Nehemiah 4:15

Nehemiah 4:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
• New International Version (NIV)When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.

Context of Nehemiah 4:15

13So 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!” When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. 16But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah 17who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon.

Nehemiah 4:15 word by word

וַיְהִ֞י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־שָׁמְע֤וּ אוֹיְבֵ֙ינוּ֙ כִּי־נ֣וֹדַֽע לָ֔נוּ וַיָּ֥פֶר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־עֲצָתָ֑ם וַנָּ֤שָׁב כֻּלָּ֙נוּ֙ אֶל־הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה אִ֖ישׁ אֶל־מְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And it came to pass, when our enemiesאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
• heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• that it was knownיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• unto us, and Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• had broughtפָּרַרpârar · to breakH6565
• their counselעֵצָה‛êtsâh · counselH6098
• that we returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• all of us to the wallחוֹמָהchômâh · wallH2346
• every oneאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
• unto his workמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399

Cross-references for Nehemiah 4:15

• 2 Samuel 15:31When someone told David that his adviser Ahithophel was now backing Absalom, David prayed, “O Lord, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!”
• 2 Samuel 17:14Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “Hushai’s advice is better than Ahithophel’s.” For the Lord had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom!
• Job 5:12He frustrates the plans of schemers so the work of their hands will not succeed.
• Psalms 33:10The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes.
• Proverbs 21:30No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the Lord.
• Isaiah 8:10Call your councils of war, but they will be worthless. Develop your strategies, but they will not succeed. For God is with us!”
• Isaiah 44:25I expose the false prophets as liars and make fools of fortune-tellers. I cause the wise to give bad advice, thus proving them to be fools.
• Lamentations 3:37Who can command things to happen without the Lord’s permission?
• 1 Corinthians 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.”
• Mark 13:34“The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.
• Romans 12:11Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 4:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Their counsel to naught - The word counsel used here countenances the emendation in the 12th verse.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. 15Nehemiah credited God (see also Nehemiah 2:20; 6:16). God had thwarted them through the people's prayers, the 24-hour patrol, the visible show of force, and confidence in God's protection.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 4:15

• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• God
• Armour
• Ammon; Ammonites
• Esdras, the First Book of
• armor, armory

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