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

10But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, they were very upset that someone had come to give the people of Israel so much assistance. 11I went to Jerusalem and was there for three days. During the night I went out with a few men without telling anyone what my God had inspired me to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I had was the one I was riding. 13I went through Valley Gate that night toward Snake Fountain and Dung Gate and examined the places where the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and where its gates had been burned. 14Passing through Fountain Gate, I arrived at King’s Pool, but the animal I was riding couldn’t get 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 that night he got up and gathered his two wives, his two slaves and his eleven children and crossed at the shallow part of the Jabbok River.
• Joshua 10:9So Joshua marched all night from Gilgal and took them by surprise.
• Judges 6:27Gideon took ten of his servants and did what the Lord had told him to do. However, he didn’t do anything during the day. He was too afraid of his father’s family and the men of the city, so he did it at night.
• Judges 9:32You and your men must start out tonight. Set an ambush ⌞for them⌟ in the fields ⌞around Shechem⌟.
• Matthew 2:14Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and left for Egypt that night.
• Ecclesiastes 3:7a time to tear apart and a time to sew together, a time to keep quiet and a time to speak out,
• Amos 5:13That is why a wise person remains silent at such times, because those times are so evil.
• Micah 7:5Don’t trust your neighbors. Don’t have confidence in ⌞your⌟ friends. Keep your mouth shut even when a woman is lying in your arms.
• Matthew 10:16“I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as snakes but as innocent as doves.
• Ezra 7:27⌞I, Ezra, said:⌟ Thanks be to the Lord God of our ancestors. He put this into the king’s mind to make the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem beautiful.
• Psalms 51:18Favor Zion with your goodness. Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
• Psalms 122:6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you prosper.
• Jeremiah 31:33“But this is the promise that I will make to Israel after those days,” declares the Lord: “I will put my teachings inside them, and I will write those teachings on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
• Jeremiah 32:40I will make an eternal promise to them that I will never stop blessing them. I will make them fear me so that they will never turn away from me.
• 2 Corinthians 8:16I thank God for making Titus as dedicated to you as I am.
• James 1:16My dear brothers and sisters, don’t be fooled.

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
• 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