Nehemiah

Nehemiah 4:10–14

¹⁰Meanwhile, the people of Judah said:^c

“The strength of the laborer fails,

and there is so much rubble

that we will never be able

to rebuild the wall.”

¹¹And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”

¹²At that time the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

¹³So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows.

¹⁴After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

Footnotes

c 4:10 Or Meanwhile, Judah said

Read all of Nehemiah 4

Word by word

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 4:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Meanwhile	יְהוּדָ֗ה	yə·hū·ḏāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3063 Judah
the people of Judah	יְהוּדָ֗ה	yə·hū·ḏāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3063 Judah
said	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
The strength	כֹּ֣חַ	kō·aḥ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3581 strength, power
of the laborer	הַסַּבָּ֔ל	has·sab·bāl	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5449 load, burden
fails	כָּשַׁל֙	kā·šal	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H3782 stumble, stagger, totter
and there is so much	הַרְבֵּ֑ה	har·bêh	Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute	H7235 be, or become, much, many, great
rubble	וְהֶעָפָ֖ר	wə·he·‘ā·p̄ār	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6083 dry earth, dust
that we	וַאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙	wa·’ă·naḥ·nū	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common plural	H587 we
will never	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
be able	נוּכַ֔ל	nū·ḵal	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural	H3201 be able, have power, prevail, endure
to rebuild	לִבְנ֖וֹת	liḇ·nō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1129 build
the wall	בַּחוֹמָֽה׃	ba·ḥō·w·māh	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H2346 wall

Nehemiah 4:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And our enemies	צָרֵ֗ינוּ	ṣā·rê·nū	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common plural	H6862 narrow, tight
said	וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
Before	עַ֛ד	‘aḏ	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
they know	יֵדְעוּ֙	yê·ḏə·‘ū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3045 know
see	יִרְא֔וּ	yir·’ū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7200 see
we will come	נָב֥וֹא	nā·ḇō·w	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
into	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
their midst	תּוֹכָ֖ם	tō·w·ḵām	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H8432 midst
kill them	וַהֲרַגְנ֑וּם	wa·hă·raḡ·nūm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural; third person masculine plural	H2026 kill, slay
and put an end	וְהִשְׁבַּ֖תְנוּ	wə·hiš·baṯ·nū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural	H7673 cease, desist, rest
to the work	הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃	ham·mə·lā·ḵāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H4399 occupation, work

Nehemiah 4:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
At that time	וַֽיְהִי֙	way·hî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
the Jews	הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים	hay·yə·hū·ḏîm	Article; Noun - proper - masculine plural	H3064 Jewish
who lived	הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים	hay·yō·šə·ḇîm	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
nearby	אֶצְלָ֑ם	’eṣ·lām	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H681 conjunction, proximity
came	בָּ֣אוּ	bā·’ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
and told	וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
us	לָ֙נוּ֙	lā·nū	Preposition; first person common plural
ten	עֶ֣שֶׂר	‘e·śer	Number - feminine singular construct	H6235 ten
times	פְּעָמִ֔ים	pə·‘ā·mîm	Noun - feminine plural	H6471 beat, foot, anvil, occurrence
Wherever	מִכָּל־	mik·kāl	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
you turn	תָּשׁ֥וּבוּ	tā·šū·ḇū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural	H7725 turn back, return
they will attack us	עָלֵֽינוּ׃	‘ā·lê·nū	Preposition; first person common plural	H5921 height

Nehemiah 4:13

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So I stationed	וָֽאַעֲמִ֞יד	wā·’a·‘ă·mîḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H5975 take one's stand, stand
behind	מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י	mê·’a·ḥă·rê	Preposition-m	H310 behind
the lowest	מִֽתַּחְתִּיּ֧וֹת	mit·taḥ·tî·yō·wṯ	Preposition-m; Noun - feminine plural construct	H8482 lower, lowest
sections	לַמָּק֛וֹם	lam·mā·qō·wm	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4725 standing, spot, condition
of the wall	לַחוֹמָ֖ה	la·ḥō·w·māh	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H2346 wall
at the vulnerable areas	בַּצְּחִחִיִּים	baṣ·ṣə·ḥi·ḥī·yīm	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H6708 bare spot, glaring
I stationed	וָֽאַעֲמִ֤יד	wā·’a·‘ă·mîḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H5975 take one's stand, stand
them	הָעָם֙	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
by families	לְמִשְׁפָּח֔וֹת	lə·miš·pā·ḥō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine plural	H4940 clan
with	עִם־	‘im-	Preposition	H5973 with
their swords	חַרְבֹתֵיהֶ֛ם	ḥar·ḇō·ṯê·hem	Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H2719 sword
spears	רָמְחֵיהֶ֖ם	rā·mə·ḥê·hem	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H7420 spear, lance
and bows	וְקַשְּׁתֹתֵיהֶֽם׃	wə·qaš·šə·ṯō·ṯê·hem	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H7198 bow

Nehemiah 4:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
After I had made an inspection	וָאֵ֣רֶא	wā·’ê·re	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H7200 see
I stood up	וָאָק֗וּם	wā·’ā·qūm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
and said	וָאֹמַ֞ר	wā·’ō·mar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular	H559 utter, say
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the nobles	הַחֹרִ֤ים	ha·ḥō·rîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H2715 noble
the officials	הַסְּגָנִים֙	has·sə·ḡā·nîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H5461 prefect, ruler
and the rest	יֶ֣תֶר	ye·ṯer	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3499 remainder, excellence, excess
of the people	הָעָ֔ם	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
Do not	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
be afraid	תִּֽירְא֖וּ	tî·rə·’ū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural	H3372 fear
of them	מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם	mip·pə·nê·hem	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H6440 face, before
Remember	זְכֹ֔רוּ	zə·ḵō·rū	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H2142 remember
the Lord	אֲדֹנָ֞י	’ă·ḏō·nāy	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H136 lord
who is great	הַגָּד֤וֹל	hag·gā·ḏō·wl	Article; Adjective - masculine singular	H1419 great
and awesome	וְהַנּוֹרָא֙	wə·han·nō·w·rā	Conjunctive waw, Article; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular	H3372 fear
and fight	וְהִֽלָּחֲמ֗וּ	wə·hil·lā·ḥă·mū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine plural	H3898 fight, do battle
for	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
your brothers	אֲחֵיכֶם֙	’ă·ḥê·ḵem	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine plural	H251 brother
your sons	בְּנֵיכֶ֣ם	bə·nê·ḵem	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine plural	H1121 son
and your daughters	וּבְנֹתֵיכֶ֔ם	ū·ḇə·nō·ṯê·ḵem	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine plural construct; second person masculine plural	H1323 daughter
your wives	נְשֵׁיכֶ֖ם	nə·šê·ḵem	Noun - feminine plural construct; second person masculine plural	H802 woman, wife, female
and your homes	וּבָתֵּיכֶֽם׃פ	ū·ḇāt·tê·ḵem	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine plural	H1004 house

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Nehemiah 4:13 Nehemiah 4:17–18 · Ephesians 6:11–20

Nehemiah 4:14 2 Samuel 10:12 · Numbers 14:9 · Isaiah 41:10–14 · Hebrews 13:6 · Psalm 66:3 · Psalm 65:5 · Matthew 10:28 · Psalm 20:7 · Deuteronomy 1:21 · 2 Chronicles 32:7 · Nahum 1:2–7 · Deuteronomy 10:17

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.