Nehemiah 2:16

Nehemiah 2:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
• New International Version (NIV)The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work.

Context of Nehemiah 2:16

14I went to the Fountain Gate and then to the King's Pool. The path there was too narrow for my donkey to pass through. 15So I went along the path in the valley while it was still night. I continued to look at the wall. I reached the Valley Gate again and I went back into the city. The city's officers did not know that I had done this. I had not told anyone what I had decided to do. I had not told any of the other Jews, their priests, their leaders or the city's officers. I had not told any of the people who would help to do the work on the wall. 17But then I said to them, ‘We have a big problem. Jerusalem has become a heap of stones. Fire has burned the gates. You must help to build the city's walls again. Then we will no longer be ashamed of our city.’ 18I told the people how God had helped me to come to Jerusalem. I told them what the king had said to me. Then the people said, ‘We will start to build now!’ The people prepared to start this good work.

Nehemiah 2:16 word by word

וְהַסְּגָנִ֗ים לֹ֤א יָדְעוּ֙ אָ֣נָה הָלַ֔כְתִּי וּמָ֖ה אֲנִ֣י עֹשֶׂ֑ה וְלַיְּהוּדִ֨ים וְלַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים וְלַחֹרִ֣ים וְלַסְּגָנִ֗ים וּלְיֶ֙תֶר֙ עֹשֵׂ֣ה הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה עַד־כֵּ֖ן לֹ֥א הִגַּֽדְתִּי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the rulersסָגָןsâgân · rulerH5461
• knewיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• not whither I wentהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• or what I didעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• neither had I as yetכֵּןkên · soH3651
• toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• to the Jewsיְהוּדִיyehûdîy · JewH3064
• nor to the priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
• nor to the noblesחֹרchôr chôr · nobleH2715
• nor to the restיֶ֫תֶרyether · remainderH3499
• the workמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399

Cross-references for Nehemiah 2:16

• Nehemiah 2:12I went out at night. I took a few of my friends with me. I was riding on a donkey. That was the only animal that we took with us. I did not tell anyone the idea that God had put in my mind about Jerusalem.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 2:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16The rulers knew not whither I went - He made no person privy to his design, that he might hide every thing as much as possible from their enemies till he had all things in readiness; lest they should take measures to defeat the work.Read the comment
• 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. 16-17Nehemiah kept his inspection and rebuilding plans secret from both the Persian and Jewish leaders to prevent organized opposition. Now, Nehemiah was ready to lead the rebuilding effort. the trouble we are in: The broken walls brought disgrace to the city and reflected poorly on God. Jerusalem certainly did not resemble the city of the great King (Psalm 48:2).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-1816-18. the rulers knew not--The following day, having assembled the elders, Nehemiah produced his commission and exhorted them to assist in the work. The sight of his credentials, and the animating strain of his address and example, so revived their drooping spirits that they resolved immediately to commence the building, which they did, despite the bitter taunts and scoffing ridicule of some influential men.Read the comment

Topics related to Nehemiah 2:16

• Country
• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• Governor
• Laugh
• Reproach
• Scorn
• Ezra-Nehemiah
• Magistrate
• Noble; Nobles; Nobleman
• Ruler

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