Nehemiah 4:21

Nehemiah 4:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
• New International Version (NIV)So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So we labored in the work, and half of the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared.

Context of Nehemiah 4:21

19Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!” We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men were always on guard. 22I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day. 23During this time, none of us—not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me—ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.

Nehemiah 4:21 word by word

וַאֲנַ֖חְנוּ עֹשִׂ֣ים בַּמְּלָאכָ֑ה וְחֶצְיָ֗ם מַחֲזִיקִים֙ בָּֽרְמָחִ֔ים מֵעֲל֣וֹת הַשַּׁ֔חַר עַ֖ד צֵ֥את הַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• So we labouredעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• in the workמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399
• and halfחֲצִיchêtsîy · halfH2677
• of them heldחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: holdH2388
• the spearsרֹ֫מַחrômach · spearH7420
• from the risingעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: dawnH5927
• of the morningשַׁ֫חַרshachar · dawnH7837
• till the starsכּוֹכָבkôkâb · starH3556
• appearedיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318

Cross-references for Nehemiah 4:21

• 1 Corinthians 15:10But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.
• Galatians 6:9So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
• Colossians 1:29That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 4:21

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-23Verses 16-23 We must watch always against spiritual enemies, and not expect that our warfare will be over till our work is ended. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit, which we ought to have always at hand, and never to have to seek for it, either in our labours, or in our conflicts, as Christians. Every true Christian is both a labourer and a soldier, working with one hand, and fighting with the other. Good work is likely to go on with success…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 4:21

• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• Armour
• Ammon; Ammonites
• Appear
• Day and Night
• Esdras, the First Book of
• Jerusalem
• Morning

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