Devine Scripture

Nehemiah 2:12

What does Nehemiah 2:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Nehemiah 2:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Nehemiah 2:12 means

Nehemiah rises at night with a small group to inspect the city, keeping his purpose hidden. He credits God for the plan in his heart, acknowledging divine initiative behind his strategy. Traveling light—only on the animal he rides—he moves discreetly. Secrecy here is prudence, not fear; he must understand the situation before announcing a plan. This careful approach protects the mission from early sabotage and prevents discouragement from spreading before he can cast vision. The verse reveals a leader who listens to God, gathers facts personally, and avoids needless noise while preparing for decisive, public action at the right time.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem; neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem; neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And in the night I got up, taking with me a small band of men; I said nothing to any man of what God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem: and I had no beast with me but the one on which I was seated.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and I rise by night, I and a few men with me, and have not declared to a man what my God is giving unto my heart to do for Jerusalem, and there is no beast with me except the beast on which I am riding.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me, and I told not any man what God had put in my heart to do in Jerusalem, and there was no beast with me, but the beast that I rode upon.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me — but I told no man what myGod had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem — and there was no beast with me, except the beast that I rode upon.

Context

This follows the three-day pause in Jerusalem. Nehemiah’s night journey begins the essential fact-finding stage. He tells no one yet, including influential groups, because premature disclosure would complicate the effort. The next verses trace his route and observations, proving he knows the city’s brokenness firsthand. This groundwork will enable him to speak convincingly to the people and answer opponents’ taunts when he later calls for rebuilding.

v.11So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.

v.12This passage

v.13And I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the jackal’s well, and to the dung gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • James 1:16

    Be not deceived, my beloved brethren.

  • Jeremiah 31:33

    But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith Jehovah: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

  • Judges 9:32

    Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field:

  • Jeremiah 32:40

    and I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from following them, to do them good; and I will put my fear in their hearts, that they may not depart from me.

  • Judges 6:27

    Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Jehovah had spoken unto him: and it came to pass, because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, so that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.

  • Psalms 51:18

    Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

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