Nehemiah 9:29

WEB

and testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law. Yet they dealt proudly, and did not listen to your commandments, but sinned against your ordinances, (which if a man does, he shall live in them), turned their backs, stiffened their neck, and would not hear.

KJV

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.

Commentary

And testifiedst against them,.... By sending prophets to them, to admonish them of their sins, and remind them of their duty: that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law; to regard it, and walk according it: yet they dealt proudly; with an haughty air rejected the counsel of God: and hearkened not unto thy commandments; yielded not obedience to them: but sinned against thy judgments; transgressed his laws, which were so just, righteous, reasonable, and equitable: which if a man do, he shall live in them; or by them, in the land of Canaan, see Lev 18:5 , and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear; like oxen, that wriggle and struggle, and draw back, and will not admit the yoke upon them.