Nehemiah 4:9

Nehemiah 4:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
• New International Version (NIV)But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.

Context of Nehemiah 4:9

7When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people from Ashdod heard that the repair work on the walls of Jerusalem was making progress and that the gaps were being filled in, they became furious. 8All of them plotted to attack Jerusalem to create confusion. But we prayed to our God and set guards to protect us day and night. 10Then the people of Judah said, “The work crews are worn out, and there is too much rubble. We can’t continue to rebuild the wall.” 11Our enemies said, “Before they know what is happening or see a thing, we will be right in the middle of them. We’ll kill them and bring the work to an end.”

Nehemiah 4:9 word by word

וַנִּתְפַּלֵּ֖ל אֶל־אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וַנַּעֲמִ֨יד מִשְׁמָ֧ר עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם יוֹמָ֥ם וָלַ֖יְלָה מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Nevertheless we made our prayerפָּלַלpâlal · to prayH6419
• unto our Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• and setעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• a watchמִשְׁמָרmishmâr · custodyH4929
• against them dayיוֹמָםyômâm · by dayH3119
• and nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
• becauseפָּנֶהpânîym · face: becauseH6440

Cross-references for Nehemiah 4:9

• Nehemiah 4:11Our enemies said, “Before they know what is happening or see a thing, we will be right in the middle of them. We’ll kill them and bring the work to an end.”
• Genesis 32:9Then Jacob prayed, “God of my grandfather Abraham and God of my father Isaac! Lord, you said to me, ‘Go back to your land and to your relatives, and I will make you prosperous.’
• 2 Kings 19:14Hezekiah took the letters from the messengers, read them, and went to the Lord’s temple. He spread them out in front of the Lord
• Psalms 50:15Call on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me.”
• Psalms 55:16But I call on God, and the Lord saves me.
• Luke 6:11The experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees were furious and began to discuss with each other what they could do to Jesus.
• Acts 4:24When they heard this, they were united and loudly prayed to God, “Master, you made the sky, the land, the sea, and everything in them.
• Matthew 26:41Stay awake, and pray that you won’t be tempted. You want to do what’s right, but you’re weak.”
• Luke 21:36Be alert at all times. Pray so that you have the power to escape everything that is about to happen and to stand in front of the Son of Man.”
• 1 Peter 5:8Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 4:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9We made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch - The strongest confidence in the protection and favor of God does not preclude the use of all or any of the means of self-preservation and defense which his providence has put in our power. While God works in us to will and to do, we should proceed to willing, through the power he has given us to will; and we should proceed to action, through the power he has given us to act. We cannot will, but through…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Because of them - Or, “over against them,” i. e. opposite to the place where they were encamped, probably on the north side of the city.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. 9we prayed...and posted a guard: This wise approach to the threat involved both trusting in God and taking necessary actions.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 4:9

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Prayer
• Temptation
• Watchfulness
• Watchman

In the dictionaries

• God
• Day and Night
• Armour
• Sanballat
• Ammon; Ammonites
• Esdras, the First Book of
• Prayer
• Watch

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