English Standard Version
Nehemiah 2:12
12Then 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding.
Context of Nehemiah 2:12
10But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel. 11So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 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. 13I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass.
Read all of Nehemiah 2Nehemiah 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 32:22The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
- Joshua 10:9So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal.
- Judges 6:27So Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had told him. But because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night.
- Judges 9:32Now therefore, go by night, you and the people who are with you, and set an ambush in the field.
- Matthew 2:14And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt
- Ecclesiastes 3:7a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
- Amos 5:13Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time.
- Micah 7:5Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms;
- Matthew 10:16"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
- Ezra 7:27Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem,
- Psalms 51:18Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;
- Psalms 122:6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! "May they be secure who love you!
- Jeremiah 31:33For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
- Jeremiah 32:40I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.
- 2 Corinthians 8:16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you.
- James 1:16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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Commentaries