New King James Version
Nehemiah 2:12
12Then 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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding.
Context of Nehemiah 2:12
10When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel. 11So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. 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. 13And I went out by night through the Valley Gate to the Serpent Well and the Refuse Gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. 14Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass.
Read all of Nehemiah 2Nehemiah 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 32:22And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok.
- Joshua 10:9Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal.
- Judges 6:27So Gideon took ten men from among his servants and did as the Lord had said to him. But because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city too much to do it by day, he did it by night.
- Judges 9:32Now therefore, get up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.
- Matthew 2:14When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,
- Ecclesiastes 3:7A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
- Amos 5:13Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, For it is an evil time.
- Micah 7:5Do not trust in a friend; Do not put your confidence in a companion; Guard the doors of your mouth From her who lies in your bosom.
- Matthew 10:16“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
- Ezra 7:27Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem,
- Psalms 51:18Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.
- Psalms 122:6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.
- Jeremiah 31:33But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
- Jeremiah 32:40And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.
- 2 Corinthians 8:16But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into 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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries