Nehemiah

Nehemiah 13:15–22

¹⁵In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day. ¹⁶Additionally, men of Tyre who lived there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem.

¹⁷Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, “What is this evil you are doing— profaning the Sabbath day? ¹⁸Did not your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling His wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!”

¹⁹When the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem, just before the Sabbath, I ordered that the gates be shut and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day.

²⁰Once or twice, the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem, ²¹but I warned them, “Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on, they did not return on the Sabbath. ²²Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.

Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.

Read all of Nehemiah 13

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Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Nehemiah 13:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
In those	הָהֵ֡מָּה	hā·hêm·māh	Article; Pronoun - third person masculine plural	H1992 they, them
days	בַּיָּמִ֣ים	bay·yā·mîm	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H3117 day
I saw	רָאִ֣יתִי	rā·’î·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H7200 see
people in Judah	בִֽיהוּדָ֣ה׀	ḇî·hū·ḏāh	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3063 Judah
treading	דֹּֽרְכִֽים־	dō·rə·ḵîm-	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H1869 tread, march
winepresses	גִּתּ֣וֹת׀	git·tō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural	H1660 wine-press
on the Sabbath	בַּשַּׁבָּ֡ת	baš·šab·bāṯ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - common singular	H7676 Sabbath
and bringing in	וּמְבִיאִ֣ים	ū·mə·ḇî·’îm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
grain	הָעֲרֵמ֣וֹת	hā·‘ă·rê·mō·wṯ	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H6194 heap, sheaf
and loading it	וְֽעֹמְסִ֪ים	wə·‘ō·mə·sîm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H6006 load
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
donkeys	הַחֲמֹרִ֟ים	ha·ḥă·mō·rîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H2543 heap
along with	וְאַף־	wə·’ap̄-	Conjunction	H637 also, yea
wine	יַ֜יִן	ya·yin	Noun - masculine singular	H3196 wine
grapes	עֲנָבִ֤ים	‘ă·nā·ḇîm	Noun - masculine plural	H6025 grape(s)
and figs	וּתְאֵנִים֙	ū·ṯə·’ê·nîm	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine plural	H8384 fig
All kinds	וְכָל־	wə·ḵāl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
of goods	מַשָּׂ֔א	maś·śā	Noun - masculine singular	H4853 load, burden, lifting, bearing, tribute
were being brought	וּמְבִיאִ֥ים	ū·mə·ḇî·’îm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
into Jerusalem	יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם	yə·rū·šā·lim	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3389 Jerusalem
on the Sabbath	הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת	haš·šab·bāṯ	Article; Noun - common singular	H7676 Sabbath
day	בְּי֣וֹם	bə·yō·wm	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3117 day
So I warned them	וָאָעִ֕יד	wā·’ā·‘îḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H5749 return, go about, repeat, do again
against selling	מִכְרָ֥ם	miḵ·rām	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine plural	H4376 sell
food	צָֽיִד׃	ṣā·yiḏ	Noun - masculine singular	H6718 hunting, game
on that day	בְּי֖וֹם	bə·yō·wm	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3117 day

Nehemiah 13:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Additionally	וְהַצֹּרִים֙	wə·haṣ·ṣō·rîm	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H6876 Tyrian
who lived	יָ֣שְׁבוּ	yā·šə·ḇū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
there	בָ֔הּ	ḇāh	Preposition; third person feminine singular
were importing	מְבִיאִ֥ים	mə·ḇî·’îm	Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
fish	דָּ֖אג	dāḡ	Noun - masculine singular	H1709 fish
and all kinds	וְכָל־	wə·ḵāl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
of merchandise	מֶ֑כֶר	me·ḵer	Noun - masculine singular	H4377 merchandise, value
and selling them	וּמֹכְרִ֧ים	ū·mō·ḵə·rîm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H4376 sell
on the Sabbath	בַּשַּׁבָּ֛ת	baš·šab·bāṯ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - common singular	H7676 Sabbath
to the people	לִבְנֵ֥י	liḇ·nê	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
of Judah	יְהוּדָ֖ה	yə·hū·ḏāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3063 Judah
in Jerusalem	וּבִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃	ū·ḇî·rū·šā·lim	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3389 Jerusalem

