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 all this, they were very displeased that someone had come to seek benefit for the Israelites. 11So I came to Jerusalem. When I had been there for three days, I got up during the night, along with a few men who were with me. But I did not tell anyone what my God was putting on my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no animals with me, except for the one I was riding. 13I proceeded through the Valley Gate by night, in the direction of the Well of the Dragons and the Dung Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem that had been breached and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14I passed on to the Gate of the Well and the King’s Pool, where there was not enough room for my animal to pass with me.

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 the night Jacob quickly took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
• Joshua 10:9Joshua attacked them by surprise after marching all night from Gilgal.
• Judges 6:27So Gideon took ten of his servants and did just as the Lord had told him. He was too afraid of his father’s family and the men of the city to do it in broad daylight, so he waited until nighttime.
• Judges 9:32Now, come up at night with your men and set an ambush in the field outside the city.
• Matthew 2:14Then he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and went to Egypt.
• Ecclesiastes 3:7A time to rip, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time to speak.
• Amos 5:13For this reason whoever is smart keeps quiet in such a time, for it is an evil time.
• Micah 7:5Do not rely on a friend; do not trust a companion! Don’t even share secrets with the one who lies in your arms!
• Matthew 10:16“I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
• Ezra 7:27Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who so moved in the heart of the king to so honor the temple of the Lord which is in Jerusalem!
• Psalms 51:18Because you favor Zion, do what is good for her! Fortify the walls of Jerusalem!
• Psalms 122:6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love her prosper!
• Jeremiah 31:33“But I will make a new covenant with the whole nation of Israel after I plant them back in the land,” says the Lord. “I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts and minds. I will be their God and they will be my people.
• Jeremiah 32:40I will make a lasting covenant with them that I will never stop doing good to them. I will fill their hearts and minds with respect for me so that they will never again turn away from me.
• 2 Corinthians 8:16But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you,
• James 1:16Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters.

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
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• 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