New International Version
Nehemiah 6:9
9They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”
Nehemiah 6:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done." But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
- New Living Translation (NLT)They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.
Context of Nehemiah 6:9
7and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together.” 8I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.” They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.” 10One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.” 11But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!”
Read all of Nehemiah 6Nehemiah 6:9 word by word
כִּ֣י כֻלָּ֗ם מְיָֽרְאִ֤ים אוֹתָ֙נוּ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יִרְפּ֧וּ יְדֵיהֶ֛ם מִן־הַמְּלָאכָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א תֵעָשֶׂ֑ה וְעַתָּ֖ה חַזֵּ֥ק אֶת־יָדָֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For they all made us afraidיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Their handsיָדyâd · handH3027
- shall be weakenedרָפָהrâphâh · to slackenH7503
- from the workמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399
- that it be not doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- strengthenחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388
Cross-references for Nehemiah 6:9
- Nehemiah 6:14Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me.
- Nehemiah 4:10Meanwhile, 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.”
- 2 Chronicles 32:18Then they called out in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to terrify them and make them afraid in order to capture the city.
- 2 Chronicles 15:7But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
- Ezra 4:1When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel,
- Isaiah 35:3Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;
- Jeremiah 38:4Then the officials said to the king, “This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin.”
- Hebrews 12:12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.
- 1 Samuel 30:6David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.
- Psalms 56:3When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
- Psalms 71:1In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.
- Psalms 68:35You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!
- Psalms 138:3When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.
- Isaiah 41:10So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
- Zechariah 10:12I will strengthen them in the Lord and in his name they will live securely,” declares the Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Commentaries on Nehemiah 6:9
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-19After solving the financial crisis (see Nehemiah 5), the story shifts back to how those against rebuilding tried to scare or stop Nehemiah.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-95-9. Then sent Sanballat his servant ... the fifth time with an open letter in his hand--In Western Asia, letters, after being rolled up like a map, are flattened to the breadth of an inch; and instead of being sealed, they are pasted at the ends. In Eastern Asia, the Persians make up their letters in the form of a roll about six inches long, and a bit of paper is fastened round it with gum, and sealed with an impression of ink, which resembles our…Read the comment
Topics related to Nehemiah 6:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Nehemiah 6
- 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
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