Nehemiah 4:16
New International Version
From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah

New Living Translation
But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah

English Standard Version
From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah,

Berean Standard Bible
And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah.

New American Standard Bible
And from that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them kept hold of the spears, the shields, the bows, and the coats of mail; and the captains were behind all the house of Judah.

NASB 1995
From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah.

NASB 1977
And it came about from that day on, that half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows, and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah.

Legacy Standard Bible
And it happened that from that day on, half of my young men carried on the work while half of them took hold of the spears, the shields, the bows, and the breastplates; and the commanders were behind the whole house of Judah.

Amplified Bible
From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while the other half held the spears, shields, bows, and breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah.

Christian Standard Bible
From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers supported all the people of Judah,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers supported all the people of Judah,

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
From then on, I let half of the young men work while the other half stood guard. They wore armor and had spears and shields, as well as bows and arrows. The leaders helped the workers

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
From that day on, half of my men worked on the wall, and the other half were wearing body armor and holding spears, shields, and bows. The leaders stood behind all the Judeans

Good News Translation
From then on half of my men worked and half stood guard, wearing coats of armor and armed with spears, shields, and bows. And our leaders gave their full support to the people

International Standard Version
From that day on, half of my helpers engaged in the work while the other half kept spears, shields, bows, and armor ready. The senior officials backed all of the Judeans

Majority Standard Bible
And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah

NET Bible
From that day forward, half of my men were doing the work and half of them were taking up spears, shields, bows, and body armor. Now the officers were behind all the people of Judah

New Heart English Bible
It happened from that time forth that half of my servants would do the work and half of them held the spears, and the shields, and the bows, and the body armor; and the rulers stood behind the whole house of Judah

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
From that time forth, half of my servants did the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
indeed, it comes 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.

Young's Literal Translation
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.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it will be from that day the half of my young men doing in the work, and half of them holding fast and the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the chiefs behind every house of Judah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it came to pass from that day forward, that half of their young men did the work, and half were ready for to fight, with spears, and shields, and bows, and coats of mail, and the rulers were behind them in all the house of Juda.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And it happened that, from that day, half of their young men were doing the work, and half were prepared for war with lances, and shields, and bows, and armor. And the leaders were behind them in all the house of Judah.

New American Bible
From that time on, however, only half my work force took a hand in the work, while the other half, armed with spears, bucklers, bows, and breastplates, stood guard behind the whole house of Judah

New Revised Standard Version
From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and body-armor; and the leaders posted themselves behind the whole house of Judah,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And from that day forth, half of my servants and half of the people were engaged in the work, and the other half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows, and the coats of mail; and the ministers stood behind the Jews and were building the wall.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And half of the young men from that day, and more than half of the people they made workers and half of them were holding spears and shields and bows and breastplates, and the workers stood behind the Jews and were building the wall.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass from that day that half of them that had been driven forth, wrought the work, and half of them kept guard; and there were spears, and shields, and bows, and breast-plates, and rulers behind the whole house of Juda,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Discouragement Overcome
15When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall. 16And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah 17who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.…

Cross References
Nehemiah 4:9
So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night.

Nehemiah 4:17-18
who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. / And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me.

Nehemiah 6:9
For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.

Nehemiah 4:21-23
So we continued the work, while half of the men held spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. / At that time I also said to the people, “Let every man and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.” / So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.

Nehemiah 2:18
I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had said to me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.

Nehemiah 3:28-29
Above the Horse Gate, each of the priests made repairs in front of his own house. / Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house, and next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the guard of the East Gate, made repairs.

Nehemiah 6:3
So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to go down to you?”

Nehemiah 1:4
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 2:20
So I answered them and said, “The God of heaven is the One who will grant us success. We, His servants, will start rebuilding, but you have no portion, right, or claim in Jerusalem.”

Nehemiah 5:16
Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my servants were gathered there for the work; we did not acquire any land.

Nehemiah 7:3
And I told them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While the guards are on duty, keep the doors shut and securely fastened. And appoint the residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their own homes.”

Ephesians 6:11-18
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. / For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. / Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. ...

1 Peter 5:8-9
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. / Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5
The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. / We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8
So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober. / For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. / But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.


Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants worked 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.

my servants

Nehemiah 4:23
So 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.

