Nehemiah 6:16
in Nehemiah 6When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard thereof, that all the nations that were about us feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.
KJV
And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.
⋯
This verse in Nehemiah 6
Commentary
6 notes on this verseGod fighteth for Israel and worketh with them. [2.] To believe that God's work would be perfect. When the perceived that the work was of God they expected no other than that it would go on and prosper. [3.] To conclude that, if it were of God, it was to no purpose to think of opposing it; it would certainly prevail and be victorious.
This site's exposition
this task had been accomplished by our God
The enemies hear, and "all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God" (6:16). The claim Ezra made of God's hand over caravans and grants now stands in stone where the watching nations can see it.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
It happened... that all the nations feared, etc. Those who previously sought to terrify the builders of the holy city, to delay them from working, now fear themselves with the construction of the same city completed, and they are disheartened, recognizing that this building was …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; 6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
This work was wrought of our God - This is an additional reason why we should not wonder at the shortness of the time in which so great a work was done, for God helped them by an especial providence; and this was so very observable, that their carnal enemies could discover it.
The words behind it
20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְהִ֗י | vayhi | and it was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר | kaasher | just when | H834 → | 5497 times |
| שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ | shameu | they heard | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| א֣וֹיְבֵ֔ינוּ | ʾoyveinu | enemies our | H341 → | 282 times |
| וַיִּֽרְא֗וּ | vaiyiru | and they were afraid | H3372 → | 315 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הַגּוֹיִם֙ | hagoyim | the nations | H1471 → | 561 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| סְבִֽיבֹתֵ֔ינוּ | sevivoteinu | [were] around us | H5439 → | 336 times |
| וַיִּפְּל֥וּ | vaiyipelu | and they fell | H5307 → | 435 times |
| מְאֹ֖ד | meod | exceedingly | H3966 → | 300 times |
| בְּעֵינֵיהֶ֑ם | beeineihem | in own eyes their | H5869 → | 887 times |
| וַיֵּ֣דְע֔וּ | vaiyedeu | and they knew | H3045 → | 945 times |
| כִּ֚י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| מֵאֵ֣ת | meet | from with | H854 → | 929 times |
| אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ | ʾeloheinu | God our | H430 → | 2601 times |
| נֶעֶשְׂתָ֖ה | neestah | it had been done | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| הַמְּלָאכָ֥ה | hamelakhah | the work | H4399 → | 167 times |
| הַזֹּֽאת׃ | hazot | <the> this | H2063 → | 603 times |
וַיְהִ֗יand it was
vayhiH1961 →3559 times
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤רjust when
kaasherH834 →5497 times
שָֽׁמְעוּ֙they heard
shameuH8085 →1159 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
א֣וֹיְבֵ֔ינוּenemies our
ʾoyveinuH341 →282 times
וַיִּֽרְא֗וּand they were afraid
vaiyiruH3372 →315 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
הַגּוֹיִם֙the nations
hagoyimH1471 →561 times
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
סְבִֽיבֹתֵ֔ינוּ[were] around us
sevivoteinuH5439 →336 times
וַיִּפְּל֥וּand they fell
vaiyipeluH5307 →435 times
מְאֹ֖דexceedingly
meodH3966 →300 times
בְּעֵינֵיהֶ֑םin own eyes their
beeineihemH5869 →887 times
וַיֵּ֣דְע֔וּand they knew
vaiyedeuH3045 →945 times
כִּ֚יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
מֵאֵ֣תfrom with
meetH854 →929 times
אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּGod our
ʾeloheinuH430 →2601 times
נֶעֶשְׂתָ֖הit had been done
neestahH6213 →2628 times
הַמְּלָאכָ֥הthe work
hamelakhahH4399 →167 times
הַזֹּֽאת׃<the> this
hazotH2063 →603 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
Nehemiah 4:1Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews
it leads to
- Nehemiah 2:10
But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 11:36
Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
- Nehemiah 2:10
Through
Nehemiah 2:10But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.
it leads to
- Nehemiah 2:19
But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Nehemiah 4:7
When Sanballat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious,
- Nehemiah 2:19
Through
Psalms 126:2Then our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with shouts of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
it leads to
- Job 8:21
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.
- Zechariah 8:22–23
And many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem and to plead before the LORD.”
- Isaiah 35:10
So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.
- Psalms 71:19
Your righteousness reaches to the heavens, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You?
- Job 8:21
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
About Nehemiah
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.