Nehemiah 6:9
in Nehemiah 6For 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. But now, O God, strengthen thou my hands.
KJV
For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
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This verse in Nehemiah 6
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Letters were, and are still, sent to persons of distinction in a bag or purse, and even to equals they are enclosed--the tie being made with a colored ribbon. But to inferiors, or persons who are to be treated contemptuously, the letters were sent open--that is, not enclosed in a bag.
This site's exposition
you are inventing them in your own mind
on Nehemiah 6:8-9
Nehemiah answers the charge: "There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind" (6:8). He names the aim of the rumor, a fabrication meant to stop the work. Then the memoir turns report into prayer: "But now, my God, strengthen my hands."
This site's exposition
But now, my God, strengthen my hands
The enemies wanted weakened hands and an unfinished work. Nehemiah answers with a one-line prayer that turns their word around, asking God to strengthen. Henry draws the comfort that God strengthens the hands that enemies try to weaken.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
But all these terrify us, etc. Therefore, in the spiritual structure, because the cunning enemy always tries to hinder our hands, let us always strive to strengthen them in good action with divine help.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
It is the great support and relief of good people that in all their straits and difficulties they have a good God to go to, from whom, by faith and prayer, they may fetch in grace to silence their fears and strengthen their hands when their enemies are endeavouring to fill them with fears and weaken their hands.
Strengthen my hands - A good prayer, when we are entering on any particular services or conflicts in our Christian warfare.
For they all made us afraid,....
The words behind it
15 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֣י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| כֻלָּ֗ם | khulam | all of them | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| מְיָֽרְאִ֤ים | meyareim | [were] making afraid | H3372 → | 315 times |
| אוֹתָ֙נוּ֙ | ʾotanu | <obj.> us | H853 → | 10935 times |
| לֵאמֹ֔ר | lemor | <to> saying | H559 → | 5305 times |
| יִרְפּ֧וּ | yirpu | they will drop | H7503 → | |
| יְדֵיהֶ֛ם | yedeihem | hands their | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| מִן־ | min- | from | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| הַמְּלָאכָ֖ה | hamelakhah | the work | H4399 → | 167 times |
| וְלֹ֣א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| תֵעָשֶׂ֑ה | teaseh | it will be done | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| וְעַתָּ֖ה | veatah | and therefore | H6258 → | 433 times |
| חַזֵּ֥ק | chazek | strengthen | H2388 → | 291 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| יָדָֽי׃ | yadai | hands my | H3027 → | 1618 times |
כִּ֣יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
כֻלָּ֗םall of them
khulamH3605 →5413 times
מְיָֽרְאִ֤ים[were] making afraid
meyareimH3372 →315 times
אוֹתָ֙נוּ֙<obj.> us
ʾotanuH853 →10935 times
לֵאמֹ֔ר<to> saying
lemorH559 →5305 times
יִרְפּ֧וּthey will drop
yirpuH7503 →
יְדֵיהֶ֛םhands their
yedeihemH3027 →1618 times
מִן־from
min-H4480 →1188 times
הַמְּלָאכָ֖הthe work
hamelakhahH4399 →167 times
וְלֹ֣אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
תֵעָשֶׂ֑הit will be done
teasehH6213 →2628 times
וְעַתָּ֖הand therefore
veatahH6258 →433 times
חַזֵּ֥קstrengthen
chazekH2388 →291 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
יָדָֽי׃hands my
yadaiH3027 →1618 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
it leads to
- Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 43:1–2
Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your…
- Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Deuteronomy 31:6–8
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- Joshua 1:9
Through
Ephesians 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
it leads to
- Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
- 1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- Isaiah 40:31
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
About Nehemiah
This page draws on Bede, Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.