Nehemiah 13:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then I rebuked	וָאָרִ֕יבָה	wā·’ā·rî·ḇāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singular	H7378 strive, contend
the nobles	חֹרֵ֣י	ḥō·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H2715 noble
of Judah	יְהוּדָ֑ה	yə·hū·ḏāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3063 Judah
and asked	וָאֹמְרָ֣ה	wā·’ō·mə·rāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
What	מָֽה־	māh-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
is this	הַזֶּה֙	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
evil	הָרָ֤ע	hā·rā‘	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H7451 bad, evil
you	אַתֶּ֣ם	’at·tem	Pronoun - second person masculine plural	H859 thou
are doing	עֹשִׂ֔ים	‘ō·śîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H6213 do, make
profaning	וּֽמְחַלְּלִ֖ים	ū·mə·ḥal·lə·lîm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural	H2490 bore, pierce
the Sabbath	הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃	haš·šab·bāṯ	Article; Noun - common singular	H7676 Sabbath
day	י֥וֹם	yō·wm	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3117 day

Nehemiah 13:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Did not	הֲל֨וֹא	hă·lō·w	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
your forefathers	אֲבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם	’ă·ḇō·ṯê·ḵem	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine plural	H1 father
do	עָשׂוּ֙	‘ā·śū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H6213 do, make
the same things	כֹ֤ה	ḵōh	Adverb	H3541 thus, here
so that our God	אֱלֹהֵ֜ינוּ	’ĕ·lō·hê·nū	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common plural	H430 God
brought	וַיָּבֵ֨א	way·yā·ḇê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
this	הַזֹּ֔את	haz·zōṯ	Article; Pronoun - feminine singular	H2063 this
disaster	הָרָעָ֣ה	hā·rā·‘āh	Article; Adjective - feminine singular	H7451 bad, evil
on us	עָלֵ֗ינוּ	‘ā·lê·nū	Preposition; first person common plural	H5921 height
and on	וְעַ֖ל	wə·‘al	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H5921 height
this	הַזֹּ֑את	haz·zōṯ	Article; Pronoun - feminine singular	H2063 this
city	הָעִ֣יר	hā·‘îr	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5892 excitement
And now	וְאַתֶּ֞ם	wə·’at·tem	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - second person masculine plural	H859 thou
you are rekindling	מוֹסִיפִ֤ים	mō·w·sî·p̄îm	Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural	H3254 add
His wrath	חָרוֹן֙	ḥā·rō·wn	Noun - masculine singular	H2740 (burning of) anger
against	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
by profaning	לְחַלֵּ֖ל	lə·ḥal·lêl	Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H2490 bore, pierce
the Sabbath	הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃פ	haš·šab·bāṯ	Article; Noun - common singular	H7676 Sabbath

Nehemiah 13:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When	כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר	ka·’ă·šer	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
the evening shadows	צָֽלֲלוּ֩	ṣā·lă·lū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H6751 be or grow dark
began to fall on the gates	שַׁעֲרֵ֨י	ša·‘ă·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H8179 gate
of Jerusalem	יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם	yə·rū·šā·lim	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3389 Jerusalem
just before	לִפְנֵ֣י	lip̄·nê	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
the Sabbath	הַשַּׁבָּ֗ת	haš·šab·bāṯ	Article; Noun - common singular	H7676 Sabbath
I ordered	וָאֹֽמְרָה֙	wā·’ō·mə·rāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
that the gates	הַדְּלָת֔וֹת	had·də·lā·ṯō·wṯ	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H1817 door
be shut	וַיִּסָּגְר֣וּ	way·yis·sā·ḡə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5462 shut, close
and not	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
opened	יִפְתָּח֔וּם	yip̄·tā·ḥūm	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural; third person masculine plural	H6605 open
until	עַ֖ד	‘aḏ	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
after	אַחַ֣ר	’a·ḥar	Adverb	H310 behind
the Sabbath	הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת	haš·šab·bāṯ	Article; Noun - common singular	H7676 Sabbath
I posted	הֶֽעֱמַ֙דְתִּי֙	he·‘ĕ·maḏ·tî	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular	H5975 take one's stand, stand
some of my servants	וּמִנְּעָרַ֗י	ū·min·nə·‘ā·ray	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H5288 a shaking, scattering
at	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the gates	הַשְּׁעָרִ֔ים	haš·šə·‘ā·rîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8179 gate
so that no	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
load	מַשָּׂ֖א	maś·śā	Noun - masculine singular	H4853 load, burden, lifting, bearing, tribute
could enter	יָב֥וֹא	yā·ḇō·w	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
on the Sabbath	הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃	haš·šab·bāṯ	Article; Noun - common singular	H7676 Sabbath
day	בְּי֥וֹם	bə·yō·wm	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3117 day

