King James Version

Nehemiah 4

1But it came to pass, that when SanballatH5571heardH8085that we buildedבוֹנִים֙vo.NimH1129the wallH2346,he was wrothH2734,and took greatהַרְבֵּ֑הhar.BehH7235indignationוַיִּכְעַ֖סvai.yikh.'AsH3707,and mockedוַיַּלְעֵ֖גvai.yal.'EgH3932the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִֽים׃hai.ye.hu.DimH3064.

2And he spakeוַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀vai.Yo.merH559beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440his brethrenאֶחָ֗יו'e.ChavH251and the armyוְחֵיל֙ve.CheilH2428of Samariaשֹֽׁמְר֔וֹןsho.me.RonH8111,and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,What doH6213these feebleהָאֲמֵלָלִ֖יםha.'a.me.la.LimH537Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֥יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064?will they fortifyהֲיַעַזְב֨וּha.ya.'az.VuH5800themselves? will they sacrificeהֲיִזְבָּ֙חוּ֙ha.yiz.Ba.chuH2076?will they make an endהַיְכַלּ֣וּhay.kha.LuH3615in a dayבַיּ֔וֹםvai.YomH3117?will they reviveהַיְחַיּ֧וּhay.chai.YuH2421the stonesהָאֲבָנִ֛יםha.'a.va.NimH68out of the heapsמֵעֲרֵמ֥וֹתme.'a.re.MotH6194of the rubbishהֶעָפָ֖רhe.'a.FarH6083which are burnedשְׂרוּפֽוֹת׃se.ru.FotH8313?

3Now Tobiahוְטוֹבִיָּ֥הve.toi.YahH2900the Ammoniteהָעַמֹּנִ֖יha.'a.mo.NiH5984wasby himאֶצְל֑וֹ'etz.LoH681,and he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Even that which they buildבּוֹנִ֔יםbo.NimH1129,if a foxשׁוּעָ֔לshu.'AlH7776go upיַעֲלֶ֣הya.'a.LehH5927,he shall even break downוּפָרַ֖ץu.fa.RatzH6555their stoneאַבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ פ'av.nei.HemH68wallחוֹמַ֥תcho.MatH2346.

4Hearשְׁמַ֤עshe.Ma'H8085,O our Godאֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙'e.lo.Hei.nuH430;for we are despisedבוּזָ֔הvu.ZahH939:and turnוְהָשֵׁ֥בve.ha.ShevH7725their reproachחֶרְפָּתָ֖םcher.pa.TamH2781upon their own headרֹאשָׁ֑םro.ShamH7218,and giveוּתְנֵ֥םu.te.NemH5414them for a preyלְבִזָּ֖הle.vi.ZahH961in the landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of captivityשִׁבְיָֽה׃shiv.YahH7633:

5And coverתְּכַס֙te.KhasH3680not their iniquityעֲוֹנָ֔ם'a.vo.NamH5771,and let not their sinוְחַטָּאתָ֖םve.cha.ta.TamH2403be blotted outתִּמָּחֶ֑הti.ma.ChehH4229from beforeמִלְּפָנֶ֣יךָmi.le.fa.Nei.khaH6440thee: for they have provoked theeto angerהִכְעִ֖יסוּhikh.'I.suH3707before the buildersהַבּוֹנִֽים׃ha.bo.NimH1129.

6So builtוַנִּבְנֶה֙va.niv.NehH1129we the wallהַ֣חוֹמָ֔הha.cho.MahH2346;and all the wallהַחוֹמָ֖הha.cho.MahH2346was joined togetherוַתִּקָּשֵׁ֥רva.ti.ka.SherH7194unto the halfחֶצְיָ֑הּchetz.YahH2677thereof: for the peopleלָעָ֖םla.'AmH5971had a mindלֵ֦בlevH3820to workלַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ פla.'a.SotH6213.

