New King James Version
Nehemiah 6:9
9For 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.
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.
- New International Version (NIV)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.”
- 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 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 you have also appointed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, “There is a king in Judah!” Now these matters will be reported to the king. So come, therefore, and let us consult together. 8Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart.” 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. 10Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; and he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.” 11And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!”
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 6:14My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid.
- Nehemiah 4:10Then Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall.”
- 2 Chronicles 32:18Then they called out with a loud voice in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them and trouble them, that they might take the city.
- 2 Chronicles 15:7But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!”
- Ezra 4:1Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the Lord God of Israel,
- Isaiah 35:3Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees.
- Jeremiah 38:4Therefore the princes said to the king, “Please, let this man be put to death, for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man does not seek the welfare of this people, but their harm.”
- Hebrews 12:12Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
- 1 Samuel 30:6Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
- Psalms 56:3Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.
- Psalms 71:1In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame.
- Psalms 68:35O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!
- Psalms 138:3In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.
- Isaiah 41:10Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
- Zechariah 10:12“So I will strengthen them in the Lord, And they shall walk up and down in His name,” Says the Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries