Nehemiah 4:13

Nehemiah 4:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
• New International Version (NIV)Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

Context of Nehemiah 4:13

11Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.” 12The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!” So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows. 14Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” 15When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall.

Nehemiah 4:13 word by word

וָֽאַעֲמִ֞יד מִֽתַּחְתִּיּ֧וֹת לַמָּק֛וֹם מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י לַחוֹמָ֖ה בַּצְּחִיחִ֑ים וָֽאַעֲמִ֤יד אֶת־הָעָם֙ לְמִשְׁפָּח֔וֹת עִם־חַרְבֹתֵיהֶ֛ם רָמְחֵיהֶ֖ם וְקַשְּׁתֹתֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Therefore setעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: putH5975
• I in the lowerתַּחְתִּיtachtîy · lowerH8482
• placesמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
• behindאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• the wallחוֹמָהchômâh · wallH2346
• on the higher placesצְחִיחִיtsechîychîy · higherH6708
• on the higher placesצְחִיחַtsechîyach · bareH6706
• the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• after their familiesמִשְׁפָּחָהmishpâchâh · familyH4940
• with their swordsחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
• their spearsרֹ֫מַחrômach · spearH7420
• and their bowsקֶ֫שֶׁתqesheth · bowH7198

Cross-references for Nehemiah 4:13

• Genesis 32:13Jacob stayed where he was for the night. Then he selected these gifts from his possessions to present to his brother, Esau:
• 2 Chronicles 32:2When Hezekiah realized that Sennacherib also intended to attack Jerusalem,
• Psalms 112:5Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.
• Matthew 10:16“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.
• 1 Corinthians 14:20Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.
• Nehemiah 4:17who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon.
• Ephesians 6:11Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 4:13

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13The lower places - The places where those within the walls had the least advantage of elevation, the naturally weak places, where an enemy was likely to make his attack.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. 13Nehemiah responded by placing armed guards at the weakest parts of the wall. He ensured that opponents outside could see the forces ready to defend the city.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 4:13

• Archery
• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• Armour
• Ammon; Ammonites
• Esdras, the First Book of
• Jerusalem
• spear, spearmen

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