The Meaning of Nehemiah 4:13 Explained

Nehemiah 4:13

KJV: Therefore 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.

YLT: And I appoint at the lowest of the places, at the back of the wall, in the clear places, yea, I appoint the people, by their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

Darby: I set in the lower places behind the wall in exposed places, I even set the people, according to their families, with their swords, their spears and their bows.

ASV: Therefore set I in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places, I set there the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore 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. 

What does Nehemiah 4:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Nehemiah 4:13-23 - The Triumph Of Courage And Devotion
The work of rebuilding the ruins of Zion is typical of our efforts as Christians to counteract the deterioration which is ever at work in our own hearts, in the professing Church, and in society. No one who attempts this work will escape hostility, covert or manifested. That is a suggestive attitude pictured here; the girded sword, the spear in one hand, and the trowel in the other. So they wrought, with ear intent for the trumpet sound, ready for any emergency, and yet sure that God would fight for them. All the people of God should make common cause against a common foe. We stand or fall together, Nehemiah 4:20. Our hands must be familiar with the sword against the attack of our spiritual enemies, and with the trowel to contribute our bit of work towards God's building. [source]

Chapter Summary: Nehemiah 4

1  While the enemies scoff, Nehemiah prays and continues the work
7  Understanding the wrath and secrets of the enemy, he sets a watch
13  He arms the laborers
19  and gives military precepts

What do the individual words in Nehemiah 4:13 mean?

Therefore I positioned [men] the lower parts of behind the wall - at the openings and I set - the people according to their families with their swords their spears and their bows
וָֽאַעֲמִ֞יד מִֽתַּחְתִּיּ֧וֹת לַמָּק֛וֹם מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י לַחוֹמָ֖ה [בצחחיים] (בַּצְּחִיחִ֑ים) וָֽאַעֲמִ֤יד אֶת־ הָעָם֙ לְמִשְׁפָּח֔וֹת עִם־ חַרְבֹתֵיהֶ֛ם רָמְחֵיהֶ֖ם וְקַשְּׁתֹתֵיהֶֽם

וָֽאַעֲמִ֞יד  Therefore  I  positioned  [men] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
מִֽתַּחְתִּיּ֧וֹת  the  lower 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: תַּחְתִּי  
Sense: low, lower, lowest.
לַמָּק֛וֹם  parts 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
לַחוֹמָ֖ה  behind  the  wall 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֹומָה  
Sense: wall.
[בצחחיים]  - 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
(בַּצְּחִיחִ֑ים)  at  the  openings 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: צְחִחִי  
Sense: shining or glaring surface, bare places.
וָֽאַעֲמִ֤יד  and  I  set 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָעָם֙  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
לְמִשְׁפָּח֔וֹת  according  to  their  families 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine plural
Root: מִשְׁפָּחָה  
Sense: clan, family.
חַרְבֹתֵיהֶ֛ם  their  swords 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.
רָמְחֵיהֶ֖ם  their  spears 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: רֹמַח  
Sense: spear, lance.
וְקַשְּׁתֹתֵיהֶֽם  and  their  bows 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: קֶשֶׁת  
Sense: bow.