God’s Word Translation
Nehemiah 4:15
15When our enemies heard that we knew about their plots and that God had prevented their plans from being successful, we all went back to the work on the wall. Each person performed his own job.
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
13That is why I positioned people by their families behind the wall where it was lowest and most exposed. The people were armed with swords, spears, and bows. 14I looked them over and proceeded to tell the nobles, the leaders, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of our enemies. Remember how great and awe-inspiring the Lord is. Fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” When our enemies heard that we knew about their plots and that God had prevented their plans from being successful, we all went back to the work on the wall. Each person performed his own job. 16From that day on, half of my men worked on the wall, and the other half were wearing body armor and holding spears, shields, and bows. The leaders stood behind all the Judeans 17who were rebuilding the wall. The workers who were carrying loads did the work with one hand and held their weapons with the other,
Read all of Nehemiah 4Nehemiah 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 David was told, “Ahithophel is among those conspiring with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, make Ahithophel’s advice foolish.”
- 2 Samuel 17:14Absalom and all the people of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai from Archi’s family is better than Ahithophel’s advice.” (The Lord had commanded Ahithophel’s good advice to be defeated in order to ruin Absalom.)
- Job 5:12He keeps shrewd people from carrying out their plans so that they cannot do anything successfully.
- Psalms 33:10The Lord blocks the plans of the nations. He frustrates the schemes of the people of the world.
- Proverbs 21:30No wisdom, no understanding, and no advice ⌞can stand up⌟ against the Lord.
- Isaiah 8:10Make plans for battle, but they will never succeed. Give orders, but they won’t be carried out, because God is with us!
- Isaiah 44:25I cause the signs of false prophets to fail and make fools of fortunetellers. I make wise men retreat and turn their knowledge into foolishness.
- Lamentations 3:37Who was it who spoke and it came into being? It was the Lord who gave the order.
- 1 Corinthians 3:19The wisdom of this world is nonsense in God’s sight. That’s why Scripture says, “God catches the wise in their cleverness.”
- Mark 13:34It is like a man who went on a trip. As he left home, he put his servants in charge. He assigned work to each one and ordered the guard to be alert.
- Romans 12:11Don’t be lazy in showing your devotion. Use your energy to serve the Lord.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11Also, make it your goal to live quietly, do your work, and earn your own living, as we ordered 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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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