King James Version
Nehemiah 4:9 in the King James Version says “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.” — study this verse from Nehemiah chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.”
Nehemiah 4:9 · KJV
But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up , and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, were made up: Heb. ascended
And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. to hinder: Heb. to make an error to it
Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
KJV Study — Public Domain
“Nevertheless we made our prayer”
H6419to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, pray
“unto our God”
H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
“and set”
H5975to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
“a watch”
H4929a guard (the man, the post or the prison); a deposit (figuratively); also (as observed) a usage (abstractly), or an example (concretely)
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
“and night”
H3915properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
“because”
H6440the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
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.
Nehemiah 4:9 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Verses related to Nehemiah 4:9 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge