Nehemiah 2:18
What does Nehemiah 2:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 2:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 2:18 means
Nehemiah strengthens their resolve by recounting God’s good hand on him and the king’s favorable words. He anchors the work in divine providence and tangible royal support. The people answer with decisive unity: “Let us rise up and build,” and they reinforce their hands for the good work. Hope becomes action. This is the hinge where discouragement yields to courage, and scattered individuals become a building force. The verse teaches that testimonies of God’s favor and wise leadership can transform a community’s outlook, turning vision into mobilization. Faith, encouragement, and credible authority produce strong hands ready to labor.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, as also of the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, as also of the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then I gave them an account of how the hand of my God was on me, helping me; and of the king's words which he had said to me. And they said, Let us get to work on the building. So they made their hands strong for the good work.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And I declare to them the hand of my God that is good upon me, and also the words of the king that he said to me, and they say, `Let us rise, and we have built;' and they strengthen their hands for good.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I shewed them how the hand of my God was good with me, and the king's words, which he had spoken to me, and I said: Let us rise up, and build. And their hands were strengthened in good.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I told them of the hand of myGod which had been good upon me; as also of the king's words which he had said unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. And they strengthened their hands for the good [work].
Context
Immediately after calling the people to build, Nehemiah supplies reasons to believe: God’s blessing and the king’s endorsement. The people’s response is immediate and positive, a contrast to the earlier silence and secrecy. This sets the scene for inevitable pushback from opponents, which comes in the next verse. The momentum of unity and strengthened hands will be tested by mockery and accusations of rebellion.
v.17Then 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.
v.18This passage
v.19But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Chronicles 32:5
And he took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, and the other wall without, and strengthened Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance.
- Haggai 1:13
Then spake Haggai Jehovah’s messenger in Jehovah’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith Jehovah.
- 1 Chronicles 11:10
Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of Jehovah concerning Israel.
- Philippians 2:13
for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.
- 1 Chronicles 19:13
Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Jehovah do that which seemeth him good.
- Ezra 6:22
and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for Jehovah had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
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