Nehemiah 5:15,16
But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God…

Psalm 101:6
Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

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Bows Breastplates Captains Carried Coats Construction Forth Habergeons Half Held House Judah Leaders Mail Rulers Servants Shields Spears Time Work Worked Wrought
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Bows Breastplates Captains Carried Coats Construction Forth Habergeons Half Held House Judah Leaders Mail Rulers Servants Shields Spears Time Work Worked Wrought
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














And from that day on
This phrase marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of Nehemiah. It signifies a strategic shift in response to external threats. Historically, this reflects the constant vigilance required during the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. The Hebrew context emphasizes a continuous action, indicating that this was not a temporary measure but a sustained effort to ensure the safety and progress of the work.

half of my men did the work
Nehemiah's leadership is evident in his ability to organize and delegate tasks effectively. The division of labor highlights the importance of community and teamwork in achieving a common goal. The Hebrew word for "work" (מְלָאכָה, melakah) often refers to skilled labor, underscoring the dedication and expertise required in rebuilding the walls.

while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows, and armor
This phrase illustrates the dual focus on construction and defense. The mention of "spears, shields, bows, and armor" reflects the military preparedness necessary to protect against adversaries. Archaeological findings from the period confirm the use of such weapons, providing a tangible connection to the biblical account. The Hebrew terms for these weapons convey a sense of readiness and resilience, essential qualities for the people of Judah during this time.

The officers stationed themselves
The presence of officers indicates a structured and hierarchical approach to leadership. The Hebrew term for "officers" (שָׂרִים, sarim) often denotes leaders or princes, suggesting that those in authority were actively involved in the protection and motivation of the people. This involvement of leaders in the frontline of defense serves as an inspirational model of servant leadership.

behind all the people of Judah
This phrase emphasizes the unity and collective effort of the people of Judah. The positioning of the officers "behind" the people suggests both support and oversight, ensuring that the work continued smoothly and securely. The historical context of Judah, a region often under threat, underscores the necessity of such solidarity. The Hebrew word for "behind" (אַחֲרֵי, acharei) can also imply following or supporting, highlighting the officers' role in encouraging and safeguarding the community.

(16) My servants.--The building was resumed with special precautions, very minutely described. "Nehemiah's own servants" are distinguished from "all the house of Judah." The former were divided into two parties, one of which wrought on the work still unfinished and the other held their weapons.

Habergeons are coats of mail or corselets, thin plates of metal sewn upon leather.

The rulers were behind--Ready to lead the defence, if necessary.

Verse 16. - The half of my servants wrought in the work. Nehemiah divided his "servants" or slaves into two bodies, one of which laboured at the wall, while the other kept guard, fully armed, and held the spears, bows and arrows, shields, and corselets of their fellows. The rulers were behind. The "rulers" or "princes" did not labour, but stood behind the labourers, directing them, and ready to lead them on if the enemy ventured to come to blows.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And
וַיְהִ֣י ׀ (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

that
הַה֗וּא (ha·hū)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

day on,
הַיּ֣וֹם (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

half
חֲצִ֣י (ḥă·ṣî)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2677: The half, middle

of my men
נְעָרַי֮ (nə·‘ā·ray)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

did
עֹשִׂ֣ים (‘ō·śîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

the work
בַּמְּלָאכָה֒ (bam·mə·lā·ḵāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4399: Deputyship, ministry, employment, work, property

while the other half
וְחֶצְיָ֗ם (wə·ḥeṣ·yām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2677: The half, middle

held
מַחֲזִיקִים֙ (ma·ḥă·zî·qîm)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

spears,
וְהָרְמָחִ֣ים (wə·hā·rə·mā·ḥîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7420: A lance, the iron point

shields,
הַמָּגִנִּ֔ים (ham·mā·ḡin·nîm)
Article | Noun - common plural
Strong's 4043: A shield, a protector, the scaly hide of the crocodile

bows,
וְהַקְּשָׁת֖וֹת (wə·haq·qə·šā·ṯō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 7198: A bow, for, shooting, the iris

and armor.
וְהַשִּׁרְיֹנִ֑ים (wə·haš·šir·yō·nîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8302: Body armor

The officers
וְהַ֨שָּׂרִ֔ים (wə·haś·śā·rîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

[stationed themselves] behind
אַחֲרֵ֖י (’a·ḥă·rê)
Preposition
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the people
בֵּ֥ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Judah
יְהוּדָֽה׃ (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites


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OT History: Nehemiah 4:16 It happened from that time forth that (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 4:15
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