Nehemiah 4:17

Nehemiah 4:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
• New International Version (NIV)who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,
• English Standard Version (ESV)who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.

Context of Nehemiah 4:17

15And 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. 16And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the armour; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. 18For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. 19And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.

Nehemiah 4:17 word by word

הַבּוֹנִ֧ים בַּחוֹמָ֛ה וְהַנֹּשְׂאִ֥ים בַּסֶּ֖בֶל עֹמְשִׂ֑ים בְּאַחַ֤ת יָדוֹ֙ עֹשֶׂ֣ה בַמְּלָאכָ֔ה וְאַחַ֖ת מַחֲזֶ֥קֶת הַשָּֽׁלַח׃Read the interlinear

• They which buildedבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• on the wallחוֹמָהchômâh · wallH2346
• and they that bareנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
• burdensסֵ֫בֶלsêbel · burdenH5447
• with those that ladedעָמַס‛âmas ‛âmaώ · loadH6006
• with oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• of his handsיָדyâd · handH3027
• wroughtעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• in the workמְלָאכָהmelâ'kâh · workH4399
• heldחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: holdH2388
• a weaponשֶׁ֫לַחshelach · missileH7973

Cross-references for Nehemiah 4:17

• Nehemiah 4:10And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
• Daniel 9:25Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
• 1 Corinthians 9:12If others be partakers of this authority over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this authority; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
• 1 Corinthians 16:9For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
• 2 Corinthians 6:7By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
• Ephesians 6:11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
• Philippians 1:28And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
• 2 Timothy 2:3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
• 2 Timothy 4:7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Commentaries on Nehemiah 4:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17With one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon - That is, he had his arms at hand, and was as fully prepared to fight as to work. So Ovid, Epist. xi., Canace Macario, ver. 1: - Si qua tamen caecis errabunt scripta lituris, Oblitus a dominae caede libellus erit: Dextra tenet calamum; strictum tenet altera ferrum: Et jacet in gremio charta soluta meo. If streaming blood my fatal letter stain, Imagine, ere you read, the…Read the comment
• 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 4:17

• Prudence

In the dictionaries

• Armour
• Ammon; Ammonites
• Burden
• Esdras, the First Book of
• Jerusalem
• Arms, Armor

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