Nehemiah 4
Study sheet, King James Version, with the original-language words this chapter turns on.
The text
1But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
2And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
3Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
4Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
5And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.
6So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
7But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
8And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
9Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
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.
11And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
12And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.
13Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
14And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
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 habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
17They 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.
20In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.
21So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
22Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.
23So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.
Words in this chapter
Definitions are Strong's own wording from his Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Counts are how often each word appears in this chapter, from the tagged text.
- אֵלʼêlH41312× in this chapter
near, with or among; often in general, to
- חוֹמָהchôwmâhH234610× in this chapter
a wall of protection
- אָמַרʼâmarH5599× in this chapter
to say (used with great latitude)
- אֲשֶׁרʼăsherH8349× in this chapter
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
- בָּנָהbânâhH11298× in this chapter
to build (literally and figuratively)
- הָיָהhâyâhH19618× in this chapter
to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
- אֵתʼêthH8538× in this chapter
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
- מְלָאכָהmᵉlâʼkâhH43997× in this chapter
properly, deputyship, i.e. ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor)
- עַלʻalH59217× in this chapter
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
- כִּיkîyH35886× in this chapter
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
- עָשָׂהʻâsâhH62136× in this chapter
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
- כֹּלkôlH36055× in this chapter
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
- אִישׁʼîyshH3765× in this chapter
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
- אֲנַחְנוּʼănachnûwH5875× in this chapter
we
- עַםʻamH59715× in this chapter
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
- שָׁמַעshâmaʻH80855× in this chapter
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
- אָחʼâchH2514× in this chapter
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father))
- חֵצִיchêtsîyH26774× in this chapter
the half or middle
- אֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîymH4304× in this chapter
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
- פָּנִיםpânîymH64404× in this chapter
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
- חָזַקchâzaqH23883× in this chapter
to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer
- יְהוּדִיYᵉhûwdîyH30643× in this chapter
a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah)
- אַחַרʼacharH3103× in this chapter
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
- יוֹםyôwmH31173× in this chapter
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
- יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםYᵉrûwshâlaimH33893× in this chapter
Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
- לֹאlôʼH38083× in this chapter
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
- לָחַםlâchamH38983× in this chapter
to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction)
- אַלʼalH4083× in this chapter
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
- מָקוֹםmâqôwmH47253× in this chapter
properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
- מִשְׁמָרmishmârH49293× in this chapter
a guard (the man, the post or the prison); a deposit (figuratively); also (as observed) a usage (abstractly), or an example (concretely)
- נַעַרnaʻarH52883× in this chapter
(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age)
- עַדʻadH57043× in this chapter
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
- עָלָהʻâlâhH59273× in this chapter
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
- עָמַדʻâmadH59753× in this chapter
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
- אֵצֶלʼêtselH6813× in this chapter
a side; (as a preposition) near
- רָבָהrâbâhH72353× in this chapter
to increase (in whatever respect)
- רֹמַחrômachH74203× in this chapter
a lance (as thrown); especially the iron point
- שׁוּבshûwbH77253× in this chapter
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again
- בּוֹאbôwʼH9353× in this chapter
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
- בַּיִתbayithH10042× in this chapter
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)