Nehemiah 4:15

Nehemiah 4:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
• New International Version (NIV)When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.

Context of Nehemiah 4:15

13So I stationed people behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. 14After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.” When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall. 16From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers supported all the people of Judah, 17who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried the loads worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.

Nehemiah 4:15 word by word

וַיְהִ֞י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־שָׁמְע֤וּ אוֹיְבֵ֙ינוּ֙ כִּי־נ֣וֹדַֽע לָ֔נוּ וַיָּ֥פֶר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־עֲצָתָ֑ם וַנָּ֤שָׁב כֻּלָּ֙נוּ֙ אֶל־הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה אִ֖ישׁ אֶל־מְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it came to pass, when our enemiesאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
• heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• that it was knownיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• unto us, and Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• had broughtפָּרַרpârar · to breakH6565
• their counselעֵצָה‛êtsâh · counselH6098
• that we returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• all of us to the wallחוֹמָהchômâh · wallH2346
• every oneאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• unto his workמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399

Cross-references for Nehemiah 4:15

• 2 Samuel 15:31Then someone reported to David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” “Lord,” David pleaded, “please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
• 2 Samuel 17:14Since the Lord had decreed that Ahithophel’s good advice be undermined in order to bring about Absalom’s ruin, Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than Ahithophel’s advice.”
• Job 5:12He frustrates the schemes of the crafty so that they achieve no success.
• Psalms 33:10The Lord frustrates the counsel of the nations; he thwarts the plans of the peoples.
• Proverbs 21:30No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against the Lord.
• Isaiah 8:10Devise a plan; it will fail. Make a prediction; it will not happen. For God is with us.
• Isaiah 44:25who destroys the omens of the false prophets and makes fools of diviners; who confounds the wise and makes their knowledge foolishness;
• Lamentations 3:37Who is there who speaks and it happens, unless the Lord has ordained it?
• 1 Corinthians 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written, He catches the wise in their craftiness;
• Mark 13:34“It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his servants, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert.
• Romans 12:11Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,

Commentaries on Nehemiah 4:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Their counsel to naught - The word counsel used here countenances the emendation in the 12th verse.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-15Verses 7-15 The hindering good work is what bad men aim at, and promise themselves success in; but good work is God's work, and it shall prosper. God has many ways of bringing to light, and so of bringing to nought, the devices and designs of his church's enemies. If our enemies cannot frighten us from duty, or deceive us into sin, they cannot hurt us. Nehemiah put himself and his cause under the Divine protection. It was the way of this good man, and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15Nehemiah credited God (see also Nehemiah 2:20; 6:16). God had thwarted them through the people's prayers, the 24-hour patrol, the visible show of force, and confidence in God's protection.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 4:15

• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Armour
• Ammon; Ammonites
• Esdras, the First Book of
• armor, armory

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