The Meaning of Nehemiah 4:16 Explained

Nehemiah 4:16

KJV: And 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.

YLT: yea, it cometh to pass, from that day, half of my servants are working in the business, and half of them are keeping hold of both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the heads are behind all the house of Judah.

Darby: And from that time forth the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held the spears, and the shields, and the bows, and the corslets; and the captains were behind all the house of Judah.

ASV: And it came to pass from that time forth, that half of my servants wrought in the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And 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. 

What does Nehemiah 4:16 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 4:16 mean?

So it was from time on that [that] half of my servants worked at construction and while [other] half held and the spears the shields and the bows and [wore] armor and the leaders [were] behind all the house of Judah
וַיְהִ֣י ׀ מִן־ הַיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא חֲצִ֣י נְעָרַי֮ עֹשִׂ֣ים בַּמְּלָאכָה֒ וְחֶצְיָ֗ם מַחֲזִיקִים֙ וְהָרְמָחִ֣ים הַמָּגִנִּ֔ים וְהַקְּשָׁת֖וֹת וְהַשִּׁרְיֹנִ֑ים וְהַ֨שָּׂרִ֔ים אַחֲרֵ֖י כָּל־ בֵּ֥ית יְהוּדָֽה

וַיְהִ֣י ׀  So  it  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
הַיּ֣וֹם  time  on 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הַה֗וּא  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
חֲצִ֣י  [that]  half 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֲצִי 
Sense: half.
נְעָרַי֮  of  my  servants 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: נַעַר  
Sense: a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer.
עֹשִׂ֣ים  worked 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
בַּמְּלָאכָה֒  at  construction 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְלָאכָה  
Sense: occupation, work, business.
וְחֶצְיָ֗ם  and  while  [other]  half 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: חֲצִי 
Sense: half.
מַחֲזִיקִים֙  held 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
וְהָרְמָחִ֣ים  and  the  spears 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: רֹמַח  
Sense: spear, lance.
הַמָּגִנִּ֔ים  the  shields 
Parse: Article, Noun, common plural
Root: מָגֵן 
Sense: shield, buckler.
וְהַקְּשָׁת֖וֹת  and  the  bows 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: קֶשֶׁת  
Sense: bow.
וְהַשִּׁרְיֹנִ֑ים  and  [wore]  armor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שִׁרְיָה 
Sense: body armour.
וְהַ֨שָּׂרִ֔ים  and  the  leaders  [were] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
אַחֲרֵ֖י  behind 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
בֵּ֥ית  the  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
יְהוּדָֽה  of  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.

What are the major concepts related to Nehemiah 4:16?

Loading Information...