Nehemiah 4:17

Those who built the wall, and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone with one of his hands did the work, and with the other held his weapon.

World English Bible

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Other translations

WEBBE

Those who built the wall, and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone with one of his hands did the work, and with the other held his weapon.

BSB

who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.

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.

ASV

They that 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;

BBE

Those who were building the wall and those who were moving material did their part, everyone working with one hand, with his spear in the other;

Original Hebrew

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הַבּוֹנִים ha·bo·nim who were rebuilding H1129 בַּחוֹמָה ba·cho·mah (on) the wall H2346 וְהַנֹּשְׂאִים ve·ha·no·se·'im and the [ones who] were carrying H5375 בַּסֶּבֶל ba·se·vel in (the) burden H5447 עֹמְשִׂים 'o·me·sim [were] carrying [it] H6006 בְּאַחַת be·'a·chat with [the] one H259 יָדוֹ ya·do hand his H3027 עֹשֶׂה 'o·seh doing H6213 בַמְּלָאכָה va·me·la·khah (in) the work H4399 וְאַחַת ve·'a·chat and one [hand] H259 מַחֲזֶקֶת ma·cha·ze·ket [was] holding H2388 הַשָּׁלַח ha·sha·lach the weapon H7973

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 16–23

We must watch always against spiritual enemies, and not expect that our warfare will be over till our work is ended. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit, which we ought to have always at hand, and never to have to seek for it, either in our labours, or in our conflicts, as Christians. Every true Christian is both a labourer and a soldier, working with one hand, and fighting with the other. Good work is likely to go on with success, when those who labour in it, make a business of it. And Satan fears to assault the watchful Christian; or, if attacked, the Lord fights for him. Thus must we wait to the close of life, never putting off our armour till our work and warfare are ended; then we shall be welcomed to the rest and joy of our Lord.

Read Matthew Henry on Nehemiah 4 →

Cross-references

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.