Nehemiah 4:17 - Forerunner Commentary

Nehemiah 4:17

15 And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and ^athat God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.

16 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 leaders¹ were behind all the house of Judah.

17 Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.

18 Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me.

19 Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall.

20 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. ^aOur God will fight for us.”

21 So we labored in the work, and half of¹ the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared.

22 At the same time I also said to the people, “Let each man and his servant stay at night in Jerusalem, that they may be our guard by night and a working party by day.”

23 So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing.

Verse Comparison: Nehemiah 4:17

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Nehemiah 4:18 >>

American Standard Version
They all 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;

Amplified® Bible
Those who built the wall and those who bore burdens loaded themselves so that everyone worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other hand,

Contemporary English Version
who were rebuilding the wall. Everyone who hauled building materials kept one hand free to carry a weapon.

Darby English Version
They that built on the wall, and they that bore burdens, with those that loaded, wrought in the work with one hand, and with the other they held a weapon.

Good News Bible
who were rebuilding the wall. Even those who carried building materials worked with one hand and kept a weapon in the other,

King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took {their} load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon.

New International Version
who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,

New King James Version
Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Those who rebuilt the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon.

Revised Standard Version
who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were laden in such a way that each with one hand labored on the work and with the other held his weapon.

Young's Literal Translation
The builders on the wall, and the bearers of the burden, those lading, `each' with one of his hands is working in the business, and one is laying hold of the missile.

New English Translation
who were rebuilding the wall.¹ Those who were carrying loads did so² by keeping one hand on the work and the other on their weapon.

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