Nehemiah 4:12
What does Nehemiah 4:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 4:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 4:12 means
Jews living near the hostile neighbors bring repeated warnings—“ten times”—urging those in Jerusalem to return, likely meaning to pull back from exposed positions or come to safer ground. The repetition underscores the intensity and credibility of the threat. Fear spreads along relational lines; those closest to danger feel it first. Yet the warnings also serve a protective purpose, prompting action rather than paralysis. The community is interconnected; outlying Jews care for the builders’ safety. Nehemiah hears, weighs, and responds. Good leadership listens carefully to concerned voices and uses their reports to shape wise defense without letting panic dictate the mission.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And it came to pass that, when the Jews that dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times from all places, Ye must return unto us.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And it came to pass that, when the Jews that dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times from all places, Ye must return unto us.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And it came about that when the Jews who were living near them came, they said to us ten times, From all directions they are coming against us.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And it cometh to pass, when the Jews have come who are dwelling near them, that they say to us ten times from all the places whither ye return--<FI> they are<Fi> against us.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And it came to pass, that when the Jews that dwelt by them came and told us ten times, out of all the places from whence they came to us,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And it came to pass that when the Jews that dwelt by them came and told us so ten times, from all the places whence they returned to us,
Context
This verse intensifies the anxiety created by verse 11’s plot. The repetition of warnings builds narrative pressure and urgency. It prepares for Nehemiah’s decisive reorganization in verse 13, where he strategically positions people by families and arms them. The structure shows that informed concern leads to intelligent adaptation rather than retreat from the mission. The subsequent verses will blend security measures with spiritual exhortation, keeping the people focused on God and on the stakes for their households.
v.11And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
v.12This passage
v.13Therefore set I in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places, I set there the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 31:41
These twenty years have I been in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy flock: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
- Genesis 31:7
And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
- Numbers 14:22
because all those men that have seen my glory, and my signs, which I wrought in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have tempted me these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
- Job 19:3
These ten times have ye reproached me: Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly with me.
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