7But it came to pass, thatwhen Sanballatסַנְבַלַּ֡טsan.va.LatH5571,and Tobiahוְ֠טוֹבִיָּהVe.toi.yahH2900,and the Arabiansוְהָעַרְבִ֨יםve.ha.'ar.VimH6163,and the Ammonitesוְהָעַמֹּנִ֜יםve.ha.'a.mo.NimH5984,and the Ashdoditesוְהָאַשְׁדּוֹדִ֗יםve.ha.'ash.do.DimH796,heardשָׁמַ֣עsha.Ma'H8085that the wallsH2346of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֔םye.ru.sha.LimH3389were made upעָלְתָ֤ה אֲרוּכָה֙'al.Tah 'a.ru.KhahH5927 H724, andthat the breachesהַפְּרֻצִ֖יםha.pe.ru.TzimH6555beganהֵחֵ֥לּוּhe.Che.luH2490to be stoppedלְהִסָּתֵ֑םle.hi.sa.TemH5640,then they were veryמְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966wrothוַיִּ֥חַרvai.Yi.charH2734,

8And conspiredוַיִּקְשְׁר֤וּvai.yik.she.RuH7194all of them togetherיַחְדָּ֔וyach.DavH3162to comeלָב֖וֹאla.Vo'H935andto fightH3898against Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑םbi.ru.sha.LimH3389,and to hinderוְלַעֲשׂ֥וֹת תּוֹעָֽה׃ve.la.'a.Sot to.'AhH8442 H6213it.

9Nevertheless we made our prayerוַנִּתְפַּלֵּ֖לva.nit.pa.LelH6419unto our GodH430,and setוַנַּעֲמִ֨ידva.na.'a.MidH5975a watchמִשְׁמָ֧רmish.MarH4929against them dayיוֹמָ֥םyo.MamH3119and nightוָלַ֖יְלָהva.Lay.lahH3915,becauseמִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃mi.pe.nei.HemH6440of them.

10And JudahH3063saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,The strengthכֹּ֣חַKo.achH3581of the bearers of burdensהַסַּבָּ֔לha.sa.BalH5449is decayedכָּשַׁל֙ka.ShalH3782, and there ismuchהַרְבֵּ֑הhar.BehH7235rubbishוְהֶעָפָ֖רve.he.'a.FarH6083;so that we are not ableנוּכַ֔לnu.KhalH3201to buildלִבְנ֖וֹתliv.NotH1129the wallבַּחוֹמָֽה׃ba.cho.MahH2346.

11And our adversariesצָרֵ֗ינוּtza.Rei.nuH6862saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559,They shall not knowיֵדְעוּ֙ye.de.'UH3045,neither seeיִרְא֔וּyir.'UH7200,till we comeנָב֥וֹאna.Vo'H935in the midstתּוֹכָ֖םto.KhamH8432amongH8432them, and slayוַהֲרַגְנ֑וּםva.ha.rag.NumH2026them, and cause the workH4399to ceaseוְהִשְׁבַּ֖תְנוּve.hish.Bat.nuH7673.

12And it came to pass, that when the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֔יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064which dweltהַיֹּשְׁבִ֖יםhai.yo.she.VimH3427by themH681cameבָּ֣אוּBa.'uH935,they saidוַיֹּ֤אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559unto us tenעֶ֣שֶׂר'E.serH6235timesפְּעָמִ֔יםpe.'a.MimH6471,From all placesהַמְּקֹמ֖וֹתha.me.ko.MotH4725whence ye shall returnתָּשׁ֥וּבוּta.Shu.vuH7725unto us they will be upon you.

13Therefore setוָֽאַעֲמִ֞ידva.'a.'a.MidH5975I in the lowerמִֽתַּחְתִּיּ֧וֹתmi.tach.ti.YotH8482placesלַמָּק֛וֹםla.ma.KomH4725behindמֵאַחֲרֵ֥יme.'a.cha.ReiH310the wallH2346, andon the higher placesבַּצְּחִיחִ֑יםba.tze.chi.chi.yimH6708 H6706,I even setוָֽאַעֲמִ֤ידva.'a.'a.MidH5975the peopleH5971after their familiesלְמִשְׁפָּח֔וֹתle.mish.pa.ChotH4940with their swordsחַרְבֹתֵיהֶ֛םchar.vo.tei.HemH2719,their spearsרָמְחֵיהֶ֖םra.me.chei.HemH7420,and their bowsוְקַשְּׁתֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ve.ka.she.to.tei.HemH7198.

14And I lookedוָאֵ֣רֶאva.'E.re'H7200,and rose upוָאָק֗וּםva.'a.KumH6965,and saidוָאֹמַ֞רva.'o.MarH559unto the noblesהַחֹרִ֤יםha.cho.RimH2715,and to the rulersהַסְּגָנִים֙ha.se.ga.NimH5461,and to the restיֶ֣תֶרYe.terH3499of the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971,Be not ye afraidתִּֽירְא֖וּti.re.'UH3372of themמִפְּנֵיהֶ֑םmi.pe.nei.HemH6440:rememberזְכֹ֔רוּze.Kho.ruH2142the Lordאֲדֹנָ֞י'a.do.NaiH136, which isgreatהַגָּד֤וֹלha.ga.DolH1419and terribleוְהַנּוֹרָא֙ve.ha.no.Ra'H3372,and fightH3898for your brethrenאֲחֵיכֶם֙'a.chei.KhemH251,your sonsבְּנֵיכֶ֣םbe.nei.KhemH1121,and your daughtersוּבְנֹתֵיכֶ֔םu.ve.no.tei.KhemH1323,your wivesנְשֵׁיכֶ֖םne.shei.KhemH802,and your housesוּבָתֵּיכֶֽם׃ פu.va.tei.KhemH1004.

15And it came to pass, when our enemiesאוֹיְבֵ֙ינוּ֙'oy.Vei.nuH341heardשָׁמְע֤וּsha.me.'UH8085that it was knownנ֣וֹדַֽעNo.da'H3045unto us, and Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430had broughtH6565their counselעֲצָתָ֑ם'a.tza.TamH6098to noughtH6565,that we returnedוַנָּ֤שָׁבva.na.shuvH7725all of us to the wallהַ֣חוֹמָ֔הha.cho.MahH2346,every oneאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376unto his workH4399.

16And it came to pass from that timeH3117forth, thatthe halfחֲצִ֣יcha.TziH2677of my servantsH5288wroughtעֹשִׂ֣ים'o.SimH6213in the workH4399,and the other halfוְחֶצְיָ֗םve.chetz.YamH2677of them heldמַחֲזִיקִים֙ma.cha.zi.KimH2388both the spearsוְהָרְמָחִ֣יםve.ha.re.ma.ChimH7420,the shieldsהַמָּגִנִּ֔יםha.ma.gi.NimH4043,and the bowsוְהַקְּשָׁת֖וֹתve.ha.ke.sha.TotH7198,and the habergeonsוְהַשִּׁרְיֹנִ֑יםve.ha.shir.yo.NimH8302;and the rulersוְהַ֨שָּׂרִ֔יםve.Ha.sa.RimH8269werebehindאַחֲרֵ֖י'a.cha.ReiH310all the houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004of Judahיְהוּדָֽה׃ye.hu.DahH3063.

17They which buildedהַבּוֹנִ֧יםha.bo.NimH1129on the wallבַּחוֹמָ֛הba.cho.MahH2346,and they that bareוְהַנֹּשְׂאִ֥יםve.ha.no.se.'ImH5375burdensבַּסֶּ֖בֶלba.Se.velH5447,with those that ladedעֹמְשִׂ֑ים'o.me.SimH6006, every onewith oneבְּאַחַ֤תbe.'a.ChatH259of his handsיָדוֹ֙ya.DoH3027wroughtעֹשֶׂ֣ה'o.SehH6213in the workבַמְּלָאכָ֔הva.me.la.KhahH4399,and with the otherוְאַחַ֖תve.'a.ChatH259handheldמַחֲזֶ֥קֶתma.cha.Ze.ketH2388a weaponH7973.

