Nehemiah 4:18
What does Nehemiah 4:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Nehemiah 4:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Nehemiah 4:18 means
Builders carry swords at their sides while they work, showing personal readiness. Nehemiah keeps the trumpeter close, centralizing command to respond swiftly if danger breaks out. The verse underscores organization and communication: vigilance is not only individual but coordinated. A trumpet blast would rally scattered teams to a hotspot, countering the enemy’s hope to exploit distance. Carrying a sword while building is inconvenient, but wisdom bears inconvenience for safety and mission. The details display a leader thinking ahead, keeping the people alert without stalling the work, and ensuring that help can be summoned at once.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Every builder was working with his sword at his side. And by my side was a man for sounding the horn.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the builders <FI>are<Fi> each with his sword, girded on his loins, and building, and he who is blowing with a trumpet <FI>is<Fi> beside me.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For every one of the builders was girded with a sword about his reins. And they built, and sounded with a trumpet by me.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the builders had every one his sword girded by his side, and built. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
Context
After the description of armed labor in verse 17, verse 18 adds the constant nearness of the trumpeter to Nehemiah, hinting at a planned alarm system. The next two verses (19–20) will explain this system explicitly: the work is extensive and workers are far apart; when the trumpet sounds, everyone must rally, trusting that “our God will fight for us.” Thus, communication strategy and theological confidence are woven together to hold the community in a unified posture.
v.17They that builded the wall and they that bare burdens laded themselves; every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other held his weapon;
v.18This passage
v.19And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Numbers 10:9
And when ye go to war in your land against the adversary that oppresseth you, then ye shall sound an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before Jehovah your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.
- 2 Chronicles 13:12
And, behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against Jehovah, the God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.
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