Nehemiah 4:18 - Forerunner Commentary

Nehemiah 4:18

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 4:18

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American Standard Version
and the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.

Amplified® Bible
And every builder had his sword girded by his side, and so worked. And he who sounded the trumpet was at my side.

Contemporary English Version
Even the workers who were rebuilding the wall strapped on a sword. The worker who was to blow the signal trumpet stayed with me.

Darby English Version
And the builders had every one his sword girded by his side, and built. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.

Good News Bible
and everyone who was building kept a sword strapped to their waist. The man who was to sound the alarm on the bugle stayed with me.

King James Version
For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.

New American Standard Bible
As for the builders, each {wore} his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter {stood} near me.

New International Version
and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.

New King James Version
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.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me.

Revised Standard Version
And each of the builders had his sword girded at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me.

Young's Literal Translation
And the builders `are' each with his sword, girded on his loins, and building, and he who is blowing with a trumpet `is' beside me.

New English Translation
The builders to a man had their swords strapped to their sides while they were building. But the trumpeter¹ remained with me.

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