Nehemiah 2:12

Nehemiah 2:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.
• New International Version (NIV)I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode.

Context of Nehemiah 2:12

10When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard that someone had come to pursue the prosperity of the Israelites, they were greatly displeased. 11After I arrived in Jerusalem and had been there three days, I got up at night and took a few men with me. I didn’t tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took was the one I was riding. 13I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Serpent’s Well and the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but farther down it became too narrow for my animal to go through.

Nehemiah 2:12 word by word

וָאָק֣וּם׀ לַ֗יְלָה אֲנִי֮ וַאֲנָשִׁ֣ים׀ מְעַט֮ עִמִּי֒ וְלֹא־הִגַּ֣דְתִּי לְאָדָ֔ם מָ֗ה אֱלֹהַי֙ נֹתֵ֣ן אֶל־לִבִּ֔י לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת לִירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וּבְהֵמָה֙ אֵ֣ין עִמִּ֔י כִּ֚י אִם־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י רֹכֵ֥ב בָּֽהּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And I aroseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• in the nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
• I and someמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
• menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• with me; neither toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• what my Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• had putנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
• in my heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• at Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
• beastבְּהֵמָהbehêmâh · animalH929
• that I rode uponרָכַבrâkab · to rideH7392

Cross-references for Nehemiah 2:12

• Genesis 32:22During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two slave women, and his eleven sons, and crossed the ford of Jabbok.
• Joshua 10:9So Joshua caught them by surprise, after marching all night from Gilgal.
• Judges 6:27So Gideon took ten of his male servants and did as the Lord had told him. But because he was too afraid of his father’s family and the men of the city to do it in the daytime, he did it at night.
• Judges 9:32Now tonight, you and the troops with you, come and wait in ambush in the countryside.
• Matthew 2:14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt.
• Ecclesiastes 3:7a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak;
• Amos 5:13Therefore, those who have insight will keep silent at such a time, for the days are evil.
• Micah 7:5Do not rely on a friend; don’t trust in a close companion. Seal your mouth from the woman who lies in your arms.
• Matthew 10:16“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.
• Ezra 7:27Blessed be the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s mind to glorify the house of the Lord in Jerusalem,
• Psalms 51:18In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem.
• Psalms 122:6Pray for the well-being of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure;
• Jeremiah 31:33“Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days” — the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
• Jeremiah 32:40“I will make a permanent covenant with them: I will never turn away from doing good to them, and I will put fear of me in their hearts so they will never again turn away from me.
• 2 Corinthians 8:16Thanks be to God, who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus.
• James 1:16Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 2:12

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-18Verses 9-18 When Nehemiah had considered the matter, he told the Jews that God had put it into his heart to build the wall of Jerusalem. He does not undertake to do it without them. By stirring up ourselves and one another to that which is good, we strengthen ourselves and one another for it. We are weak in our duty, when we are cold and careless.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-15Nehemiah needed to see the walls himself to make strong plans for rebuilding and to gather the workers he needed. He secretly checked the walls at night to avoid being seen by his enemies. He only inspected the southern part of the city.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1211-12. So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days--Deeply affected with the desolations of Jerusalem, and uncertain what course to follow, he remained three days before informing any one of the object of his mission [Ne 2:17, 18]. At the end of the third day, accompanied with a few attendants, he made, under covert of night, a secret survey of the walls and gates [Ne 2:13-15].Read the comment

Topics related to Nehemiah 2:12

• Country
• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• God
• Jerusalem
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Laugh
• Reproach
• Scorn
• Ezra-Nehemiah

Commentaries on Nehemiah 2

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings