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

10When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel. 11So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my mind to do for Jerusalem and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding. 13So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon’s Well and on to the Refuse Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire. 14Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was no place for my mount to pass.

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

• And I aroseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• in the nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
• I and a fewמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
• menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• with me. I did not tellנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• anyoneאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• whatמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• my Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• was puttingנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
• mindלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• for Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
• and thereאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
• animalבְּהֵמָהbehêmâh · animalH929
• with me exceptכִּי [אם]kîy · that if: exceptH3588
• with me except[כִּי] אם'im · if: exceptH518
• on whichאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• I was ridingרָכַבrâkab · to rideH7392

Cross-references for Nehemiah 2:12

• Genesis 32:22Now he arose that same night and took his two wives and his two maids and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
• Joshua 10:9So Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal.
• Judges 6:27Then Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had spoken to him; and because he was too afraid of his father’s household and the men of the city to do it by day, he did it by night.
• Judges 9:32Now therefore, arise by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.
• Matthew 2:14So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt.
• Ecclesiastes 3:7A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.
• Amos 5:13Therefore at such a time the prudent person keeps silent, for it is an evil time.
• Micah 7:5Do not trust in a neighbor; Do not have confidence in a friend. From her who lies in your bosom Guard your lips.
• Matthew 10:16“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.
• Ezra 7:27Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to adorn the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem,
• Psalms 51:18By Your favor do good to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.
• Psalms 122:6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.
• Jeremiah 31:33“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
• Jeremiah 32:40I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.
• 2 Corinthians 8:16But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus.
• James 1:16Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

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