of the kings of Assyria until this very day!

[9:16]  ¹ tn Heb “and our fathers.” The vav is explicative.

[9:16]  ² tn Heb “they stiffened their neck” (so also in the following verse).

[9:32]  ³ tn Heb “the covenant and loyal love.” The expression is a hendiadys. The second noun retains its full nominal sense, while the first functions adjectivally: “the covenant and loyalty” = covenant fidelity.

[9:32]  ⁴ tn Heb “do not let it seem small in your sight.”