Nehemiah 13:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Once	פַּ֥עַם	pa·‘am	Noun - feminine singular	H6471 beat, foot, anvil, occurrence
or twice	וּשְׁתָּֽיִם׃	ū·šə·tā·yim	Conjunctive waw; Number - fd	H8147 two
the merchants	הָרֹכְלִ֜ים	hā·rō·ḵə·lîm	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H7402 go about, from one to another
and those who sell	וּמֹכְרֵ֧י	ū·mō·ḵə·rê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H4376 sell
all kinds	כָל־	ḵāl	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
of goods	מִמְכָּ֛ר	mim·kār	Noun - masculine singular	H4465 sale, ware
camped	וַיָּלִ֨ינוּ	way·yā·lî·nū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3885 lodge, pass the night
outside	מִח֥וּץ	mi·ḥūṣ	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular	H2351 the outside
Jerusalem	לִירוּשָׁלִָ֖ם	lî·rū·šā·lim	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H3389 Jerusalem

Nehemiah 13:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
but I warned	וָאָעִ֣ידָה	wā·’ā·‘î·ḏāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singular	H5749 return, go about, repeat, do again
them	בָהֶ֗ם	ḇā·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural
Why	מַדּ֜וּעַ	mad·dū·a‘	Interrogative	H4069 wherefore?
are you	אַתֶּ֤ם	’at·tem	Pronoun - second person masculine plural	H859 thou
camping	לֵנִים֙	lê·nîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H3885 lodge, pass the night
in front of	נֶ֣גֶד	ne·ḡeḏ	Preposition	H5048 what is conspicuous or in front
the wall	הַחוֹמָ֔ה	ha·ḥō·w·māh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H2346 wall
If	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
you do it again	תִּשְׁנ֕וּ	tiš·nū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural	H8138 change
I will lay	אֶשְׁלַ֣ח	’eš·laḥ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H7971 send
hands	יָ֖ד	yāḏ	Noun - feminine singular	H3027 hand
on you	בָּכֶ֑ם	bā·ḵem	Preposition; second person masculine plural
From	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
that	הַהִ֔יא	ha·hî	Article; Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
time on	הָעֵ֣ת	hā·‘êṯ	Article; Noun - common singular	H6256 time
they did not	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
return	בָ֖אוּ	ḇā·’ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
on the Sabbath	בַּשַּׁבָּֽת׃ס	baš·šab·bāṯ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - common singular	H7676 Sabbath

Nehemiah 13:22

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then I instructed	וָאֹמְרָ֣ה	wā·’ō·mə·rāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular; third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
the Levites	לַלְוִיִּ֗ם	lal·wî·yim	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine plural	H3881 Levite
to purify themselves	מִֽטַּהֲרִים֙	miṭ·ṭa·hă·rîm	Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine plural	H2891 be clean, pure
and guard	שֹׁמְרִ֣ים	šō·mə·rîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H8104 keep, watch, preserve
the gates	הַשְּׁעָרִ֔ים	haš·šə·‘ā·rîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H8179 gate
in order to keep the Sabbath	הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת	haš·šab·bāṯ	Article; Noun - common singular	H7676 Sabbath
day	י֣וֹם	yō·wm	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3117 day
holy	לְקַדֵּ֖שׁ	lə·qad·dêš	Preposition-l; Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct	H6942 be set apart, consecrated
Remember	זָכְרָה־	zā·ḵə·rāh-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H2142 remember
me	לִּ֣י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
for this	זֹאת֙	zōṯ	Pronoun - feminine singular	H2063 this
as well	גַּם־	gam-	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
O my God	אֱלֹהַ֔י	’ĕ·lō·hay	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H430 God
and	עָלַ֖י	‘ā·lay	Preposition; first person common singular	H5921 height
mercy	וְח֥וּסָה	wə·ḥū·sāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H2347 pity, look upon with compassion
according to Your abundant	כְּרֹ֥ב	kə·rōḇ	Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7230 multitude, abundance, greatness
loving devotion	חַסְדֶּֽךָ׃פ	ḥas·de·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H2617 goodness, kindness