The Meaning of Nehemiah 4:17 Explained

Nehemiah 4:17

KJV: They 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.

YLT: The builders on the wall, and the bearers of the burden, those lading, each with one of his hands is working in the business, and one is laying hold of the missile.

Darby: They that built on the wall, and they that bore burdens, with those that loaded, wrought in the work with one hand, and with the other they held a weapon.

ASV: They all builded the wall and they that bare burdens laded themselves; every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other held his weapon;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They 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. 

What does Nehemiah 4:17 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 4:17 mean?

Those who built on the wall and those who carried burdens loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction and one held a weapon
הַבּוֹנִ֧ים בַּחוֹמָ֛ה וְהַנֹּשְׂאִ֥ים בַּסֶּ֖בֶל עֹמְשִׂ֑ים בְּאַחַ֤ת יָדוֹ֙ עֹשֶׂ֣ה בַמְּלָאכָ֔ה וְאַחַ֖ת מַחֲזֶ֥קֶת הַשָּֽׁלַח

הַבּוֹנִ֧ים  Those  who  built 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
בַּחוֹמָ֛ה  on  the  wall 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֹומָה  
Sense: wall.
וְהַנֹּשְׂאִ֥ים  and  those  who  carried 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
בַּסֶּ֖בֶל  burdens 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סֵבֶל  
Sense: load, burden.
עֹמְשִׂ֑ים  loaded  themselves 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: עָמַס  
Sense: to load, carry, carry a load.
בְּאַחַ֤ת  so  that  with  one 
Parse: Preposition-b, Number, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
יָדוֹ֙  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
עֹשֶׂ֣ה  they  worked 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
בַמְּלָאכָ֔ה  at  construction 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְלָאכָה  
Sense: occupation, work, business.
וְאַחַ֖ת  and  one 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, feminine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
מַחֲזֶ֥קֶת  held 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, feminine singular
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
הַשָּֽׁלַח  a  weapon 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁלַח 
Sense: weapon, missile, sprout.