King James Version

What Does Nehemiah 4:14 Mean?

And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

Context

12

And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you. From all: or, That from all places ye must return to us

13

Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places , I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. in the: Heb. from the lower parts of the place, etc

14

And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

15

And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

16

And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.

Topics in This Verse

Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(14) **And I looked.**—It appears that the energetic appeal now described was uttered on the actual approach of an attacking party.

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Nehemiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Nehemiah 4:14 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Nehemiah 4:14

Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Test Your Knowledge