Nehemiah 4:21
in Nehemiah 4So we continued the work, while half of the men held spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
So we wrought in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
KJV
So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
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This verse in Nehemiah 4
Commentary
6 notes on this verseLet each one remain with his child, etc. Note how much effort they had in working, who also continued in labor at night. Thus the Apostle did, who worked night and day with his hands, so as not to burden any of the believers by …
This site's exposition
until the stars came out
on Nehemiah 4:21-23
Nehemiah orders every man and servant to "spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day" (4:22). He keeps the rule he sets: neither he nor his guards changed their clothes, and "each carried his weapon, even to go for water."
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Thus ought we to be always upon our guard against our spiritual enemies, not only (as here) while it is light, but when it is dark, for they are the rulers of the darkness of this world.
2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
So we laboured in the work,.... Of building the wall: and half of them held the spears; and other weapons before mentioned, Neh 4:16 from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared; that is, from morning to evening, the space of time the builders and labourers worked.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Nehemiah's vigilance anticipated every difficulty, his prudent measures defeated every obstruction, and with astonishing rapidity this Jerusalem was made again "a city fortified."
The words behind it
11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַאֲנַ֖חְנוּ | vaanachnu | and we | H587 → | 120 times |
| עֹשִׂ֣ים | ʾosim | [were] doing | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| בַּמְּלָאכָ֑ה | bamelakhah | <in> the work | H4399 → | 167 times |
| וְחֶצְיָ֗ם | vechetzyam | and half of them | H2677 → | 125 times |
| מַחֲזִיקִים֙ | machazikim | [were] keeping hold | H2388 → | 291 times |
| בָּֽרְמָחִ֔ים | baremachim | on <the> spears | H7420 → | 15 times |
| מֵעֲל֣וֹת | mealot | from when came up | H5927 → | 890 times |
| הַשַּׁ֔חַר | hashachar | the dawn | H7837 → | |
| עַ֖ד | ʾad | until | H5704 → | 1261 times |
| צֵ֥את | tzet | came out | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| הַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃ | hakokhavim | the stars | H3556 → |
וַאֲנַ֖חְנוּand we
vaanachnuH587 →120 times
עֹשִׂ֣ים[were] doing
ʾosimH6213 →2628 times
בַּמְּלָאכָ֑ה<in> the work
bamelakhahH4399 →167 times
וְחֶצְיָ֗םand half of them
vechetzyamH2677 →125 times
מַחֲזִיקִים֙[were] keeping hold
machazikimH2388 →291 times
בָּֽרְמָחִ֔יםon <the> spears
baremachimH7420 →15 times
מֵעֲל֣וֹתfrom when came up
mealotH5927 →890 times
הַשַּׁ֔חַרthe dawn
hashacharH7837 →
עַ֖דuntil
ʾadH5704 →1261 times
צֵ֥אתcame out
tzetH3318 →1067 times
הַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃the stars
hakokhavimH3556 →
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
Galatians 6:9Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:13
But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.
- Isaiah 40:30–31
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.
- Hebrews 10:35–39
So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Through
1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:9
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
- 2 Chronicles 15:7
But as for you, be strong; do not be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.”
- Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Philippians 2:16
as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
- Galatians 6:9
About Nehemiah
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.