Nehemiah 4:17

Nehemiah 4:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
• New International Version (NIV)who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,
• English Standard Version (ESV)who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.

Context of Nehemiah 4:17

15When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall. 16And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. 18And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me. 19Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “The work is great and extensive, and we are spread out far from one another along the wall.

Nehemiah 4:17 word by word

הַבּוֹנִ֧ים בַּחוֹמָ֛ה וְהַנֹּשְׂאִ֥ים בַּסֶּ֖בֶל עֹמְשִׂ֑ים בְּאַחַ֤ת יָדוֹ֙ עֹשֶׂ֣ה בַמְּלָאכָ֔ה וְאַחַ֖ת מַחֲזֶ֥קֶת הַשָּֽׁלַח׃Read the interlinear

• who were rebuildingבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• the wallחוֹמָהchômâh · wallH2346
• The laborers who carriedנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
• materialsסֵ֫בֶלsêbel · burdenH5447
• materialsעָמַס‛âmas ‛âmaώ · loadH6006
• workedעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• workedמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399
• with oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• handיָדyâd · handH3027
• and heldחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: holdH2388
• a weaponשֶׁ֫לַחshelach · missileH7973

Cross-references for Nehemiah 4:17

• Nehemiah 4:10Meanwhile, the people of Judah said: “The strength of the laborer fails, and there is so much rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall.”
• Daniel 9:25Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.
• 1 Corinthians 9:12If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
• 1 Corinthians 16:9because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.
• 2 Corinthians 6:7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
• Ephesians 6:11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
• Philippians 1:28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God.
• 2 Timothy 2:3Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
• 2 Timothy 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 4:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17With one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon - That is, he had his arms at hand, and was as fully prepared to fight as to work. So Ovid, Epist. xi., Canace Macario, ver. 1: - Si qua tamen caecis errabunt scripta lituris, Oblitus a dominae caede libellus erit: Dextra tenet calamum; strictum tenet altera ferrum: Et jacet in gremio charta soluta meo. If streaming blood my fatal letter stain, Imagine, ere you read, the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-23Verses 16-23 We must watch always against spiritual enemies, and not expect that our warfare will be over till our work is ended. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit, which we ought to have always at hand, and never to have to seek for it, either in our labours, or in our conflicts, as Christians. Every true Christian is both a labourer and a soldier, working with one hand, and fighting with the other. Good work is likely to go on with success…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-237-21. But ... when Sanballat ... heard that the walls ... were made up, and ... the breaches ... stopped--The rapid progress of the fortifications, despite all their predictions to the contrary, goaded the Samaritans to frenzy. So they, dreading danger from the growing greatness of the Jews, formed a conspiracy to surprise them, demolish their works, and disperse or intimidate the builders. The plot being discovered, Nehemiah adopted the most energetic…Read the comment

Topics related to Nehemiah 4:17

• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• Armour
• Ammon; Ammonites
• Burden
• Esdras, the First Book of
• Jerusalem
• Arms, Armor

Commentaries on Nehemiah 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings