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

15Our enemies realized that we knew what they had decided to do. God had stopped them from doing what they wanted. So each of us went back to our work on the wall. 16After that day, half of my men continued to do the work on the wall. The other half carried spears, shields and bows. They also wore armour. The officers stood behind the people while they built the wall. The men who were carrying materials held them with one hand. They held a weapon in their other hand. 18All of the builders had swords tied on their belts while they were building. There was a man who would make a sound with his trumpet if there was danger. He stayed near me. 19I said to the leaders, the officers and all the people, ‘It is hard work and the wall is very long. So we are not working near to each other.

Nehemiah 4:17 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• They which buildedבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• on the wallחוֹמָהchômâh · wallH2346
• and they that bareנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
• burdensסֵ֫בֶלsêbel · burdenH5447
• with those that ladedעָמַס‛âmas ‛âmaώ · loadH6006
• with oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• of his handsיָדyâd · handH3027
• wroughtעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• in the workמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399
• heldחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: holdH2388
• a weaponשֶׁ֫לַחshelach · missileH7973

Cross-references for Nehemiah 4:17

• Nehemiah 4:10Then the people in Judah complained, ‘Our workers are becoming weak. There are so many stones and rubbish! We cannot finish the work on the wall!’
• Daniel 9:25I want you, Daniel, to understand this properly. There will be a command to build Jerusalem again. Then 7 weeks will pass, and 62 weeks will also pass. After that, a ruler that God has chosen will arrive. People will build the city of Jerusalem again. It will have streets and a strong wall around it. But there will be a lot of trouble at that time.
• 1 Corinthians 9:12You agree to help other people who teach God's message to you. So surely we should receive even more help from you! But Barnabas and I have not used our authority to make you help us like that. Instead, we accept all these difficult things patiently. We want the good news about Christ to go everywhere. We do not want to do anything that might stop it.
• 1 Corinthians 16:9God has given me the chance to do a great work here. But many people are against what I am doing.
• 2 Corinthians 6:7We speak a true message. God's power gives us strength. We do what is right, so we fight like soldiers on God's behalf. It is like we have God's weapons in both hands!
• Ephesians 6:11Use all the help that God gives to us. Then you can be like a soldier who fights against the Devil. You must put on the whole armour that God gives to us. The Devil attacks us in clever ways, and we need to be strong.
• Philippians 1:28I want to know that you are not afraid of the people who speak against you. If you are brave, that will be a sign from God. It will show your enemies that they will lose and you will win. God will punish them, but he will save you.
• 2 Timothy 2:3Be patient through the troubles that we Christians have. Be brave and strong, like a good soldier for Christ Jesus.
• 2 Timothy 4:7I have worked to serve Christ well. I have finished everything that God wanted me to do. I am like a runner who has run to the end of the race. I have continued to believe God's true message.

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