Nehemiah 2:13
What does Nehemiah 2:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 2:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 2:13 means
Under cover of night, Nehemiah exits through the valley gate toward the jackal’s well and the dung gate to survey the ruins. He “viewed” the walls—a word suggesting careful, critical inspection—seeing them broken and the gates burned. He does not avert his eyes from the worst parts. To rebuild, one must first face reality. The route he takes passes vulnerable southern sections, where destruction is obvious. This is not a sightseeing tour but a sober assessment for planning and prioritizing. The leader who will call others to work must know the terrain, the damage, and the resources required to restore strength and remove shame.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And I went out by night, through the doorway of the valley, and past the dragon's water-spring as far as the place where waste material was put, viewing the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down, and the doorways which had been burned with fire.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And I go out through the gate of the valley by night, and unto the front of the fountain of the dragon, and unto the gate of the dunghill, and I am measuring about the walls of Jerusalem, that are broken down, and its gates consumed with fire.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, and before the dragon fountain, and to the dung gate, and I viewed the wall of Jerusalem which was broken down, and the gates thereof which were consumed with fire.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I went out by night by the valley-gate, even toward the jackal-fountain, and to the dung-gate; and I viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were in ruins, and its gates were consumed with fire.
Context
This verse begins the detailed account of Nehemiah’s inspection route, showing he saw the condition with his own eyes. It follows his decision to keep the mission quiet and sets up the practical credibility of his later appeal. The next verses continue the circuit, noting places where rubble blocked passage, underlining the enormity of the task. Together, these observations will justify his public summons to build and his confidence that God’s hand is upon the work.
v.12And 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.
v.13This passage
v.14Then I went on to the fountain gate and to the king’s pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Nehemiah 2:15
Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall; and I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned.
- Jeremiah 5:10
Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her branches; for they are not Jehovah’s.
- Nehemiah 2:17
Then said I unto them, Ye see the evil case that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
- Nehemiah 12:31
Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies that gave thanks and went in procession; whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:
- Nehemiah 2:3
And I said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
- 2 Chronicles 26:9
Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.
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