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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.

Context of Nehemiah 4:9

7But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. 10Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” 11Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.”

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 4:11Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.”
• Genesis 32:9Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’
• 2 Kings 19:14Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord.
• Psalms 50:15and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
• Psalms 55:16As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me.
• Luke 6:11But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
• Acts 4:24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
• Matthew 26:41“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
• Luke 21:36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
• 1 Peter 5:8Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking 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