18For the buildersוְהַ֨בּוֹנִ֔יםve.Ha.bo.NimH1129,every oneאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376had his swordחַרְבּ֛וֹchar.BoH2719girdedאֲסוּרִ֥ים'a.su.RimH631by his sideמָתְנָ֖יוma.te.NavH4975, and sobuildedוּבוֹנִ֑יםu.vo.NimH1129.And he that soundedוְהַתּוֹקֵ֥עַve.ha.to.Ke.a'H8628the trumpetבַּשּׁוֹפָ֖רba.sho.FarH7782wasby meאֶצְלִֽי׃'etz.LiH681.

19And I saidוָאֹמַ֞רva.'o.MarH559unto the noblesהַחֹרִ֤יםha.cho.RimH2715,and to the rulersהַסְּגָנִים֙ha.se.ga.NimH5461,and to the restיֶ֣תֶרYe.terH3499of the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971,The workהַמְּלָאכָ֥הha.me.la.KhahH4399isgreatהַרְבֵּ֖הhar.BehH7235and largeוּרְחָבָ֑הu.re.cha.VahH7342,and we are separatedנִפְרָדִים֙nif.ra.DimH6504upon the wallהַ֣חוֹמָ֔הha.cho.MahH2346,oneאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376far fromרְחוֹקִ֖יםre.cho.KimH7350anotherמֵאָחִֽיו׃me.'a.ChivH251.

20In what placeבִּמְק֗וֹםbim.KomH4725thereforeye hearתִּשְׁמְעוּ֙tish.me.'UH8085the soundק֣וֹלKolH6963of the trumpetהַשּׁוֹפָ֔רha.sho.FarH7782,resortתִּקָּבְצ֣וּti.ka.ve.TzuH6908ye thither unto us: our Godאֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuH430shall fightיִלָּ֥חֶםyi.La.chemH3898for us.

21So we labouredעֹשִׂ֣ים'o.SimH6213in the workבַּמְּלָאכָ֑הba.me.la.KhahH4399:and halfוְחֶצְיָ֗םve.chetz.YamH2677of them heldמַחֲזִיקִים֙ma.cha.zi.KimH2388the spearsבָּֽרְמָחִ֔יםba.re.ma.ChimH7420from the risingמֵעֲל֣וֹתme.'a.LotH5927of the morningהַשַּׁ֔חַרha.Sha.charH7837till the starsהַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃ha.ko.kha.VimH3556appearedצֵ֥אתtzetH3318.

22Likewise at the same timeבָּעֵ֤תba.'EtH6256saidאָמַ֣רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559I unto the peopleלָעָ֔םla.'AmH5971,Let every oneאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376with his servantוְנַעֲר֔וֹve.na.'a.RoH5288lodgeיָלִ֖ינוּya.Li.nuH3885withinבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,that in the nightהַלַּ֛יְלָהha.Lay.lahH3915they may be a guardמִשְׁמָ֖רmish.MarH4929to us, and labourמְלָאכָֽה׃me.la.KhahH4399on the dayוְהַיּ֥וֹםve.hai.YomH3117.

23So neither I, nor my brethrenוְאַחַ֣יve.'a.ChaiH251,nor my servantsוּנְעָרַ֗יu.ne.'a.RaiH5288,nor the menוְאַנְשֵׁ֤יve.'an.SheiH582of the guardהַמִּשְׁמָר֙ha.mish.MarH4929which followedאַחֲרַ֔י'a.cha.RaiH310me, none of usאֲנַ֥חְנוּ'a.Nach.nuH587put offפֹשְׁטִ֖יםfo.she.TimH6584our clothesבְּגָדֵ֑ינוּbe.ga.Dei.nuH899, saving thatevery oneאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376put them offשִׁלְח֥וֹshil.ChoH7973for washingהַמָּֽיִם׃ סha.Ma.yimH4325.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 4

King James Version — Public Domain except in the United Kingdom (Crown rights)